While the San Rafael Swell is known for many beautiful desert landscapes, the majority of it's slot canyons are found in the southern half, south of Interstate 70. There are a few exceptions, and one of those gems is the Forgotten Canyon Complex. A branching subsystem of the much larger Eagle Canyon, Forgotten Canyon contains a few short narrows hidden in the sandstone, and is very little traveled.
Often called "Secret Mesa Canyon" because it cuts through and drains the western part of Secret Mesa Canyon, this is a neat canyon because it's narrows is formed within the Kayenta layer, which is traditionally not a slot or narrows former. There is also a very short slot (with a 90' rap) in the Kayenta in Eagle Canyon proper just upstream from it's confluence with Forgotten Canyon. The rock looks like Navajo in this area but it is Kayenta!
Often called "Secret Mesa Canyon" because it cuts through and drains the western part of Secret Mesa Canyon, this is a neat canyon because it's narrows is formed within the Kayenta layer, which is traditionally not a slot or narrows former. There is also a very short slot (with a 90' rap) in the Kayenta in Eagle Canyon proper just upstream from it's confluence with Forgotten Canyon. The rock looks like Navajo in this area but it is Kayenta!
Getting into Forgotten Canyon isn't a walk in the park. There are no roads or trails to the head of the canyon, and the bottom of it is located deep in the bowels of Eagle Canyon. When we went in the spring of 2012, we dropped into Eagle Canyon on the west side, including a ~50' rappel over the last cliff band, and proceeded to walk down Eagle for less than 200 yards to reach the mouth of Forgotten. Once inside it is a fairly easy hike. The bottom set of narrows, while not slotted, is plenty deep and quite beautiful. Several small dryfalls need to be negotiated but they are all bypassed easily if there is no water beneath them. If pools are present beneath them upclimbing may be a bit harder, although it's nowhere near impossible.
Once the first Kayenta narrows opens up, the canyon mixes between flat, more open sections, and tiny mini-slots. After about a quarter of a mile it opens up into a more broad area. There are two interesting side canyons that come in from the north in this stretch, including one that we explored and one we did not, as well as some short and more slotted sections in the upper reaches of the drainage. We chose to turn around between the two side canyons and went back down to the canyon. The second, or more easterly, of the side canyons contains an impressive arch high above it.
If you chose the route like we did, be aware that navigating out of Eagle Canyon takes a little bit of skill. There are many cliff bands and it's easy to end up in a "sucker gully" and get cliffed out on your way up. You may also need a handline to exit the very bottom cliff band out of Eagle Canyon. Be sure to have a good idea where your vehicle is parked as failing to do so will enable you to wander around the mesa top in and out of the P-J forest looking for it.
If you chose the route like we did, be aware that navigating out of Eagle Canyon takes a little bit of skill. There are many cliff bands and it's easy to end up in a "sucker gully" and get cliffed out on your way up. You may also need a handline to exit the very bottom cliff band out of Eagle Canyon. Be sure to have a good idea where your vehicle is parked as failing to do so will enable you to wander around the mesa top in and out of the P-J forest looking for it.
"Pterodactyl" Fork of Forgotten Canyon
The first side fork you will come to as you hike up Forgotten Canyon is one we nicknamed "Pterodactyl" Canyon. Named for our friend Sean, who told us before leaving we were going to see a pterodactyl while we were out in the wilds of Utah, this isn't so much of a slot or narrows as it is an ever-narrowing "pinch" canyon, with a wide upper section that funnels down to a large dryfall (~100?) and then out through a short and ever widening canyon. The only interesting part is the 100 or so yards immediately below the large dryfall, where it does for a fairly pretty narrow section.
All photos copyright Kit Davidson unless otherwise noted.