Canyoneering Route Description

Bless Canyon - 4A(B) IV(V)
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah 

Quick Facts

04-10-21, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 14.25 hours) Pictures Icon

Time Required - 12 to 16 hours
Distance - 15.3 miles Total, 0.5 miles Technical
Rappels - 4 Rappels, Longest Rappel 240 feet.
Elevation Range - 4870 - 5770 Feet
Shuttle Required - Yes 5.8 Miles Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - Yes

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 240 feet and 40 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.  Wet suits not needed but be prepared for a couple spots where you might swim a few feet.

General Comments

Bless Canyon, as we did it, is a long day for a short canyon. If the canyon were not so far from a trailhead, it would be worth a repeat visit. If you happen to be backpacking in the area, have technical gear and a little extra time, Bless Canyon is worth a look. If you do not mind long days with a little technical fun mixed in, this may also be a good fit for you. Due to the high pay to play ratio, Bless Canyon is not likely to be a canyon that makes it onto most peoples list.

The route we took was one of the shorter and more straight forward options allowing a single day route. The route follows old mining roads along the west side of the Lower Muley strike. The route then cuts up onto a mesa, down through Bless Canyon then lands down in Lower Muley Canyon where we then walked up Lower Muley.  Part way up Lower Muley Canyon we followed the cutoff trail up and over into Halls Creek and over to The Post.  The cut off trail is cairned but still has spots that are difficult to follow, especially in the dark. This route does require a shuttle of about 6 miles. There are other ways you can travel through this area which may or may not need a car shuttle. No matter what route you take to Bless Canyon it will be a long day for a short canyon. Let your navigations skills go wild and work out a custom route. The hike up Lower Muley is a scenic treat all in itself.

For the final rappel we extended anchor webbing down to and slightly over the final lip and used 240 feet of rope. If you do not extend the webbing you will need more rope. Our longest rope was 150 feet so we needed to tie ropes together and pass a knot. Due to knot passing we decided not to ghost the rappel and used webbing to provide a standard anchor.

Navigation Warning:
Portions of the Post Cutoff Trail can be difficult to follow in the dark.  The route is usually well cairned but these are harder to see by head light.  GPS may be very useful on this part of the route should you happen to be exiting in the dark.

Warning:
Rap 1 is over a constricted section that can stick ropes. Advanced judgment is required to prevent ropes getting stuck. Bring an extra just in case.

Rating:
The canyon will likely be an A most of the time but there are a few spots that could be wades or swims if full so the A(B) rating was given. The total route is long and could be done as a very long day but some may feel this better suited as an overnight which is why the length rating of IV(V).

After weekend plans fell apart, we decided to check out a canyon I had been staring at on Google Earth. While in canyon we found a bighorn skull in an alcove. Cassy and I placed it upon a rock for display then used smaller rocks spelling the word bless under it. That fun moment spawned the name for Bless Canyon.

Cassy used to say bless a lot and it soon became an expression we would all use. Bless took on many meanings, delightful surprise, agreement with others, dread of an up coming obstacle, a simple greeting and many more. Bless became a word we could insert in almost any situation and we all knew what was meant. It slowly became a bond between a few of us with Cassy. We would delight when we heard others use the word knowing the infectious way she used the it was spreading.

Example Pic. Picture left the bighorn skull and rocks spelling BLESS in Bless Canyon.
Picture right Cassy in Egypt 3 Canyon.  No that pothole is not in Bless Canyon.

After Cassy died in Mystery Canyon, I felt it would be fitting to publish this canyon in memory of her. She was one of those people who had a contagious zest for having fun in the outdoors with friends. She was one of the few who would join long adventures not caring or asking if the route would be good or bad. She just wanted to have fun with friends in the outdoors. Over the last couple years Cassy had secured a spot in our lives which felt like she would be an epic adventure partner for life! Unfortunately that did not happen and she will be missed forever by myself and the many other lives she touched. I have one word for you Cassy ......... BLESS!

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the town of Boulder Utah, leave highway 12 and follow the Burr trail for 36 miles until you reach the bottom of the Burr Trail switchbacks at a Y intersection where the Notom Road meets the Burr Trail (extBurrTrl).  At this Y intersection, the Notom Road joins in from the northish and the Burr Trail continues to the southish.  Turn right and drive southish cstill following the Burr Trailrail 2.4 miles to the turn off for Lower Muley Twist and Headquarters Canyon (exLwrMuleyTwis).  Turn right and follow the side road 0.5 miles south to a large parking area by a corral and pit toilets (tPostCutoffTH).

