Adventure Collective
Slot Canyoneering Adventure in Dirty Devil Wilderness Utah - Hanksville

Slot Canyoneering Adventure in Dirty Devil Wilderness Utah

Moabmoderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

4–6 hours

Fitness Level

Good physical condition required for rappelling, hiking, and scrambling through narrow canyons.

Overview

Discover thrilling rappels and ancient rock art on a canyoneering adventure through Utah’s scenic slot canyons. Perfect for all skill levels in the striking Dirty Devil Wilderness.

Hanksville, Utah

Classic Slot Canyoneering Adventure

Full-Day Tour

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Adventure Photos

Classic Slot Canyoneering Adventure photo 1

About This Adventure

Embark on a breathtaking canyoneering adventure through America’s stunning wilderness, exploring the majestic landscapes of the Dirty Devil Wilderness and Goblin Valley State Park. Experience the thrill of rappelling into awe-inspiring slot canyons, uncover ancient rock art, and connect with nature in a transformative journey suitable for all adventurers.

Canyoneering Adventures

No previous experience required! Adults should be able to carry a pack weighing 10-20 pounds.

Overview

Come and explore one of America’s most beautiful and amazing wilderness areas; a vast and extraordinary landscape of sweeping slickrock, beautifully sculpted sandstone cliffs and narrow twisting canyons that have challenged and amazed wilderness adventurers since the late 1800’s. Our adventures through this explorer’s paradise take us through some of the last known places to be mapped in the United States. Travelling through this region provides a feeling of remoteness, ruggedness and awe that are unmatched in the modern world. For many, their first experience in canyon country is transformational in nature. It becomes an intrinsic part of their heart and soul that serves to draw them back time and time again.

Robbers Roost / Dirty Devil Wilderness:

In the heart of the Colorado Plateau, just southeast of Hanksville Utah, lies one of the truly undiscovered gems of North America. The Dirty Devil River winds for over ninety miles through a labyrinth of red-rock canyons surrounded by some of the most rugged and remote wilderness landscapes of the American Southwest. Over thousands of millennia this small desert stream has carved a wilderness paradise that has been home to an interesting variety of inhabitants. The Fremont Indians lived in the canyons for over 800 years—from A.D. 500 to A.D. 1300. Signs of their presence can be observed throughout the region in the form of pictograph panels, granaries and chiseled moqui steps. More recent inhabitants include bands of outlaws from the late 1800’s—most notoriously Butch Cassidy and the Wildbunch Gang. The maze of wild and remote canyons provided an ideal hideout for these fugitives and wild-west outlaws.

Goblin Valley State Park

Hidden amongst the spectacular hoodos and mesas of Goblin Valley State park lies a truly fantastic canyoneering adventure. Following a short and fun scramble through the Valley of the Goblins, we enter a beautiful slot canyon that disappears into a dark and mysterious chasm in the Earth. It is here that we put on our canyoneering gear and rappel into this spectacular and awe-inspiring chamber that resembles a gothic cathedral. The Goblins Lair and Chamber of the Basalisk is truly an unforgettable canyoneering adventure and like most of our trips is suitable for the entire family.

Capitol Reef National Park:

For those unfamiliar with the park, it is characterized by colorful sandstone formations, cliffs, canyons, ridges, buttes and monoliths. It’s most stunning geologic feature is a 100 mile long warp in the Earth’s crust known as the Waterpocket Fold. This 65 million year old fold is the largest exposed monocline in the North America. It is comprised of younger and older layers of the Earth’s crust which were folded over each other in an S-shape. This striking geologic feature was probably caused by the same collision of continental plates that created the Rocky Mountains. It has weathered and eroded over melinnea to expose a fascinating amalgam of brilliantly colored sandstone cliffs and canyons, gleaming white domes and contrasting layers of intricately shaped rock and sand.

The Maze District - Horseshoe Canyon:

The Horseshoe Canyon complex of Canyonlands National Park is a vast, remote, rugged and beautiful canyon system with some of the most exquisite Barrier Style rock art in the U.S. You can spend days exploring this incredibly expansive area and the Indian rock art and artifacts hidden within its myriad of canyons. The most well-known and recognizable of these is the Great Gallery. Lesser known sites within the 35 mile long canyon include Cowboy and Walters caves which contain some of the richest and oldest paleontological remains on the Colorado Plateau.

Adventure Tips

Pack plenty of water

Carry at least 2 liters per person to stay hydrated in the dry desert environment.

Wear sturdy shoes

Choose footwear with good grip for navigating slick sandstone and rocky terrain.

Bring sun protection

Use sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses to shield yourself from strong desert sun.

Check weather before heading out

Avoid canyoneering if rain is forecasted due to flash flood risks in slot canyons.

Local Insights

Wildlife

  • Desert bighorn sheep
  • Rock wren

History

The region holds petroglyphs from Ancestral Puebloans, offering a glimpse into ancient desert cultures.

Conservation

The area is fragile; visitors are encouraged to practice Leave No Trace to protect sandstone formations and local wildlife habitats.

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Adventure Hotspots in Hanksville

Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Gear

Climbing harness

Essential

Needed for safe rappelling through slot canyon descents.

Helmet

Essential

Protects against falling rocks and bumps in tight spaces.

Gloves

Helps protect your hands during rope handling and climbing.

Sun hat

Essential

Keeps you cooler and protects your face from harsh sun exposure.

summer specific