Canyoneering Route Description

Merry Piglet Canyon - 3A(B) II
North Wash, Utah.

Quick Facts

10-14-12, 7 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 3 hours) lots of extra time playing with friends pulling pranks on one another.

Time Required - 2 to 3 hours
Distance - 0.9 miles Total, 0.4 miles Technical
Rappels - 7 Rappels, Longest Rappel 65 feet.  Some raps are optional and others can be downclimbed so rap count will vary.
Elevation Range - 4070 - 4490 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 65 feet and 40 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.  While rated an A or B for water a wet suit is recommended just in case you find water in the deep section around raps 4 and 5 which can be cold.

General Comments

Merry Piglet is a fun short canyon to fill an afternoon.  The short but deep slot encompassing raps 4, 5 and 6 is the best part of the canyon as you drop through deep slot with elevator like drops and pools in narrow canyon.

About 275 feet from the road on the approach is an upclimb of about 15 feet rated at about 5.6 used to get up above the final drop in Merry Piglet. After getting up the upclimb the route drops down into then crosses over Merry Piglet then scrambles up the west side to a large shelf just above the white rock layer about 200 feet above the canyon floor. Then the route is a pretty straight forward walk along the shelf to the head of the canyon to drop in. To get up the upclimb near the start of the approach a better climber / scrambler can go fist and set a rope for others to use as a hand line as needed.

Merry Piglet has a few spots that can be a waist to almost chest deep and a couple other spots that can be swimmers when full. After recent rains it is a good idea to have a wet suit along just in case.  During hot dry times there may be little water in the canyon and you may only find a spot or two of waist deep water. While rated an A or B for water a wet suit is recommended just in case you find water in the deep section around raps 4 and 5 which can be cold.

Some of the raps are optional and others can be downclimbed.  Your actual rap count will vary depending on choices and skill level.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of highways 95 and 276 (about 25 miles south of Hanksville) drive southeast on highway 95 for 7.2 miles to the Hog Springs parking area on the right.  This is a large parking area with bathrooms on the right.  From the Hog Springs parking area continue southeast on highway 95 for 0.49 miles to a small pull out (PkMerryPiglet) on the left (north) side of the road.  Park here to start the route.

Note:
The bottom of Merry Piglet drops to the road on the right (north / same side of the road) about 280 feet before getting to the pull out.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

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

Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the entire route.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot (PkMerryPiglet) walk west on the road about 280 feet to the bottom of the Merry Piglet drainage (yMerryPigletBt).

Leave the road and go north up the RUC (east) side of the drainage and route finding up the boulder debris. About 275 feet from the road is an upclimb to go up to bypass a dryfall.

The upclimb (MerryPig01) of about 15 feet on the RUC (east) side is said to be rated a 5.6 climb move on a rock slab near the top of the boulder field. A better climber / scrambler can go fist and set a rope for others to use as a hand line as needed.

After getting to the top of the upclimb walk west down to the watercourse just above a dryfall. Then cross over the drainage to the LUC (west) side and begin to route find and scramble up steeply sloped slickrock about 200 feet up to gain access to a large shelf just above the white rock layer.

Once on the shelf above the white rock layer (MerryPig02) about 200 feet up from the canyon floor walk the wide shelf north up canyon for about 800 feet to a spot where you can go high or low.

Note:
As you scramble up to the shelf you may not see the white rock layer until you are up a ways. Keep in mind you are not goiong all the way up to the top of the dirt layer. The scramble up ends when you get above the white rock layer and still below the chunky, rocky final layer.

When you get to the spot you wonder if you should go high or low (MerryPig03) stay high and go about 900 feet to the head of the canyon above an overhanging drop.

Note:
About 200 feet before reaching the head is one of (MerryPig04) a couple spots you can scramble down into the canyon bellow the first rappel at the head of the canyon.  To continue to the head of the canyon stay high and walk over to the obvious head of the canyon just above an overhanging drop. 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
At the head of the canyon (yMerryPigletTp) is the first rap that can be anchored from one of many rocks or a choke stone in a crack and drops about 60 feet.

Continue down canyon about 200 feet to the start of some shallow slots (MerryPig05) leading about 200 feet down canyon to rap 2. You can play through these slots or bypass them going around on the LDC side and scramble down to the tree for rap 2.