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

From the parking area (tPostCutoffTH) drive 0.5 miles back to the Burr Trail (exLwrMuleyTwist), turn left and drive 2.4 miles back to the Y intersection with the Notom Road (extBurrTrl), turn left to drive Burr Trail Switchbacks.  From the top of the switchbacks continue east for about 0.5 miles to a small unsigned side road on the left (south) and turn onto the side road (exBlessStart).  This turn off is about 0.6 miles east of the Upper Muley Twist road turn off.  After turning onto the unsigned road follow it southish about 0.4 miles to a parking area (pkBless) just past some corrals.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Map Link Icon
Click the links for maps of the route.
Map of the entire route.
Map of the northern part of the route.
Map of the southern part of the route.
Map of the technical canyon.
Map of The Post Cutoff Trail.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot (pkBless) walk south roughly following a wash for about 1400 feet to where you should find remnants where a couple old faded roads join.

About 0.25 miles farther (Bless01) a couple of old faded roads join and continue south.

About 350 feet farther (Bless02) is a dirt berm placed across the road. Walk around the berm and continue south following remnants of an old road.

About 0.3 miles farther (Bless03)the road crosses wash and continues south. The road on the other side of the wash goes mostly un-noticed until you get a few feet up out of the wash. Continue south on the old road.

About 600 feet farther (Bless04) a smaller road forks off to the right (west) going up a slight hill. Stay on the lower more major old road and continue following it south.

About 0.4 miles farther (Bless05) the road crosses a wash then continues out the other side to continue south.

About 0.4 miles farther (Bless06) the old road crosses wash then continues south.

About 600 feet farther (Bless07) the old road stays up out of the main wash and crosses over a small side wash and continues south.

About 0.4  miles farther (Bless08) the old road drops into the main wash near a fork in the drainages. Walk about 60 feet to the fork then go up the fork to the left a few feet to find the old road going up out of the wash to continue south.

About 0.4 miles farther (Bless09) the road crosses a wash then contours around to a dirt hill to go up to a saddle that can be seen about 1500 feet to the south.

About 700 feet farther (Bless10) is the first of a few large wash outs of the road as it climbs a hill up to the saddle.

About 1000 feet farther (Bless11) the old road reaches a saddle in chocolate red hills. Follow the road southeast down the other side of the saddle.

About 200 feet farther (Bless12) is a sign stating STAY OUT OF MINES. There are a few mining road wondering around the hill side here. For the shortest route, follow the road southwest directly down from the sign.

About 0.24 miles farther (Bless13) shortly after crossing a wash the route gets back on the more major old road and continues southeast.

About 750 feet farther (Bless14) the road crosses wash then continues south.

About 1000 feet farther (Bless15) is a deep wash out across the old road to scramble around.

About 750 feet farther (Bless1) scramble around a deep wash out across the road then follow the road up a gentle hill veering left to the southeast.

About 700 feet farther (Bless17) the road hugs the hill side and goes up a little bit steeper.

About 500 feet farther (Bless18) the road road crosses deep wash out with mining debris then just after is a fork in the road. Cross the deep wash then follow up the fork going down hill to the right.

About 200 feet farther (Bless19) the road makes a jog to the right about 40 feet down a hill then left again to drop down a level then continue south.

About 250 feet farther (Bless20) as the road ends route find due south down across a wash aiming for a road cut cutting through a hill side about 400 feet to the south. Do not follow the deep washes down to the right (west).

About 400 feet farther (Bless21) is a road-cut passing through a small hill as the old road picks up again. Continue south following the old road.

About 500 feet farther (Bless22) the road goes around a corner but still continues south.

About 0.25 miles farther (Bless23) the road drops into a shallow wash. Continue south following the base of the hill side on your left and above the deeper wash on your right.

About 150 feet farther (Bless24) Road continues south contouring below hill side on the left and deep wash on the right.

About 800 feet farther (Bless25) After weaving around a bit the road goes around a bend the starts down a gentle hill and continues weaving around.

About 1100 feet farther (Bless26) Road crosses a minor wash and continues contouring along the base of the hills.

