Red Canyon Trail and Route
The Red Canyon Trail and Route is an easy-to-moderate 5.6-mile roundtrip hike.
Plan Around Red Canyon Trail and Route
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Red Canyon Trail and Route Details
The Red Canyon Trail and Route is an easy-to-moderate 5.6-mile roundtrip hike. Hikers will begin at the trailhead at the primitive Cedar Mesa Campground, and head southwest across a sagebrush flat before climbing a low ridge, which offers great views of the Henry Mountains to the east. Here the trail begins to follow an old dugway, which is an old road constructed on a hillside. After 1.3 miles, the trail drops into a sandy wash flanked by cottonwood trees. Here hikers will simply follow the wash bottom for more than a mile before arriving at a natural amphitheater made of high, Wingate sandstone walls. The hike ends at a fork in the gray-green and lavender clay of the Chinle formation, beyond which hikers cannot go because the path is impeded by a number of large boulders. Backcountry hikers should always keep safety at top of mind. Be careful in narrow canyons, particularly during flash-flood season from July through September, and always obtain a free backcountry permit from the visitor center before setting out. None of these routes are official, maintained trails. Backcountry hikers should have good navigational skills and should always let someone know their planned route and return date. Cell phone service in this area is not reliable or non-existent.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
5.6 miles
Estimated time
3-4 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Red Canyon Trail and Route
Compare nearby parks around Red Canyon Trail and Route when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Red Canyon Trail and Route
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Red Canyon Trail and Route while the map context is still fresh.
0.9 mi away
Cedar Mesa Campground
The Cedar Mesa Campground is one of two primitive campgrounds in Capitol Reef National Park.
7.9 mi away
Sheets Gulch Route
Sheets Gulch, Burro Wash and Cottonwood Wash are all classic slot canyons accessible via unmarked backcountry routes.
8.9 mi away
Strike Valley Overlook Trail
The very short .9-mile round trip Strike Valley Overlook hike does proved some challenge nonetheless.
10.6 mi away
Upper Muley Twist Canyon Route
The rim route in Upper Muley Twist Canyon provides hikers with great views of the Waterpocket Fold and surrounding area.
11.3 mi away
Cottonwood Wash Route
Cottonwood Wash, Burro Wash and Sheets Gulch are all classic slot canyons accessible via unmarked backcountry routes.
