Bluejohn Canyon Canyoneering — 127 Hours Adventure Tour from Hanksville, UT
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
7–8 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate to high aerobic fitness with confidence on narrow, exposed terrain and stairs; ability to scramble and follow technical instructions.
Overview
Wend through the narrow throat of Bluejohn Canyon on a guided canyoneering route that retraces the setting of a well-known survival story. Expect tight slots, technical rappels and a full-day of physical canyon travel led from Hanksville.
Bluejohn Canyon Canyoneering — 127 Hours Adventure Tour from Hanksville, UT
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You stand on slick sandstone at the canyon rim, the wind tasting of piñon and distant red rock. Below, Bluejohn Canyon narrows into a throat of orange and shadow—the kind of slot that made a headline and a movie. For the next eight hours a guide clips in, a rope hums, and the canyon begins to test the shape of your day: tight squeezes that ask you to shimmy, potholes that challenge your footing, and rappels that interrupt the silence with the whisper of webbing.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Hydrate for a full day
Carry at least 2–3 liters in a hydration bladder—water is heavier than you think after repeated rappels and scrambling.
Wear grippy, ankle-supporting boots
Sticky-soled approach shoes or light hiking boots provide traction on slick sandstone and protection during downclimbs.
Sun and lightning awareness
Avoid canyon travel during summer thunderstorms—flash floods can be sudden and dangerous even if rain falls miles away.
Protect your hands
Light, padded gloves improve grip on ropes and protect against abrasive rock during rappels and friction moves.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Pronghorn occasionally seen on plateau edges
- Collared lizards and canyon-adapted birds like canyon wrens
History
The Robbers Roost region carries outlaw-era history tied to Butch Cassidy; Bluejohn Canyon later became widely known after Aron Ralston’s 2003 entrapment and rescue.
Conservation
Flash floods and foot traffic can erode fragile sandstone and cryptobiotic soils—stay on durable surfaces, pack out waste, and follow Leave No Trace principles.
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Adventure Hotspots in Hanksville, UT
Recommended Gear
Sturdy approach shoes or light hiking boots
Provides traction on slick sandstone and ankle support during scrambles.
Hydration bladder (2–3 L)
Hands-free drinking during long approaches and while wearing a harness.
summer specific
Canyoneering gloves
Protects hands on ropes and rough rock; improves grip on rappel devices.
Sun protection (hat, SPF, sunglasses)
High desert sun is intense; shade is sparse inside the canyon.
summer specific