About 800 feet farther (Bless27) Road crosses a wash then contours along the base of dark chocolate colored hills staying up out of the deeper wash below.

About 300 feet farther (Bless28) Road fades a little but still easy to follow as it contours along the base of the chocolate hills.

About 700 feet farther (Bless29) Road crosses a wash then begins to wrap around to the left following the hill. Do not follow the road. Instead walk south across the shallow wash then out onto a wide dirt ridge going south. Follow down south down the crest of the ridge.

About 650 feet farther (Bless30) Large cairn on the ridge. Continue south down the ridge into the drainage below.

About 150 feet farther (USGS-Bless) USGS survey marker found while on route to Bless Canyon.

About 400 feet farther (Bless31) Short walkthrough slickrock slot with one scramble of about eight feet.

About 1100 feet farther (Bless32) Confluence of washes. To go to Bless Canyon go southwest up a steep gully running up the hill side.

About 900 feet farther (Bless33) Brief top out. Continue south over rolling desert for about 800 feet to a hill going down.

About 700 feet farther (Bless34) Top of a hill. Continue south down into the wash below and to the base of the final hill to go up to get to Bless Canyon.

About 600 feet farther (Bless35) Base of the final hill up into Bless Canyon. There is no one best way up as you navigate up the steep hill and around various boulders.

About 1000 feet farther (yBlessTp) Top out of the saddle at the top of Bless Canyon. Walk east down canyon. 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From the saddle at the top of Bless Canyon (yBlessTp), walk east down canyon. 

About 750 feet farther (Bless36) Partner assistable downclimb of about 8 feet. Optionally you can use a small solution pocket on the RDC side to rappel from.  Just after the downclimb is a short narrow section.

About 150 feet farther (Bless37) Small but deep alcove on the RDC side where we found a big horn skull. Just after the alcove is a large boulder debris pile to scramble down through into a huge chamber like area with a house sized boulder at the bottom of the boulder pile. This chamber is very pretty, don't forget to look back up canyon a few times as you travel down, the up canyon views are great.

About 400 feet farther (Bless38) Canyon begins to slot up and present a few short downclimbs and a couple short skinny spots where you will need to take your pack off and turn sideways to get through.

About 150 feet farther (dBlessR1) Rap 1 - Bless Canyon (55 feet rope travel). Anchored from a pinch point about 20 feet back and drops about 35 feet with a very awkward start over a tightly pinched pour over and down to wide canyon. This rappel is just under a huge eroding rock arch. Using a sandtrap would be possible but the odds of getting the trap stuck at the pinched pour over would be high. We used a Flip-It to anchor in the pinch point.

About 80 feet farther (Bless39) Very short downclimb through a skinny crack then a short bit of open canyon before getting to another longer skinny section to downclimb through as it drops steeply to the next rappel. The longer deeper skinny section has one small pothole easy to go over then continues down to a small pothole shaped ledge where the next rappel starts.

About 130 feet farther (dBlessR2) Rap 2 - Bless Canyon (45 feet rope travel). Anchored RDC from a rock protrusion about 5 feet back and drops about 35 feet down a mostly vertical wall. A short walk in open canyon leads to the next rappel.

About 150 feet farther (dBlessR3) Rap 3 - Bless Canyon (65 feet rope travel). Anchored from a tree about 20 feet back and drops down an awkward squeeze into a crack dropping about 45 feet to a pool and more open canyon. The pool can get up to about waist deep (we had knee deep).

About 80 feet farther (Bless40) Scramble up onto a ledge on the RDC side to bypass the first part of this skinny crack then at the end of the ledge scramble down into the crack and continue downclimbing down to another pool (which was a swimmer for us). A short walk to another skinny downclimb to a skinny pool that could be a swimmer if full then the canyon opens up to an alcove on the LDC side and pretty streaked walls.

About 150 feet farther (Bless41) Huge boulder debris to go around on either side. The next 350 feet is mostly easy walking with two large pools that can be avoided with careful scrambling around the side ledges before reaching a narrow slot about 40 feet long leading to the final rappel.

About 400 feet farther (dBlessR4) Rap 4 - Bless Canyon (240 feet rope travel - IF webbing is extended to just over the lip - more rope required if not extending webbing). Anchored from a chokestone about 15 feet back with webbing extended to just over the lip and drops about 230 feet starting with about 80 feet of free hang to a small ledge then becomes free hanging rappel the rest of the way.

