Long Gravel Canyons Loop

This is an absolutely spectacular backpacking canyoneering experience, quite possibly the best on the Colorado Plateau, maybe even exceeding West Canyon depending on your personal tastes. Steve Allen's Canyoneering 2: Technical Loop Hikes in Southern Utah documents this loop pretty well. I've done this loop two times. Once in six days with more weight, not knowing the loop very well, and didn't get to do side canyons. The second time was with a very light and fast crew over seven days. We did seven side canyons (five in Long and two in Gravel) that were all very good and worth allotting time for. The fourth side canyon in Long is particularly good, easy, and not to be missed. The side canyons in Long can be done from walking up from the bottom, as can side canyon labeled 6281T in Gravel. You can see the walk off of 6281T at 3:20 into the video. This can be used as the approach, as well. The most important parts on the attached kml map to pay closer attention to are the exit from Long Canyon and the drop off of the cliff band shortly after leaving the jeep track road during the transfer day. The kml of the transfer day isn't an exact track that we did, but a drawn line close to where we went. There were cairns on the East side of the route up out of Long, so look for those rather than trying to stay directly on the line I drew. Water has not been an issue to find in either canyon in any reports I've come across or in my experiences. It can take a while of going down Gravel before finding water, though. We found water where camp three shows up on the map. Bring a very trusty water filter. A pre-filter (coffee filters or an MSR SiltStopper if you can get ahold of one) is highly advised. We killed three of the squeeze style filters going up Long alone, even with back flushing and visibly clear water to filter. We had a friend bring in a Katadyn Hiker Pro with an MSR SiltStopper when she joined on day four that saved the rest of the trip. A couple small packets of PolyAluminum Choloride (PAC) as a flocculant would be wise to have along in case you can only find silty water. You could use it in a dry bag if you really needed. Better safe than sorry. We used 3mm farmer john wetsuits in the upper sections of Gravel (put them on just below where 6281T comes in and had them off before camp 4) and in 6281T when daytime highs were around 70 to 75. We didn't need them in Long at all, even though it had been filled by recent rains. The three mile hike down White Canyon to the junction with Long is quick and easy. Shortly after starting Long Canyon, you'll come to a beautiful section of slot with no way up. After exploring here, turn back and look for a trail on the left when looking up canyon. Up Long Canyon is not technical, but there are two challenging up-climbs that will be nice to have assistance. Before leaving Long Canyon, it is worth exploring the short hike from the exit to a dryfall / cliff that impedes further travel up Long. The exit out of Long Canyon on this track is shorter and easier than the one documented in the book; I've done both. The crossover between Long and Gravel is a legitimate challenge when it's warm. Be prepared to start as the sun is coming up and pack a lot of water; six liters is a good choice. There is a total of 1,900 feet of elevation gain on the transfer day. After you're out of Long, you'll cross three miles of desert to a cliff band. The labelled climb up the cliff bands isn't super hard, but it is worth getting out the rope to use as a hand line for everyone that goes after the first climber. If you plan to do the trip alone, make sure that you are a strong climber to be able to do this climb with a pack on. After the climb, be sure to turn right (South) to go look out at the end of the prow before continuing on. The view here is impressive over Long Canyon, Jacob's Chair, and the Henry Mountains. To the West, the two peaks in the distance are the Little Rockies: Mt Holmes at 7,998’ is the closest; Mt Ellsworth at 8,234’ is the farthest away. Northwest: the three tallest peaks of the Henry Mountains are, from nearest to farthest: Mt Ellen at 11,506’, Mt Pennel at 11,132’ and Mt Hillers at 10,737'. Jacob's Chair will be a good landmark to give you perspective of where you are throughout the trip. Not long after the cliff band climb, you'll hit a jeep track road that you'll be on for two miles. After leaving the road, there is only one break in the cliff band to descend without ropes. It must have taken some time to first discover the break as it is well out of view for a ways. Once down off of the cliff band, you walk across the desert for a mile to a side canyon that flows into Gravel. Don't drop into the side canyon, walk a half mile along the rim on the right (South) side. When you reach the rim of Gravel atop the end of the side canyon, the track of the drop into Gravel is not accurate as I just drew that part in. You'll see the route clearly, as there is an obvious trail. While going down Gravel, there are three times that it matters which rim you choose. I labelled them on the map. Gravel Canyon has a few mandatory rappels to 70 feet. If you want to stay on the canyon floor the whole way, you're going to need a longer rope, maybe 150ft, and set at least three anchors. I've not done this, so I can't speak to it. I've only eyed the drops from the inner rim and thought that it looked fun. The rim walking is quite impressive and I don't care to pack the extra rope to do the extra drops. If you plan to do Cowboy Canyon, make sure to follow the Cowboy Canyon track when climbing out of Gravel correctly. If you rappel in Gravel just below the listed camp near Cowboy, you will not be able to get back up without ascenders. The rappel just below where Cowboy Canyon comes in is one of the most unique and beautiful rappels on the Colorado Plateau. From the final campsite shown on the track, it is only two to three hours of hiking to get back to your car. The full loop alone is 32 miles. Add more for whatever number of side canyons you choose to do. Both times that I've done it were in early May, which seems like an ideal time to be there. The labelled campsites were all really great! I don't suggest staying at camp three if there are any potential weather issues.

Going up Long and down Gravel could be considered the "Descent." The side canyon mentioned in Steve Allen's book is labelled 6281T on the kml map here. There is a trail that follows up along the canyon. You can see the walk off of the end of this canyon at 3:20 in the video linked below. This side canyon is definitely worth adding, especially if you are just doing the standard Gravel Canyon route. The section we did was not nearly as formidable as Steven Allen wrote about. Maybe we didn't go far enough up. A sandtrap is a great addition for the 6281T side canyon. I would suggest a 120ft rope if you're adding it to the standard Gravel descent. To stay in the water course, a 75ft rope will require a two stage rappel with a sandtrap or deadman anchors. If it's totally full of water and all you have is a 75, there is an option down canyon right that is more like 60ft. It can be investigated before choosing which one to do. Screenshot from the 1987 USGS Cheesebox map showing 6281T Maps referenced by Steve Allen in the book: 1987 USGS The Cheesebox map free download: https://store.usgs.gov/product/103549 1987 USGS Indian Head Pass map free download: https://store.usgs.gov/product/918150 1987 USGS Black Steer Canyon map free download: https://store.usgs.gov/product/290973 1987 USGS Jacobs Chair map free download: https://store.usgs.gov/product/300954