I guarantee your trip will be much more enjoyable if you pack light. The biggest mistake beginner backpackers make is bringing too much stuff and hauling too heavy of a pack. Our cowboy camp at Reflection Canyon What to Bring It kicked off with a fireball, one of the brightest meteors we’ve seen. By chance, we got to see the April Lyrids meteor shower that night. Kim and I cowboy camped, meaning we didn’t set up a shelter. However, if you nose around a bit you’ll find plenty of flat areas on the slickrock near the cliff edge to make camp. Wildflowers and Navajo Mountain (top left)Īt first glance, there won’t seem to be anywhere to camp. Once it comes back into view, bear left and continue eastward down to the overlook. When it becomes hidden, you’re within a mile. Continue in a southeasterly direction and look for Navajo Mountain, an unmistakable lone peak to the south. These final 2-3 miles are the most challenging because it’s difficult to stay on course. From this point, you’ll be hiking on slickrock until you reach Reflection Canyon. Once you’ve hiked 6 miles total, bear left and descend into the sea of petrified dunes to the east. This impressive cliff band is the southernmost end of Fiftymile Bench, though the fifty mile portion ends at Fiftymile Point, which sits atop the bluff you see from the trailhead. We stopped for lunch next to this small cottonwood tree You can follow this and others like it for 5.5 miles as they hug the bottom of the cliffs to the west. Kim stands on slickrock near Reflection CanyonĪfter 0.2 miles of hiking uphill on the slickrock, you’ll reach another sand footpath. Bring a map and compass as a backup and make sure you know how to use them. You won’t see these here, so be cautious and check your GPS frequently. These are meant to aid route finding and keep people from getting lost. In Southern Utah, hiking on slickrock is the norm but routes are often marked by cairns, which are stacked rocks. At 0.2 miles, the footpath turns to slickrock, a type of smooth sandstone polished by the elements. Indian paintbrush near the trailhead for Reflection Canyon The Hikeįrom the trailhead, head southwest on the sand footpath. Once it has recorded 50.7 miles, park off the road on the left side. Reset your trip odometer when you turn off Highway 12 onto the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. The trailhead is unofficial, so you’ll need to know exactly where it is to find it. Get the Weather Forecast Hiking to Reflection Canyon Quick Facts If you are planning to anyway, hike during the early morning and rest during the heat of the day. Since there is no shade or water on this hike, I’d discourage doing it then. Snowfall is infrequent but it does occur. Generally, highs are mild but lows are below freezing. The best time to visit Reflection Canyon is during Spring or Fall, when highs range from 60-85° F and lows 35-55° F.ĭuring winter, a warm spell could be a great time to have the canyon to yourself. You can obtain permits the day of your trip at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center in Escalante. This gave us the opportunity to witness sunset and sunrise there. Our spot above the cliff edge of Reflection Canyon is one of the coolest places we’ve ever camped. In my opinion, this is the best way to do it. April 2019 Permitsīackcountry permits are required for this hike if you plan to stay overnight. Kim and I shared 9 L for our overnighter and that was barely enough. There is no water, so you have to carry enough to last your entire visit.There is no shade and temperatures can soar, especially during summer months. The mileage might not seem very high but remember, these are desert miles.Top notch route finding skills are necessary. You’ll walk over petrified dunes with no cairns for miles. I only recommend this trip for experienced backpackers for three reasons: To get there, you’ll need to drive 50 miles on the unpaved Hole-in-the-Rock Road, then hike 8-9 miles one way. However, the most spectacular viewpoint is found on the cliff ledges above. From the water, you can reach it by boat, jet ski, or kayak. Reflection Canyon is a tributary of Lake Powell found in southeastern Utah. 9 More Great Hikes On Hole in the Rock Road.
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