Cottonwood Wash | Capitol Reef

Canyoneering Cottonwood Wash - Capitol Reef Canyoneering Cottonwood Wash

Capitol Reef

Overview

Fri Areas of blowing dust. Sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 91 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 12 to 28 mph.
93° | 59°
Sat Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 25 to 33 mph.
89° | 61°
Sun Sunny, with a high near 85.
85° | 59°
Mon Sunny, with a high near 85.
85° | 51°
Tue Sunny, with a high near 87.
87° | 55°
RATING: 3B
SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall
GEAR: Standard Technical Gear. Be sure to have quite a bit (10 m) of webbing.
RAPPELS: 3+ to 20 m ( 66 ft. )
WATER: Some pools. Wetsuit (3mm full) in all but the hottest conditions.
FLASHFLOOD: High
Fri Areas of blowing dust. Sunny. High near 93, with temperatures falling to around 91 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 12 to 28 mph.
93° | 59°
Sat Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 25 to 33 mph.
89° | 61°
Sun Sunny, with a high near 85.
85° | 59°
Mon Sunny, with a high near 85.
85° | 51°
Tue Sunny, with a high near 87.
87° | 55°
Mark and Tyler early in Cottonwood.
Mark and Tyler early in Cottonwood.
Mark making the first rappel
Mark making the first rappel

Of the 3 canyons in this area (Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Five Mile), Cottonwood Wash is by far my favorite. With a shuttle, it is a very casual canyon, though will take a full day by the time the shuttle is done both ways. The narrow section is magnificent, and fairly continuous.

All drops are fairly short, with relatively straightforward anchors. That makes this a good choice for intermediate canyoneers, or even beginner groups with competent leadership. Some groups do 4+ rappels, though 3 seems to be the number of mandatory rappels with a few moderate downclimbs interspersed throughout the canyon as well.

Brrr - move fast!
Brrr - move fast!
Tyler downclimbing just below rappel 3.
Tyler downclimbing just below rappel 3.

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