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The San Rafael Swell is easily one of the most adventurous spots in Utah. The Swell is massive - 650,000 acres, almost entirely ungoverned, and many parts unexplored by humans. Most people go to the swell for Camping, Picnicking, Canyoneering, Off roading, and Site seeing, etc. There are dinosaur fossils and native american petroglyphs still being discovered in the region.
The San Rafael Swell, is the home of many adventures! One of those adventures being canyoneering. There are many slot canyons of various skill levels that have been explored and descended. There are many other canyons that still have yet to be explored by man kind. The Swell is large and ungoverned so there aren't any rangers patrolling the area, which means you need to be responsible and prepared. There are no towns or services that are close by so plan accordingly. The closest services are Green River, UT and Castle Dale, UT.
The Swell is a high desert climate, the elevation varies from 2000-7000 feet. The best times of year to be there are Spring and Fall. Late summer tends to be monsoon season and brings in storms with heavy rain which can cause flash flooding, so plan your trips out well.
Here are helpful maps of the area.
Practice leave no trace camping and let people back home know where you are going.
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Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell
Growing up near here, I have done quite a few backpacking trips, day hikes, and canyoneering in this massive area. It truly is an amazing place. It requires you to be prepared since it is far from amenities. Being so, makes it a wonderful, indescribable experience. If you are an experienced outdoorsman, you HAVE to come here.
Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell
I love this place, it's absolutely beautiful. Varying difficulties makes for fun for anyone.
Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell
The swell use to be remote and untouched. but now it is overcrowded and the BLM has closed down everything. Best to stay away.
Canyoneering the San Rafael Swell
This is easily one of the best areas in Utah and overlooked by most. It definitely takes some effort and planning to explore, but you'll avoid the crowds of national parks and see places few others have.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Hike Lower Black Box Canyon
It takes some commitment to get to the trailhead, but it’s worth it. After several dirt roads, follow a rocky 4X4 road for about 10 miles to the trailhead. Sunscreen up and walk down the path to an open wash. This wash runs into the San Rafael River. At the river, check the flow, it should be below 50 cfs for a safe adventure. Cross the river and follow the trail that takes you above the canyon...
Visit the Petroglyphs in Black Dragon Wash
Black Dragon wash gets its name because of one of the petroglyphs, which oddly enough is a red dragon. The trail can be kind of hard to find but once you are in the canyon it is impossible to lose it. You follow the canyon for a bit and then you will see the petroglyphs on the north side beyond some wood fencing. I wouldn't drive anything with less clearance than a truck in here. Very scenic.
Camp at The Wedge (East Side)
The Wedge, which is also known as The Little Grand Canyon is located in the northern part of the San Rafael Swell. The closest town is Castle Dale, Utah, and most people drive past this part of the San Rafael Swell on their way to Moab, or other parts of the Swell.The views are remarkable. It's no reason its nickname is Little Grand Canyon. There are trails around the rim of the canyons, and pl...
Camp at the Little Grand Canyon
The Wedge and The Little Grand Canyon are located in Eastern Utah and despite their amazing beauty are relatively unknown and overlooked partly due to their close proximity to national parks like Arches and Canyonlands. With it's massive size, The San Rafael Swell, where The Little Grand Canyon is located, is easily accessible from I-70, Orangeville, Huntington, Castledale, and the numerous oth...
Explore a Manmade Geyser in Utah
Four and a half miles from the town of Green River, Utah, Crystal Geyser is one of the few manmade geysers as a result of the area's historical mining industry. This cold-water geyser usually erupts every eight to 20 hours. Getting There Getting to the geyser is easy and the site can be accessed by car on a washboard gravel and paved road. Take the exit for UT-19 and head west away from Green R...
Duchman's Arch is visible from I-70 but ask anyone about it and they will look at you with a blank face. It's a great medium sized sandstone arch but getting there takes time and patience driving down sandy, rutted out, washboard roads.To get to the arch, take exit 131 and turn east. Follow the frontage road until it turns to dirt. From here, follow the main road and follow the old and sun cha...