Hiking Cottonwood Wash Narrows
Paria
Overview
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Thu 95 | 59 |
Fri 93 | 60 |
Sat 93 | 58 |
Sun 93 | 58 |
Mon 95 | 59 |
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Thu 95 | 59 |
Fri 93 | 60 |
Sat 93 | 58 |
Sun 93 | 58 |
Mon 95 | 59 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
A Cairn guarding the start of the narrows.
The good stuff, Cottonwood Wash Narrows
A few minute walk from the Cottonwood Wash road, and only a short distance from Grosvenor Arch, this is a family friendly adventure not to be missed. Sure, there are more dramatic slots in the area, but the Cottonwood Wash Narrows have easy access and colorful scenery. This is one I highly recommend for the whole family.
The narrows themselves are about 1.6 miles long. If you have two cars, this can be done as a through hike. If not, never fear, as it makes a pleasant out-and-back hike as well. You CAN road walk back to make it a loop but returning via the narrows is SO MUCH BETTER!
More of the narrows in Cottonwood Wash
Open section, great colors.
Getting There
From Cannonville Utah, go south on Main Street. This becomes Kodachrome Road and Cottonwood Canyon Road. Follow this road about 7 miles to the signed junction with Kodachrome Basin on the left.
- Reset your odometer at the Kodachrome Basin junction. Stay straight on the Cottonwood Wash Road. Major junctions are listed below, but the goal is to stay on the Cottonwood Wash road for 9.6 miles. ( 12S 412162E 4150982N / 37°30'06"N 111°59'38"W )
- 0.8 miles, stay left on the main road. ( 12S 413407E 4150607N / 37°29'54"N 111°58'47"W )
- 1.1 miles - Side road on the left. Stay right on the main road. ( 12S 413960E 4150457N / 37°29'49"N 111°58'24"W )
- 1.5 miles - Side road on the left, stay right. ( 12S 414462E 4150303N / 37°29'45"N 111°58'04"W )
- 5.0 miles - Side road on the right, stay left. ( 12S 419353E 4148924N / 37°29'01"N 111°54'44"W )
- 5.8 miles - Side roads on both sides, stay straight. ( 12S 420673E 4148933N / 37°29'02"N 111°53'50"W )
- 6.7 miles - Junction, go left. ( 12S 421531E 4148147N / 37°28'37"N 111°53'15"W )
- 9.6 miles - Grosvenor Arch Jct, go right. (Grosvenor Arch is 1.1 miles to the left and worth the side trip.) ( 12S 424892E 4145338N / 37°27'07"N 111°50'57"W )
- 13.1 miles - Cottonwood Wash Narrows - North ( 12S 425010E 4139808N / 37°24'07"N 111°50'50"W )
- 14.1 miles - Cottonwood Wash Narrows - South ( 12S 424822E 4138372N / 37°23'21"N 111°50'57"W )
Nice walls and lines in the narrows.
Cottonwood Wash Narrows
Route
The route is easy. Either from the north or south trailheads, pick up the well worn social trail on the west side of the road. Both trailheads have small parking areas.
The social trails both enter Cottonwood Wash. The north heads left, DOWN Cottonwood Wash through the meandering narrows with towering walls and colors on both sides. The south trailhead, not surprisingly, heads north UP Cottonwood Wash.
Though only 3 miles round trip without a shuttle, expect 2-3 hours as there is much to see and enjoy in the narrows.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead North |
12S 425010E 4139808N 37°24'07"N 111°50'50"W |
| Trailhead South |
12S 424822E 4138371N 37°23'21"N 111°50'57"W |