Rap 2 (dMerryPigR2) is anchored from a tree in the water course and drops about 25 feet to a sandy area with a possible waist deep pool. Rap 2 can be downclimbed but can be a spicy challenge.

Just after rap 2 is narrow slot about 150 feet long, that can have a couple spots of thigh deep water, with galumphing and one easy stem style downclimb of about 15 feet before reaching an open area (MerryPig06) about 130 feet long down to rap 3.

Rap 3 (dMerryPigR3) is anchored from rocks in the water course and drops 25 feet over two stages down a narrow slot then down a flaring portion down to a sandy hole that can retain water and would be a waist deep to swimmer if full. The first half of this rap can be downclimbed relatively easy while the second half flares out and gets awkward. The last 8 feet would need to be jumped where using a rope would be safer.

Shortly after rap 3 is a stem style downclimb of about 10 feet to a pool that can be waist to swimmer depth for about 20 feet. Rap 4 is about 280 feet down canyon of rap 3.

Rap 4 (dMerryPigR4-6) is anchored from choke stones down in the narrow floor and drops about 65 feet down through a narrow slot where you will need to stem down to the anchor. The rap drops down through a narrow sloped slot with slick walls that can be downclimbed for all but the last 8 feet that drops vertical to a pool about waist deep in a deep chamber. Be sure to extend the anchor far enough to get past more choke stones that can catch the rope when pulling the ropes. On the other side of the pool is rap 5.

Rap 5 anchored from a choke stone and drops about 40 feet down through a narrow slot down to a pool that can be about chest deep.  Rap 5 is a very fun elevator style downclimb if you enjoy that style. At the bottom of rap 5 is a pool that can be waist to chest deep.  After the pool is a short section to walk in the deep slot over to rap 6.

Rap 6 anchored from a choke stone and drops about 50 feet down through a narrow slot to get out to a wide open area of canyon. Rap 6 can also be downclimbed with elevator / stem style movement.  Just after rap 6 the canyon opens up wide.

From the start of the wide open area (MerryPig07) after rap 6, walk down canyon about 500 feet to the next rap.

Rap 7 (dMerryPigR7) is anchored from tree and rock and drops about 20. This rap is next to the upclimb done on the approach and can be bypassed by downclimbing the same way you came up. Find your way about 275 feet down canyon back to the road.

The Exit:
From the bottom of the Merry Piglet drainage where it meets the road (yMerryPigletBt) turn left and walk about 280 feet to your car (PkMerryPiglet). 

GPS Waypoint Information

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........

Merry Piglet (1) - Approach

PkMerryPiglet          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96023   W -110.48274        Elev: 4,070 Feet Small pull out on the north side of the road where a few cars can park. Walk west on the road about 280 feet to get to the botto of Merry Piglet. yMerryPigletBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96043   W -110.48359        Elev: 4,080 Feet Bottom exit for Merry Piglet where the route meets the road. To get into Merry Piglet go up the RUC (east) side, route finding up the boulder debris. About 275 feet from the road is an upclimb to go up to bypass a dryfall. MerryPig01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96109   W -110.48330        Elev: NaN Feet Upclimb of about 15 feet on the RUC (east) side said to be rated a 5.6 climb move on a rock slab near the top of the boulder field. A better climber / scrambler can go fist and set a rope for others to use as a hand line as needed. After getting to the top of the upclimb walk west down to the watercourse just above a dryfall. Then cross over the drainage to the LUC (west) side and begin to route find and scramble up steeply sloped slickrock about 200 feet up to gain access to a large shelf just above the white rock layer. MerryPig02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96175   W -110.48437        Elev: 4,400 Feet The scramble portion of the route gets up to a shelf just above the white rock layer about 200 feet above the canyon floor. Walk the wide shelf north up canyon for about 800 feet to a spot where you can go high or low. Note: As you scramble up to the shelf you may not see the white rock layer until you are up a ways. Keep in mind you are not goiong all the way up to the top of the dirt layer. The scramble up ends when you get above the white rock layer and still below the chunky, rocky final layer. MerryPig03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96329   W -110.48259        Elev: NaN Feet Stay high at this spot where you can go high or low. Stay high and go about 900 feet to the head of the canyon above an overhanging drop. MerryPig04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96459   W -110.48132        Elev: NaN Feet One of a couple spots you can scramble down into the canyon bellow the first rappel at the head of the canyon.  To continue to the head of the canyon stay high and walk over to the obvious head of the canyon just above an overhanging drop. yMerryPigletTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96492   W -110.48088        Elev: 4,490 Feet Top entry for Merry Piglet. Rap 1 at the head of the canyon is optional, can be anchored from one of many rocks or a choke stone in a crack and drops about 60 feet. Continue down canyon about 200 feet to the start of some shallow slots.

