⊗ Pandora’s Box ♦

August 24, 2017 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Capitol Reef National Park → ⊗ Pandora’s Box

⊗ Technical Route ⊗
♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: West of the Fruita Area, on the Border of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Distance: 10.5 miles total (assuming you use the upstream exit), 1.5 miles technical

Elevation Ascent/Descent: 2200 feet (1100 feet on the approach, 1100 feet on the exit)/2200 feet (1100 feet descending the canyon, 1100 feet on the exit)

Time Required: 11-14 hours

Rappels: at least 7, lengths up to 150 feet

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required, no shuttle required. This is a long canyon with awkward rappels, very narrow slots, and some sections of high stemming; also features anchoring challenges – the anchors are often difficult to reach and inspect. Requires good route finding and comfortable scrambling/climbing skills for the upstream exit. There’s a large area where you can camp for free (no facilities) at the trailhead. For additional details on the route, see the BluuGnome beta.

What’s Nearby?: Cassidy Arch Canyon/Cassidy Arch Hike, Hickman Bridge, Fremont Petroglyphs

This canyon definitely falls into the “Big Day Adventure” category. When you start your canyon before dawn to make sure you get back before dark, you know it’s serious. This is definitely one where you don’t want to be finishing up with a headlamp, but the early start and long day are worth the effort. The approach hike is beautiful, winding up an old cattle trail to top out on Meek’s Mesa with panoramic views. From Meek’s Mesa it’s an easy flat hike across to the canyon drop in, after which you’re immediately plunged into another world. Pandora’s Box is a maze of fractured sandstone, filled with questionable tiny slots that constantly have you wondering whether it’s a good idea to try squeezing through. The majority of the anchors have been set up extending over the lips of the drops, to eliminate issues with rope pulling. This means that the first part of the rappel is unsupported, requiring awkward starts to avoid overloading the anchors or injuring yourself during a sudden drop and catch.

The time commitment is in the lower part of the canyon, so don’t be deceived by how quickly you move in the upper part of the canyon. And then, of course, there’s the exit. Exiting upstream requires you to climb back up to the top of Meek’s Mesa where you eventually regain the original approach trail. There is no trail to get back up to Meek’s Mesa – you essentially just have to route-find/scramble/possibly do some easy class 5 climbing moves. Clearly this kind of venture would be difficult or impossible in the dark, which is why you want to allow yourself ample time. Alternatively, there is a downstream exit option which adds 3.5 miles to the exit and puts you out at the Chimney Rock Trailhead (which is 3.5 miles down the road from the Pandora’s Box Trailhead). Despite the need for a shuttle and the additional distance, this route is apparently very straightforward and can be navigated easily in the dark (we haven’t done it, so I can’t vouch for it personally).