Canyoneering Repeater Jr Canyon - Lost Spring

Overview

Tue

81° | 49°

Wed

70° | 50°

Thu

66° | 39°

Fri

67° | 40°

Sat

67° | 40°

( Rated 3.0 / 15 Ratings )

38 Todo Lists / 16 Ticks

RATING: 3A

LENGTH: 1-2 hours (1.8 miles)

MAPS: CISCO SW, UT;

SEASON: Any

GEAR: Standard Technical Gear

RAPPELS: 1 to 60 m ( 197 ft. )

WATER: Generally none.

FLASHFLOOD: Moderate / Low

Tue

81° | 49°

Wed

70° | 50°

Thu

66° | 39°

Fri

67° | 40°

Sat

67° | 40°

The narrow section of Repeater Jr Canyon

The closed jeep road on the approach.

Repeater Jr. is a great addition to a weekend in the Lost Spring area. This short canyon is a nice way to round out a day after doing MMI Canyon, Lost and Found Canyon, and/or Winter Camp Canyon. The short canyon has one 60 m ( 197 ft. ) rappel at the start, then an easy and obstacle-free stroll to the exit. A fun 1-2 hour jaunt, suitable for most.

Note: The canyon is short and easy, but I would not recommend it as a place to teach someone to rappel. The rappel is a bit awkward in spots if you stay in the canyon bottom. Stemming above the canyon floor on rappel is much easier than following the canyon bottom.

Also note, the exit trail passes right by the first rappel. I would strongly recommend fixing the rope for the rappel and retrieving it on the exit instead of trying to pull it from below.

Top of the first rappel on winter outing.

Looking down the bottom half of the rappel.

Getting There

Expect a 70 minute drive from Moab to the Lost Springs area. To reach the Lost Spring area, you will need to travel east on I-70 (approximately 30 miles north of Moab). Go east on I-70 from Crescent Junction 11 miles to exit 193. The exit is signed Yellow Cat / Ranch Exit.

Reset your odometer at the cattle guard, and head south on the good dirt road. It heads in a remarkably straight line toward the La Sal mountains. 12S 620052E 4311148N / 38°56'28"N 109°36'53"W

6.1 miles - Y - Stay Left 12S 625994E 4301957N / 38°51'27"N 109°32'52"W

7.7 miles - Another Y, stay left again 12S 627058E 4301036N / 38°50'56"N 109°32'09"W

8.2 miles - An old wooden two story mining ruin on the left. 12S 627707E 4300932N / 38°50'53"N 109°31'42"W

9.2 miles Another Y. This time, go right. 12S 629237E 4301230N / 38°51'01"N 109°30'38"W

11.9 miles Y If camping at Lost Spring, or using the long route described below, Go right here, following this road 2 miles to a small dirt road going off on the left. There is good camping here, and Lost Spring is about 0.5 miles down the rough 4x4 road. 12S 630504E 4298340N / 38°49'27"N 109°29'48"W

12.3 - Junction. Stay right on the main road. 12S 631080E 4298073N / 38°49'18"N 109°29'24"W

12.9 miles Fence and cattle guard. Stay on the main road, ignoring side roads through this section. 12S 631806E 4297628N / 38°49'03"N 109°28'54"W

14.9 miles You will see another well traveled road making a sharp left turn. Stay right here. 12S 634653E 4296701N / 38°48'32"N 109°26'57"W

16.3 miles After crossing a drainage and climbing a hill, you will reach a Y. Stay left here on the main road. (Right goes to Lost and Found, MMI, and Winter Camp Canyons) 12S 635883E 4295480N / 38°47'51"N 109°26'07"W

16.6 miles - Closed jeep road on left. This is the trailhead. Squeeze off the road where possible. 12S 636340E 4295432N / 38°47'50"N 109°25'48"W

Selfie in the slot.

The narrow section of the canyon.

Route Description

Approach (10-15 minutes)
Follow the closed Jeep road. In about 5 minutes the road ends at Repeater Jr., which is just a shallow drainage here. Follow the social trail down about 5 more minutes to the first rappel.

Canyon
The rappel offers an opportunity to figure out a good natural anchor. Several somewhat poor bushes provide options. Seemingly better, a fourth class scrambling move up and to the left reveals a hidden solution pocket that has created a mini arch.

From the mini arch it is 60 m ( 197 ft. ) to the bottom of the drop. The bottom section of the rappel can be downclimbed if desired. I found it easier than rappelling.

Once down, it is an easy stroll down the canyon. When the canyon begins opening keep an eye on the right for a well-traveled exit trail that goes up a side wash on an obvious path through the cryptobiotic soil.

Exit (20-30 minutes)
The exit trail is well defined as it meanders up the ridge to a small slickrock section. Above the slickrock section, the trail braids and is less well defined. Stay a bit right along the rim of Repeater Jr. until it is easy to scramble back to the canyon floor. The first rappel is just a couple of minutes down the canyon.

Return up Repeater Jr. to the jeep road.