Merry Piglet (2) - Canyon and Exit

yMerryPigletTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96492   W -110.48088        Elev: 4,490 Feet Top entry for Merry Piglet. Rap 1 at the head of the canyon is optional, can be anchored from one of many rocks or a choke stone in a crack and drops about 60 feet. Continue down canyon about 200 feet to the start of some shallow slots. MerryPig05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96439   W -110.48117        Elev: NaN Feet A few shallow slots leading about 200 feet down canyon to rap 2. You can play through these slots or bypass them going around on the LDC side and scramble down to the tree for rap 2. dMerryPigR2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96406   W -110.48119        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 2 - Merry Piglet. Anchored from a tree in the water course and drops about 25 feet to a sandy area with a possible waist deep pool. Rap 2 can be downclimbed but can be a spicy challenge. Just after rap 2 is narrow slot about 150 feet long, that can have a couple spots of thigh deep water, with galumphing and one easy stem style downclimb of about 15 feet. MerryPig06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96373   W -110.48139        Elev: NaN Feet Start of an open area about 130 feet long down to rap 3. dMerryPigR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96350   W -110.48175        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 3 - Merry Piglet. Anchored from rocks in the water course and drops 25 feet over two stages down a narrow slot then down a flaring portion down to a sandy hole that can retain water and would be a waist deep to swimmer if full. The first half of this rap can be downclimbed relatively easy while the second half flares out and gets awkward. The last 8 feet would need to be jumped where using a rope would be safer. Shortly after rap 3 is a stem style downclimb of about 10 feet to a pool that can be waist to swimmer depth for about 20 feet. Rap 4 is about 280 feet down canyon of rap 3. dMerryPigR4-6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96277   W -110.48209        Elev: NaN Feet Raps 4 thru 6 - Merry Piglet. Rap 4 anchored from choke stones down in the narrow floor and drops about 65 feet down through a narrow slot where you will need to stem down to the anchor. The rap drops down through a narrow sloped slot with slick walls that can be downclimbed for all but the last 8 feet that drops vertical to a pool about waist deep in a deep chamber. Be sure to extend the anchor far enough to get past more choke stones that can catch the rope when pulling the ropes. On the other side of the pool is rap 5. Rap 5 anchored from a choke stone and drops about 40 feet down through a narrow slot down to a pool that can be about chest deep. Rap 5 is a very fun elevator style downclimb if you enjoy that style. At the bottom of rap 5 is a pool that can be waist to chest deep. After the pool is a short section to walk in the deep slot over to rap 6. Rap 6 anchored from a choke stone and drops about 50 feet down through a narrow slot to get out to a wide open area of canyon. Rap 6 can also be downclimbed with elevator / stem style movement. Just after rap 6 the canyon opens up wide. MerryPig07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96226   W -110.48241        Elev: NaN Feet Start of a wide open area. Walk down canyon about 500 feet to the next rap. dMerryPigR7          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96115   W -110.48333        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 7 - Merry Piglet Canyon. Anchored from tree and rock and drops about 20. This rap is next to the upclimb done on the approach and can be bypassed by downclimbing the same way you came up. Find your way about 275 feet down canyon back to the road. yMerryPigletBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96043   W -110.48359        Elev: 4,080 Feet Bottom exit for Merry Piglet where the route meets the road. To get into Merry Piglet go up the RUC (east) side, route finding up the boulder debris. About 275 feet from the road is an upclimb to go up to bypass a dryfall. PkMerryPiglet          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96023   W -110.48274        Elev: 4,070 Feet Small pull out on the north side of the road where a few cars can park. Walk west on the road about 280 feet to get to the botto of Merry Piglet.