Lower Spring Canyon

Soaring walls in lower Spring Canyon

This fascinating walk down rugged Lower Spring Canyon features soaring sandstone walls, magnificent domes and two sections of twisting narrows. Minor obstacles add some challenge to the walk that starts by hiking a section of the Chimney Rock trail.
See Trail Detail/Full Description

• Distance: 12.0 miles (round trip) to Lower Spring Canyon
  
• Elevation: 6,050-ft. at Trailhead
  6,335-ft. at Lower Spring Canyon
  
• Elevation Gain: 6,050-ft. to Lower Spring Canyon
  
• Difficulty: moderate-strenuous
• More Hikes in:
  Capitol Reef / South Central Utah

Why Hike Lower Spring Canyon

This great hike wanders down an impressive canyon with sheer, multi-hued sandstone walls soaring overhead. Every twist and turn reveals new vistas of towering cliffs, spires and domes set amid a rugged landscape.

There is no official maintained trail down the canyon. For most of the hike the trail travels down the canyon’s wash. Two sections of narrows will divert hikers to bypass routes, marked with cairns, traversing slickrock slopes and climbing rugged, rocky slopes with some exposure. In places an obstacle course of boulders strewn along the canyon floor will require hikers to weave around or climb over the impediments.

The trail is accessible via Chimney Rock Canyon and can be walked as an out-and-back or point-to-point hike. The point-to-point hike requires a thigh-deep ford of the Fremont River.

Note: Flash floods, rockfalls and other events can change conditions in the canyon. Check with the Capitol Reef Visitor Center for current conditions before setting out.

Elevation Profile

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:

Region Information:
South Central Utah

Other Hiking Regions in:
Utah