From the bottom of the rappel, boulder-hop down the hill into the wash below (yBlessBt).

The Exit:
Once in the wash (yBlessBt ) walk east down the wash about 0.4 miles scrambling around boulders as needed to the end of the wash where it dumps into Lower Muley Canyon.

Once in Lower Muley Canyon (jBlessBt) Bottom of the Bless Canyon drainage where it dumps into Lower Muley. To exit up Lower Muley and go to The Post, turn left and walk north up Lower Muley. To exit farther down stream in Halls Creek, turn right and walk south down Lower Muley.

About 1.6 miles up the wash (MuleyAlcove80) Large undercut alcove with awesome tiger striping on it.

About 0.5 miles farther (MuleyBldrTnl) Huge rock fall debris blocking canyon. Cairns lead to a short tunnel under one of the house sized boulders.

About 0.7 miles farther (MuleyAlcove70) Alcove undercut so deeply it is almost cave-like.

About 0.6 miles farther (MuleyAlcove60) Huge undercut alcove.

About 1 mile farther (jWomansWorkApr) Bottom of a large boulder filled side canyon / ravine that could be followed up and over back to the west side of the Muley Strike.  Pass this wide drainage and continue northish up Lower Muley Canyon.

About 1.3 miles farther (tThePostCutofBt) The Post cutoff trail meets Lower Muley Twist Canyon with signs pointing you to various places.
On exit out from Bless or Womans Work Canyons, leave Lower Muley Twist Canyon and follow up a ramp to the north to follow The Post Cutoff trail.

About 150 feet up the ramp (ThePostCutof14) Once above the ledge walk northwest up the wash.

About 350 feet farther (ThePostCutOff13) Look for the use trail leaving the wash and working its way up the right (eastish) side weaving up through rock layers up into a wide sandy wash above. This can be difficult to find in the dark but a few cairns have been helpful.

About 350 feet farther (ThePostCutOff12) Once above the rock layers follow northeast up a wide sandy wash.

About 1000 feet farther (ThePostCutOff11) Continue east following sandy use trails up the wide sandy wash.

About 600 feet farther (ThePostCutOff10) Continue southeast following sandy use trails up the wide sandy wash.

About 0.33 miles farther (ThePostCutOff09) Continue west now on wide open white slickrock following teh occasional cairn.

About 0.25 miles farther (ThePostCutOff08) Route find down the ridge starting down east then wrapping around north following the occasional cairn.

About 500 feet farther (ThePostCutOff07) Follow the occasional cairn leading northeast down the ridge.

About 300 feet farther (ThePostCutOff06) Walk east almost 200 feet then traverse northish around to a brief topout.

About 300 feet farther (ThePostCutOff05) Follow a cairned route dropping down to the northeast down to a saddle.

About 600 feet farther (ThePostCutOff04) Route find northeast to where the white slickrock meets a red hill with a use trail.

About 200 feet farther (ThePostCutOff03) Follow a use trail east down the red hill.

About 1000 feet farther (ThePostCutOff02) Follow the well formed use trail down into Hall Creek.

About 0.25 miles farther (ThePostCutOff01) Turn left and walk north up Halls creek toward the Post Cutoff trailhead.

About 400 feet farther (tPostCutoffTH) is where the entry cars were parked.

