Hayduke: French Canyon

For hikers on the Hayduke Trail this is a great little shortcut into The Barracks. The route down the canyon is pretty fun and scenic and since the best parts of the Barracks are still downstream one doesn’t have to sacrifice too much in order to save some mileage. Just be sure to take the Lower Barracks Alternate to really see the best of the Barracks! Otherwise it’s only about 1 mile from the Hayduke to the East Virgin River via this shortcut — but it is a STEEP 1 mile. That said, IMHO it’s the best way to go.

PROS: 

— the shortcut saves about 3.5 miles of walking through sand/water

— the drop into the canyon is fun, looking impossible at first, but then not that bad.

— it’s a scenic side canyon

CONS: 

— though the best of the Barracks is still downstream, one would miss a nice red section of narrows and a cool bend or two

— one would miss the short diversion to the rock art panel near Rock Canyon.

— the middle portion of this side canyon can be brushy at times

DETAIL: 

The route leaves the Hayduke near some car camping spots along the backroad. Just as the road (and the Hayduke) swing to the east toward Rock Canyon, the shortcut route follows a faint old ATV track NNW for a ways down a wash with nice views of the White Cliffs in the distance.

Soon the route turns to just a footpath and follows a ridge along the rim of a quickly deepening canyon. At a small flat area along the ridge there is a weakness and the route turns left and abruptly drops into the canyon along a crack. It looks impossible at first, but it’s really not that bad with just a series of short “steps” to scramble down. I took off my big pack in one spot, but most hikers likely won’t have a problem here. Go slow and be careful, but rest assured there really isn’t any exposure to worry about here.

Once down to the floor of the canyon there’s a nice spot to relax at the bottom of a large dryfall. Heading down canyon one soon encounters a series of small slickrock drops which can be easily bypassed on the left. Not much father downcanyon is a spring and water will begin to run.

The next section is narrow and wet and you’ll have to get your feet wet, but there’s not likely to be anything more than shin-deep pools. Depending on the season this stretch can get overgrown, but it wasn’t too much of a thrash when I went through in early spring.

The very lower end of the canyon goes through a nice set of narrows which frequently glows orange and red.

You’ll soon hear the East Virgin River ahead and before you know it be at the end of the canyon and in The Barracks. Be sure to go just a few hundred yards upstream to see “Roaring Crack Spring” — a great water source and just a cool sight to see.

Note: the name “French Canyon” is an adopted name of the canyon and thus won’t appear on any official maps. I believe the name actually came from noted guide author/photographer Joe Braun who once declared in jest that he claimed the canyon “on behalf of France” and thus the name French Canyon was born.

GALLERY: 

back to on the Hayduke Trail Reference