Moab, UT: Cameltoe Canyon | Hiking in Utah

Moab, UT: Cameltoe Canyon

Put your route-finding skills to the test on this 5-mile trek that ascends rock ledges, skirts slickrock pools, and traverses sandy-bottomed washes.

Author:	Backpacker Magazine
Date:	6 May 2008 5:02:01 PM
Activity:	Hiking ActivitySearchHiking
State:	Utah (UT)
Distance:	5 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 1042 ft Total Loss: 483 ft Net Change: 559 ft
Difficulty:	9 / 10
USGS Topo Map:	Gold Bar Canyon
Tags:	Utah, Moab
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

This 5-mile out-and-back into Cameltoe Canyon is a perfect introduction to canyoneering—the route requires scrambling and route-finding skills, but ropes, harnesses, and hardware aren't mandatory. Plus, the canyon has a few slickrock pools to cool your feet on a hot day.

From the trailhead, hike north along ATV tracks. The route passes petroglyphs after .4 mile, then roughly follows the wash north and northeast to round a knob and descend a gully on the other side. Scramble northwest through dry and wet sections of the wash for .3 mile to slickrock slabs that make for a more secluded overnight stay than the campground at the trailhead. Continue up canyon through a keyhole, passing more slickrock pools, before turning around at mile 2.6 and retracing the route back to the trailhead.

Mapped by Steve Howe

TO TRAILHEAD: Drive west on US 191 and cross the Colorado River bridge. Within a half mile, turn left (south) on UT 279 and follow it along the Colorado River for 9.7 miles to Gold Bar Recreation Area and the well-signed Corona Arch (and Cameltoe) Trailhead.

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Cameltoe Canyon

Dist: 2.53 mi	Points: 243	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Points of Interest

CML001

Location: 38.574944°, -109.632523°
From the Corona Arch Trailhead, hike north along ATV tracks to gate. Gold Bar campground lies to the west, between UT 279 and the Colorado River.

CML002

Location: 38.579151°, -109.634987°
Follow zigzag passage through fence. Look for petroglyphs on boulder immediately to the north. Next, continue on trail that winds along bench on canyon's east side.

CML003

Location: 38.585686°, -109.630539°
At mile 1.2, after rounding Point 4,293 (unnamed high point), descend to gully and turn left (north).

CML004

Location: 38.586834°, -109.631477°
Shallow pools in slickrock slab are great for soaking the feet. Continue north.

CML005

Location: 38.587582°, -109.632545°
Bypass dry pour-over at mile 1.3 by detouring left (southeast); hike downcanyon.

CML006

Location: 38.587402°, -109.632278°
Climb out of wash onto ledges west of canyon bottom.

CML007

Location: 38.587383°, -109.632713°
Nice campsite on open slabs with views of surrounding bowl, mesas overhead, and sandstone fins across the Colorado River.