GPS Waypoint Information

Downloadable GPX files available at BG-Gear Store (easier than manual entry and a great way to support Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.  Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE
manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
Bless Cyn (1) - Drive in to Trailhead
  1. extBurrTrl          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.85564   W -111.01272        Elev: 4,983 Feet
    Turn off for the Burr Trail road off the water pocket fold road. Both are dirt roads but in dry conditions good for 2 wheel drive.
  2. exLwrMuleyTwist          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.83296   W -110.98162        Elev: 4,898 Feet
    Exit to Lower Muley Twist TH and Headquarters Canyon.
  3. tPostCutoffTH          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82629   W -110.97852        Elev: 4,870 Feet
    Huge parking area by a large corral for the start of the Lower Muley Twist hiking route. This is the start of The Post cutoff trail which goes up over the Water Pocket Fold then down into Lower Muley Twist. Walk south about 450 feet to old signs and another sign-in register.
Bless Cyn (2) - Drive in to set exit vehicle
  1. tPostCutoffTH          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82629   W -110.97852        Elev: 4,870 Feet
    Huge parking area by a large corral for the start of the Lower Muley Twist hiking route. This is the start of The Post cutoff trail which goes up over the Water Pocket Fold then down into Lower Muley Twist. Walk south about 450 feet to old signs and another sign-in register.
  2. exLwrMuleyTwist          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.83296   W -110.98162        Elev: 4,898 Feet
    Exit to Lower Muley Twist TH and Headquarters Canyon.
  3. extBurrTrl          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.85564   W -111.01272        Elev: 4,983 Feet
    Turn off for the Burr Trail road off the water pocket fold road. Both are dirt roads but in dry conditions good for 2 wheel drive.
  4. exBlessStart          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84971   W -111.03469        Elev: NaN Feet
    Turn off onto a side road going past a coral and then to a large turnabout for parking.
  5. BlessDrv1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84836   W -111.03699        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road goes by a corral then crosses over a wash.
  6. pkBless          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84598   W -111.03757        Elev: 5,710 Feet
    Park here to start the route to Bless Canyon. This is a parking area at the far south end of a turnabout. To go to Bless Canyon, walk south roughly following a wash for about 1400 feet to where you should find remnants where a couple old faded roads join.
Bless Cyn (3) - Approach
  1. pkBless          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84598   W -111.03757        Elev: 5,710 Feet
    Park here to start the route to Bless Canyon. This is a parking area at the far south end of a turnabout. To go to Bless Canyon, walk south roughly following a wash for about 1400 feet to where you should find remnants where a couple old faded roads join.
  2. Bless01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84230   W -111.03781        Elev: NaN Feet
    A couple of old faded roads join and continue south.
  3. Bless02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.84138   W -111.03764        Elev: NaN Feet
    Dirt berm placed across the road. Walk around the berm and continue south following remnants of an old road.
  4. Bless03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.83724   W -111.03521        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses wash and continues south. The road on the other side of the wash goes mostly un-noticed until you get a few feet up out of the wash. Continue south on the old road.
  5. Bless04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.83561   W -111.03481        Elev: NaN Feet
    A smaller road forks off to the right (west) going up a slight hill. Stay on the lower more major old road and continue following it south.
  6. Bless05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.83148   W -111.03085        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses a wash then continues out the other side to continue south.
  7. Bless06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82667   W -111.02934        Elev: NaN Feet
    Old road crosses wash then continues south.
  8. Bless07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82493   W -111.03031        Elev: NaN Feet
    Old road stays up out of the main wash and crosses over a small side wash and continues south.
  9. Bless08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81941   W -111.03145        Elev: NaN Feet
    Old road drops into the main wash near a fork in the drainages. Walk about 60 feet to the fork then go up the fork to the left a few feet to find the old road going up out of the wash to continue south.
  10. Bless09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81424   W -111.03341        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses a wash then contours around to a dirt hill to go up to a saddle that can be seen about 1500 feet to the south.
  11. Bless10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81244   W -111.03358        Elev: NaN Feet
    First of a few large wash outs of the road as it climbs a hill up to the saddle.
  12. Bless11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81033   W -111.03541        Elev: NaN Feet
    Old road reaches a saddle in chocolate red hills. Follow the road southeast down the other side of the saddle.
  13. Bless12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80998   W -111.03480        Elev: NaN Feet
    Sign stating STAY OUT OF MINES. There are a few mining road wondering around the hill side here. For the shortest route, follow the road southwest directly down from the sign.
  14. Bless13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80812   W -111.03123        Elev: NaN Feet
    Shortly after crossing a wash the route gets back on the more major old road and continues southeast.
  15. Bless14          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80730   W -111.02867        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses wash then continues south.
