Miles: 20.5 miles one way from the mouth Lower Hackberry Trailhead to the Round Valley Draw. We did 9.4 miles round trip from the Lower Hackberry Trailhead to the Sam Pollock Canyon.
Elevation Gain/Highest: 82ft/5020ft
Map: USGS Calico Peak and SlickRock Bench
Favorite Eats After Hike: Pack A Cooler or Backpack Paleo
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
3/28/2018
Hackberry Canyon is one of the most scenic and popular canyon hikes in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and rightly so. Moderately difficult but with little elevation gain as it wanders the canyon floor, with the most challenging part was keeping our feet dry.
It started out by crossing a wide, shallow stream and then quickly made its way along (and in) that stream through the Hackberry Canyon lined with budding cottonwood trees and steep sandstone walls contrasting the azure sky.
The first two miles offered a slot canyon, famous for this area, which meant a water trail. Not necessary, but I paid attention for quicksand, even though rain had not occurred recently.
My hiking sandals came in handy and were perfect for treading through the water, although my husband went barefoot and his worst complaint was the bitter cold of the water. Both our feet were pretty pink!
It didn’t last long because after a few miles the canyon widened and allowed for drier trail up on sandy benches.
We found multiple paths to follow, some staying closer to the water and some further up on the sand. Hiking in we stayed with the creek most of the way but walking further up on the benches and to the west of the creek would mean encountering the Fred Watson cabin about 3 miles from the trailhead. On our way out, it was a fun place to explore and read the guest log to see who had been there before us. Evidence of critters would keep anyone from taking shelter from the sun for very long.
There were various side canyons to explore, including the Sam Pollock Canyon at 4.7 miles in designated as a camping area on the map. This is where we set up our tent and stayed for the night.
We explored the side canyon twice, the second time scrambling up and exploring the top of the mesa with views into Grand Staircase Escalante proper and the surrounding peaks.
For being such a popular spot, we saw just a handful of hikers once we were beyond the first few miles and it felt like we had the place to ourselves for most of our adventure. If you are looking for a short backpacking trip away from the crowds, this would be the place!
I write more about our hike in Hackberry Canyon: Escaping The Fecal Forest on the blog.
You can also read about our short hike (scramble) up to Yellow Rock at the beginning of our trip that leads from the same trailhead.
Directions: From US 89 in Southern Utah near Big Water (MP 18, 17 miles from Page, Arizona), turn north onto Cottonwood Drive and go 14.3 miles into the Paria River Valley on a gravel road to the trailhead for Lower Hackberry Canyon. The trail starts out by crossing the shallow Hackberry Creek and then turns left before you enter the canyon itself and skirts the sandstone walls by following the creek .3 miles. You can, also, access the trail off the junction with Brigham Plains Road .2 miles before the parking lot for Hackberry but parking is along the road. There is a disturbed area on the north side of the road that heads west towards the Cockscomb and cottonwood trees. From HWY 12 and Cannonville, UT, drive 32 miles south on Cottonwood to the trailhead.
There is a signed parking lot for Lower Hackberry Trail and room for about 10 cars. There are no facilities. Plan to carry plenty of water and sun protection. There are 3 springs shown on the USGS maps for the hike and the creek flows the first 10 miles of the canyon but filtering is necessary. Make sure to check with the Paria Contact Station for the latest conditions and possible warnings about flash flooding.
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