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SHEETS GULCH, COTTONWOOD WASH, AND BURRO WASH
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sheets Gulch are deep, narrow,
"slot" canyons that have been carved through the heart of the
Waterpocket Fold
by intermittent flood waters.
LOCATION OF TRAILHEADS
These three canyons are located within a few miles of each other
and all can be accessed form the Notom-Bullfrog
Road, a graded dirt road that has its junction with Utah Hwy
24 just east of the park. Each of these hikes starts where the
wash crosses the Notom Road. All of the crossings are signed,
and the mileage to each wash is listed below with the route descrption.
Currently, there are no developed parking areas; just find the
best pull-off you can, but beware of deep sand. Never park in
the wash bottoms if there is any chance of flash flooding.
MAPS
USGS 7.5 Minute Series. Burro and Cottonwood Canyons: Golden Throne,
and Notom. Sheets Gulch: Bear Canyon and Sandy Creek Benches or
Earth Walk Press, Capitol Reef National Park. Available from the
CRNHA at the park
Visitor Center.
NOTE
These are unmarked hiking routes, not developed trails.
All of these canyons contain obstacles in the form of dry falls
and "chockstones" (large boulders that have become wedged in the
bottom of the narrow slots). Often there are pools of water, sometimes
deep enough to require swimming. The amount of water present depends
on recent precipitation patterns and is not predictable
based on season of the year. Always carry plenty of water with
you and don't count on finding water in the canyons. All three
routes proceeed west and up-canyon from the Notom Road. The first
1.5 to 2 miles of each hike is in a wide, sandy wash surrounded
by low, shale hills. The narrows begin abruptly where the canyons
cut into the Navajo Sandstone on the east flank of the Fold.
 SHEETS
GULCH
LOCATION
13.3 miles south of Utah Hwy 24.
DESCRIPTION
One mile up the wash you will encounter a major side drainage
on the right (north); stay left at this junction and, a few minutes
later, stay right at the next junction. One mile further, the
wash bottom narrows and you may find a few pools of water associated
with a couple of minor pour-offs. Yet another pour-off and pool
is encountered 3.5 miles from the trailhead, probably the most
difficult obstacle along the route. A good climber can negotiate
this without assistance, but it is easier if there are two or
more people to help one another. About 4.5 miles from the trailhead
the last obstacle is reached. This is a high pour-off in a cave-like
chamber; it can easily be bypassed by backtracking about 100 yards
and climbing out of the wash on the south side. Beyond this point,
numerous stands of Douglas Fir begin to appear on cool, shaded
north slopes, and the canyon walls begin to change from the white
Navajo Sandstone to the red Wingate Sandstone. Six miles in from
the Notom Road lies an intermittent seep and cottonwood trees.
Soon thereafter, the canyon opens up and becomes much wider. Though
it is possible to continue for several more miles. reaching this
point and returning to the Notom Road will constitute a full day
for most people.
 BURRO
WASH
LOCATION
7.8 miles south of Utah Hwy 24.
DESCRIPTION
About 2 miles in from the Notom Road, the canyon begins to narrow
as it cuts into the Navajo Sandstone, the buff colored rock that
is the most visible component of the Waterpocket
Fold. At this point the canyon consists of bedrock that has
been sculpted by flood waters into smooth, fluted walls and pot-holes.
As you proceed further up the canyon, two sets of narrows are
encountered that are just wide enought to squeeze through while
wearing a day-pack. About three miles in from the trailhead lies
an unscalable "jump". This obstacle can be bypassed, however,
by backtracking a couple of hundred yards, then scrambling up
the steeply sloping north wall of the canyon and, finally, descending
to the wash above the jump. Another mile of hiking through the
narrow, winding canyon brings you to a final, impassable jump
where it is time to turn back.
 COTTONWOOD
WASH
LOCATION
9.1 miles south of Utah Hwy 24.
DESCRIPTION
About a mile up the wash from the trailhead, a tributary drainage
enters from the north and could be mistaken for the main drainage
- stay left. A few hundred yards futher, the main canyon narrows
and enters a quarter-mile long stretch that is choked with large
boulders and requires scrambling to negotiate. After another third
of a mile, a tributary canyon enters from the south. This canyon
might also be mistaken for the main drainage - stay right. Shortly
beyond this point, the canyon abruptly narrows to a thin slot.
A deep pool of water often stands at the entrance to this narrows
and may require swimming to pass. If the weather is cool and the
pool is full, this obstable may turn you back. For the next mile,
the canyon alternates between tight narrows and somewhat more
open stretches. You will encouter a number of chockstone pour-offs
that must be climbed and, sometimes, pools of water that require
swimming or wading. An unscalable, 35-foot "jump" blocks the way
at the end of this stretch of narrows (about 3 miles in from the
start of the hike), and marks the end of the route. |