  16. Bless15          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80447   W -111.02683        Elev: NaN Feet
    Deep wash out across the old road to scramble around.
  17. Bless16          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80247   W -111.02588        Elev: NaN Feet
    Scramble around a deep wash out across the road then follow the road up a gentle hill veering left to the southeast.
  18. Bless17          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80110   W -111.02426        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road hugs the hill side and goes up a little bit steeper.
  19. Bless18          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80058   W -111.02300        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road road crosses deep wash out with mining debris then just after is a fork in the road. Cross the deep wash then follow up the fork going down hill to the right.
  20. Bless19          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80006   W -111.02295        Elev: NaN Feet
    The road makes a jog to the right about 40 feet down a hill then left again to drop down a level then continue south.
  21. Bless20          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79944   W -111.02322        Elev: NaN Feet
    As the road ends route find due south down across a wash aiming for a road cut cutting through a hill side about 400 feet to the south. Do not follow the deep washes down to the right (west).
  22. Bless21          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79832   W -111.02356        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road-cut passing through a small hill as the old road picks up again. Continue south following the old road.
  23. Bless22          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79713   W -111.02358        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road goes around a corner but still continues south.
  24. Bless23          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79474   W -111.02083        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road drops into a shallow wash. Continue south following the base of the hill side on your left and above the deeper wash on your right.
  25. Bless24          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79439   W -111.02054        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road continues south contouring below hill side on the left and deep wash on the right.
  26. Bless25          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79283   W -111.01995        Elev: NaN Feet
    After weaving around a bit the road goes around a bend the starts down a gentle hill and continues weaving around.
  27. Bless26          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79191   W -111.01733        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses a minor wash and continues contouring along the base of the hills.
  28. Bless27          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79075   W -111.01551        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses a wash then contours along the base of dark chocolate colored hills staying up out of the deeper wash below.
  29. Bless28          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79017   W -111.01558        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road fades a little but still easy to follow as it contours along the base of the chocolate hills.
  30. Bless29          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78897   W -111.01409        Elev: NaN Feet
    Road crosses a wash then begins to wrap around to the left following the hill. Do not follow the road. Instead walk south across the shallow wash then out onto a wide dirt ridge going south. Follow down south down the crest of the ridge.
  31. Bless30          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78669   W -111.01395        Elev: NaN Feet
    Large cairn on the ridge. Continue south down the ridge into the drainnage below.
  32. USGS-Bless          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78646   W -111.01344        Elev: NaN Feet
    USGS survey marker found while on route to Bless Canyon.
  33. Bless31          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78560   W -111.01275        Elev: NaN Feet
    Short walkthrough slickrock slot with one scramble of about eight feet.
  34. Bless32          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78420   W -111.00932        Elev: NaN Feet
    Confluence of washes. To go to Bless Canyon go southwest up a steep gully running up the hill side.
  35. Bless33          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78207   W -111.00793        Elev: NaN Feet
    Brief top out. Continue south over rolling desert for about 800 feet to a hill going down.
  36. Bless34          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78014   W -111.00751        Elev: NaN Feet
    Top of a hill. Continue south down into the wash below and to the base of the final hill to go up to get to Bless Canyon.
  37. Bless35          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77887   W -111.00689        Elev: NaN Feet
    Base of the final hill up into Bless Canyon. There is no one best way up as you navigate up the steep hill and around various boulders.
  38. yBlessTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77748   W -111.00451        Elev: 5,770 Feet
    Top out of the saddle at the top of Bless Canyon. Walk east down canyon.
Bless Cyn (4) - The Canyon
  1. yBlessTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77748   W -111.00451        Elev: 5,770 Feet
    Top out of the saddle at the top of Bless Canyon. Walk east down canyon.
  2. Bless36          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77801   W -111.00207        Elev: NaN Feet
    Partner assistable downclimb of about 8 feet. Optionally you can use a small solution pocket on the RDC side to rappel from. Just after the downclimb is a short narrow section.
  3. Bless37          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77795   W -111.00158        Elev: NaN Feet
    Small but deep alcove on the RDC side where we found a big horn skull. Just after the alcove is a large boulder debris pile to scramble down through into a huge chamber like area with a house sized boulder at the bottom of the boulder pile. This chamber is very pretty, don't forget to look back up canyon a few times as you travel down, the up canyon views are great.
