Red Ledges | Diamond Fork

Canyoneering Red Ledges - Diamond ForkHiking Red Ledges - Diamond ForkRoadside Attraction Red Ledges - Diamond Fork Red Ledges

Diamond Fork

Overview

RATING: Roadside or Easy Hike
MAPS: BILLIES MOUNTAIN, UT

Sat

Snow likely between 11am and 2pm, then rain and snow likely between 2pm and 5pm, then rain and snow likely. Partly sunny. High near 40, with temperatures falling to around 35 in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as 9. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

40 | 16

Sun

Snow likely before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind 3 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

33 | 22

Mon

Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

39 | 9

Tue

A chance of snow before 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

34 | 17

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

36 | 13

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any
WATER: None

Sat

Snow likely between 11am and 2pm, then rain and snow likely between 2pm and 5pm, then rain and snow likely. Partly sunny. High near 40, with temperatures falling to around 35 in the afternoon. Wind chill values as low as 9. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

40 | 16

Sun

Snow likely before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind 3 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

33 | 22

Mon

Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

39 | 9

Tue

A chance of snow before 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

34 | 17

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

36 | 13

View Full Weather Details
Diamond Fork Arch

Diamond Fork Arch

Red Ledges Picnic Area, in Diamond Fork Canyon, is a very popular spot. Many come to see the Diamond Fork Arch, a dramatic sandstone arch just a stone’s throw from the parking area. Many come to have a picnic and wander among the sandy social trails and red cliffs and ledges. Finally, some come to practice rappelling. The red cliffs and sand floored areas make for a delightful family stop to wander a bit, play in the sand a bit, and have a picnic or do some rappelling.

This is a spot I have driven by many times, but never took the time to stop and visit. When I finally stopped, it turned out to be a lovely place to spend a couple of hours.

Red Ledges

Red Ledges

Getting There

From Spanish Fork, take Highway 6 to mile marker 184.1 (about 11 miles from Spanish Fork) Here, go north on the paved/signed road Diamond Fork.

Follow this road 6.8 miles to the trailhead on the left. There is a large parking area, picnic tables, and pit toilet.

View out the arch.

View out the arch.

View from the top of Red Ledges

View from the top of Red Ledges

Route

From the parking area, the Diamon Fork Arch is visible and just a minute or two walk from the parking area. Other social trails head north up the wide valley area, visiting several cliff bottoms.

Rappelling Notes:

Note: All anchors I saw were less than 30 m ( 99 ft. ) rappels. If rappelling, be sure to double check rappel height.

There were two sets of anchors on the left side, looking north from the parking area, on the first cliff behind the bathroom. This requires a small bit of easy scrambling to reach. Climb up on the east (right when facing the bathroom) side of tthe formation up a steep ramp.

Rappelling Diamond Fork Arch can be done either by scrambling up a social trail on the east (back side from the parking area), or by following the social trail north up the valley to the rim and working back along the rim to the top of the arch. Going up the east side is much shorter, but has a section of easy 5th class climbing with exposure. Not recommended for beginners. Taking the social trail north and then working back to the arch is much longer and requires a bit of route finding to find the arch from the top, but is less exposed. The rappel from the first bolts encountered at the top of the arch is about 25 m ( 83 ft. ), though another set is available higher on the arch that is likely a few meters longer.

Finally, as you head up the valley, on the right, there is a dry waterfall with a tree on top. If you walk to the base of this dry fall, you are likely to find a fixed rope helping surmount the first small cliff band (4 m ( 14 ft. )). If you can surmount this first obstacle, a social trail cuts north and circles up to the top of the dry fall. There are a couple of sets of bolts here for rappelling the dry fall. Aside from the small tricky section on the approach, this rappel seems well suited to beginners with an easier start and rappel line than many of the others. It can be reached from the social trail that goes all the way to the rim as well with no climbing, but requires a bit of route finding to find from the top.

On my wanderings, I found many additional sets of bolts along the top of the cliffs. There are quite a few rappelling options.


Maps

Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12T 465593mE 4436703mN

N40° 04' 48" W111° 24' 13"

Dryfall Bolts

12T 465681mE 4436816mN

N40° 04' 51" W111° 24' 09"

Bolts

12T 465598mE 4436753mN

N40° 04' 49" W111° 24' 13"

Arch Rappel

12T 465666mE 4436706mN

N40° 04' 48" W111° 24' 10"

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