Zach Allen photo.
Reid Nielsen, One Year Apart
Out in the middle of the San Rafael Swell there are lots of rolling hills and smaller flat-topped hills and mesas. It almost reminds me of the Midwest, except for the occasional glimpse of towering red or yellow rock in the distance. Unlike the Midwest, however, the San Rafael Swell is punctuated by narrow gorges in the ground, slotted cracks in the rock layers that hide in the rolling landscape until you are almost on top of them. Reid Nielsen is one such crack.
We first visited this canyon in Spring 2011. We (this being my folks and I) were going to meet a crew of people in Green River, including my cousin Zach and his now-wife Wendy, as well as my best friend Kevin and his then-girlfriend Sarah, for a short weekend of canyoneering. While looking for easier non-technical hikes that could be done by our assorted crew, I stumbled across this gem and realized it was just what we were looking for: deep, but not too deep. Sculpted enough. No technical gear or manuevers necessary. Easy car access. It looked like it might not be too long but well worth the visit. So, plans were put into motion and we made it happen.
We first visited this canyon in Spring 2011. We (this being my folks and I) were going to meet a crew of people in Green River, including my cousin Zach and his now-wife Wendy, as well as my best friend Kevin and his then-girlfriend Sarah, for a short weekend of canyoneering. While looking for easier non-technical hikes that could be done by our assorted crew, I stumbled across this gem and realized it was just what we were looking for: deep, but not too deep. Sculpted enough. No technical gear or manuevers necessary. Easy car access. It looked like it might not be too long but well worth the visit. So, plans were put into motion and we made it happen.
The canyon itself is a shallow slice into the upper part of the Cedar Mesa (former Coconino) Sandstone, and while never very deep or technical is still beautiful and enjoyable. There are no rappels, only some easy downclimbs. The big thing about this canyon is the water. It has a tendency to hold some in small pools and if you want to descend it fully to Crawford Draw you may want to be ready to get wet. Entering and exiting this canyon isn't too hard as the walls are only vertical sporadically.
On the first trip we encountered a fair amount of water, some of it still frozen from the winter. This was March, after all. After being careful with it, we eventually reached a large pool that we could not or were unwilling to walk through, so we took a photo and headed back.
On the first trip we encountered a fair amount of water, some of it still frozen from the winter. This was March, after all. After being careful with it, we eventually reached a large pool that we could not or were unwilling to walk through, so we took a photo and headed back.
The second time we reached this canyon was a year later with our family friend Jess Wegert. Coming on the tail end of our seven day Utah trip, my pops, Jess and I had woken up that morning in Deer Creek Campground, east of Boulder, UT, and had driven all the way up and across central Utah to get there. While the temps were a bit warmer than they had been a year before, and this time there was no ice, the pools were still quite chilly and we could only endure three or four of them before turning around.
I really like this canyon. It isn't the deepest or the darkest or narrowest. It isn't a “glamour” slot, and it will never be popularly known. But it is a great gem for what it is- a short, right-off-the-highway quickie that you can spend a couple quick hours or a whole day in. Sometime I'd like to hike all the way through to the confluence with Crawford Draw. Stay tuned.
I really like this canyon. It isn't the deepest or the darkest or narrowest. It isn't a “glamour” slot, and it will never be popularly known. But it is a great gem for what it is- a short, right-off-the-highway quickie that you can spend a couple quick hours or a whole day in. Sometime I'd like to hike all the way through to the confluence with Crawford Draw. Stay tuned.
All photos copyright Kit Davidson unless otherwise noted.