  4. Bless38          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77814   W -111.00023        Elev: NaN Feet
    Canyon begins to slot up and present a few short downclimbs and a couple short skinny spots where you will need to take your pack off and turn sideways to get through.
  5. dBlessR1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77821   W -110.99969        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 - Bless Canyon (55 feet rope travel). Anchored from a pinch point about 20 feet back and drops about 35 feet with a very awkward start over a tightly pinched pour over and down to wide canyon. This rappel is just under a huge eroding rock arch. Using a sandtrap would be possible but the odds of getting the trap stuck at the pinched pour over would be high. We used a Flip-It to anchor in the pinch point.
  6. Bless39          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77833   W -110.99946        Elev: NaN Feet
    Very short downclimb through a skinny crack then a short bit of open canyon before getting to another longer skinny section to downclimb through as it drops steeply to the next rappel. The longer deeper skinny section has one small pothole easy to go over then continues down to a small pothole shaped ledge where the next rappel starts.
  7. dBlessR2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77832   W -110.99900        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 2 - Bless Canyon (45 feet rope travel). Anchored RDC from a rock protrusion about 5 feet back and drops about 35 feet down a mostly vertical wall. A short walk in open canyon leads to the next rappel.
  8. dBlessR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77825   W -110.99849        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 3 - Bless Canyon (65 feet rope travel). Anchored from a tree about 20 feet back and drops down an awkward squeeze into a crack dropping about 45 feet to a pool and more open canyon. The pool can get up to about waist deep (we had knee deep).
  9. Bless40          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77823   W -110.99823        Elev: NaN Feet
    Scramble up onto a ledge on the RDC side to bypass the first part of this skinny crack then at the end of the ledge scramble down into the crack and continue downclimbing down to another pool (which was a swimmer for us). A short walk to another skinny downclimb to a skinny pool that could be a swimmer if full then the canyon opens up to an alcove on the LDC side and pretty streaked walls.
  10. Bless41          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77826   W -110.99769        Elev: NaN Feet
    Huge boulder debris to go around on either side. The next 350 feet is mostly easy walking with two large pools that can be avoided with careful scrambling around the side ledges before reaching a narrow slot about 40 feet long leading to the final rappel.
  11. dBlessR4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77762   W -110.99658        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 4 - Bless Canyon (240 feet rope travel - IF webbing is extended to just over the lip - more rope required if not extending webbing). Anchored from a chokestone about 15 feet back with webbing extended to just over the lip and drops about 230 feet starting with about 80 feet of free hang to a small ledge then becomes free hanging rappel the rest of the way. From the bottom of the rappel, boulder-hop down the hill into the wash below.
  12. yBlessBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77710   W -110.99636        Elev: 5,110 Feet
    Bottom of Bless Canyon at the bottom of the rubble pile after the final rappel. To exit walk east down the wash about 0.4 miles scrambling around boulders as needed to the end of the wash where it dumps into Lower Muley Canyon.
Bless Cyn (5) - Exit
  1. yBlessBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77710   W -110.99636        Elev: 5,110 Feet
    Bottom of Bless Canyon at the bottom of the rubble pile after the final rappel. To exit walk east down the wash about 0.4 miles scrambling around boulders as needed to the end of the wash where it dumps into Lower Muley Canyon.
  2. jBlessBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.77568   W -110.98927        Elev: 4,870 Feet
    Bottom of the Bless Canyon drainage where it dumps into Lower Muley. To exit up Lower Muley and go to The Post, turn left and walk north up Lower Muley. To exit farther down stream in Halls Creek, turn right and walk south down Lower Muley.
  3. MuleyAlcove80          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.78827   W -110.99398        Elev: NaN Feet
    Large undercut alcove with awesome tiger striping on it.
  4. MuleyBldrTnl          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79188   W -110.99839        Elev: 5,001 Feet
    Huge rock fall debris blocking canyon. Cairns lead to a short tunnel under one of the house sized boulders.
  5. MuleyAlcove70          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.79882   W -110.99855        Elev: 5,044 Feet
    Alcove undercut so deeply it is almost cave-like.
  6. MuleyAlcove60          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80281   W -110.99870        Elev: NaN Feet
    Huge undercut alcove.
  7. jWomansWorkApr          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.80999   W -111.00221        Elev: 5,240 Feet
    Bottom of a large boulder filled side canyon / ravine. To go to Womans Work Canyon leave Lower Muley Twist and go west up this canyon with some walking and a lot of scrambling up over large boulders.
  8. tThePostCutofBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81975   W -111.00165        Elev: 5,340 Feet
    The Post cutoff trail meets Lower Muley Twist Canyon with signs pointing you to various places. On approach to Womans Work Canyon, continue south down Lower Muley Twist Canyon. On exit out from Bless or Womans Work Canyons, leave Lower Muley Twist Canyon and follow up a ramp to the north to follow The Post Cutoff trail.
  9. ThePostCutof14          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.81989   W -111.00196        Elev: NaN Feet
