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| Hiking | 26.36 Miles |
5,588 AEG |
| | Hiking | 26.36 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 5,588 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The HikeArizona guide is very accurate. The following addenda may be of help. I hiked this route in late December 2019.
-Stats: About 13.4 miles to Echo Camp with 5,600' loss and 3,200' gain, this from fairly accurate and lightly edited GPS data. The descent from Yabbut Pass to the gut of Cliff Canyon was 1.7 miles and 1,560' of descent.
-Google Maps shows the correct location for "Rainbow Bridge South Trail Trailhead" (i.e. Rainbow Lodge), but the road that takes you there has a washed-out & closed section. Neither internet resources nor the Navajo Nation handout that came with my permit indicated this. You must now keep left at the Haystack Rock junction and then take your next right to join the road leading to the Lodge -- see HAZ directions and map photo.
-The whole route is strenuous; there is never an easy section until you get close to the Bridge. In the first 5.3 miles to Yabbut Pass, you'll gain and lose about 1,600' (Yabbut elevation only slightly higher than the trailhead). After the big drop into Cliff Canyon, the rest requires clamoring in and out of the wash, routefinding, and swatting brush, punctuated only by Redbud Pass. The whole thing is pretty grueling, even heading downcanyon.
-I was there about 7-10 days after a good dose of snow, after which followed generally fair winter weather. The sun-exposed areas before Yabbut Pass were a mix of dry and patchy, but the north-facing canyon descents had up to 4" of continuous snow, with Horse Canyon holding the most. There was also an icy slickrock stretch at (37.01559 -110.92330) with a bad runout that required a climb-around. Consider foot traction in snowy conditions. Fortunately, there was no snow down low in Cliff or Bridge canyons. Water was available in all the normal places this time of year.
-I mislocated Yabbut Pass when preparing my GPS data before the hike. I thought it would be at the high point at (37.02473 -110.92204) -- this is where you actually cross into the Cliff Canyon drainage, and there are several large cairns here that seem to mark it as a special spot. But from here you must descend and climb another short ways to the true Yabbut Pass at (37.02698 -110.92484). The first location is the better place to cache water or gear; Yabbut Pass is rocky and small.
-I found Redbud Pass to be easier than described. It's Class 2 scrambling through big, solid boulders for about 150 feet with very little exposure. I could see an inexperienced or balance-unsure hiker needing a partner assist or pack-passdown, but I think the vast majority of those attempting this hike will be just fine.
-When you get to Rainbow Bridge, there is an established trail leading around its eastern buttress that continues out towards the docks. NPS signs ask you to stay on trail. (The route description on HikeArizona hints at "finding your own way around"; stay on the trail!).
-This NPS video says there's a dinosaur footprint by the bridge! I didn't know before I went so I didn't look. [ youtube video ]
-There was refreshingly little garbage on the route, except in some fire pits. I packed a little out, please join me in cleaning the place up bit by bit!
-For footwear, I was glad I took over-the-ankle hiking boots. There's almost no slickrock walking or getting your feet wet, so approach/canyon footwear doesn't buy you much. But there is lots of loose, sandy, and rocky footing, so you want something sturdy.
-I noted the locations of 6 metal mile-markers and 5 suitable camps other than Echo. These are in my uploaded GPS data. |
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