    Large ledge in the wash just above Lower Muley. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Veer left east and walk southeast down a ramp down into Lower Muley Twist Canyon. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Once above the ledge walk northwest up the wash.
  10. ThePostCutof13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82063   W -111.00268        Elev: NaN Feet
    Use trail meets wash on the northeast side. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Once down in the wash turn left and follow down the wash toward Lower Muley. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Look for the use trail leaving the wash and working its way up the right (eastish) side weaving up through rock layers up into a wide sandy wash above. This can be difficult to find in the dark but a few cairns have been helpful.
  11. ThePostCutof12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82114   W -111.00259        Elev: NaN Feet
    Top of a large drop in a wide sandy wash. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Veer left (south) and follow a use trail that switchbacks down the rock layers down into the drainage below. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Once above the rock layers follow northeast up a wide sandy wash.
  12. ThePostCutof11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82159   W -110.99949        Elev: NaN Feet
    Use trails pass by a wooden post. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Continue west following sandy use trails down the wide sandy wash. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Continue east following sandy use trails up the wide sandy wash.
  13. ThePostCutof10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82267   W -110.99822        Elev: NaN Feet
    Use trails pass by a wooden post. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Continue west following sandy use trails down the wide sandy wash. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Continue southeast following sandy use trails up the wide sandy wash.
  14. ThePostCutof09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82135   W -110.99318        Elev: 5,470 Feet
    White slickrock meets more level dirt desert begins. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Continue westish following one of a few use trails webbing through the sandy area leading down a wide sandy draiange. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Continue west now on wide open white slickrock following teh occasional cairn.
  15. ThePostCutof08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82077   W -110.98899        Elev: NaN Feet
    Slickrock ridge. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: From the top of the ridge route find west along open white slickrock following the occasional carin. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Route find down the ridge starting down east then wrapping around north following the occasional cairn.
  16. ThePostCutof07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82155   W -110.98903        Elev: NaN Feet
    Trail cut into the rock. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Follow west down the cut out for about 80 feet then turn left walking south up a wide shallow gully. About 300 feet up the gully begin to veer right and once again strart up to the west to get up onto the next ridge. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Follow the occasional cairn leading northeast down the ridge.
  17. ThePostCutof06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82206   W -110.98834        Elev: NaN Feet
    Base of a small ridge. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Follow west up the ridge. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Walk east almost 200 feet then traverse northish around to a brief topout.
  18. ThePostCutof05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82204   W -110.98754        Elev: NaN Feet
    Brief top out. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Veer right and traverse northwest-ish a little over 200 feet to a small ridge running up to the west. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Follow a cairned route dropping down to the northeast down to a saddle.
  19. ThePostCutof04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82275   W -110.98595        Elev: NaN Feet
    Saddle. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: From this saddle contour left (south) to go around the base of the rock outcropping to then continue southwest following carins to a brief topout. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Route find northeast to where the white slickrock meets a red hill with a use trail.
  20. ThePostCutof03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82328   W -110.98566        Elev: NaN Feet
    Trail up the red hill tops out and meets white slickrock. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Continue southwest on white slickrock about 200 feet to a small saddle below a rock outcropping. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Follow a use trail east down the red hill.
  21. ThePostCutof02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82329   W -110.98216        Elev: NaN Feet
    Bottom of a dark red hill with a well formed use trail going west up the hill. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Follow a use trail west up the semi steep trail. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Follow the well formed use trail down into Hall Creek.
  22. ThePostCutof01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82512   W -110.97824        Elev: NaN Feet
    Kiosk and signage that looks like it used to be an old trailhead. Following the Cutoff route from The Post to down into Lower Muley: Turn right and follow a well formed use trail west toward the Water Pocket Fold with a few white wooden posts marking the way. Following the Cutoff route from up out of Lower Muley and over to The Post: Turn left and walk north up Halls creek toward the Post Cutoff trailhead.
  23. tPostCutoffTH          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.82629   W -110.97852        Elev: 4,870 Feet
    Huge parking area by a large corral for the start of the Lower Muley Twist hiking route. This is the start of The Post cutoff trail which goes up over the Water Pocket Fold then down into Lower Muley Twist. Walk south about 450 feet to old signs and another sign-in register.