{"id":4155,"date":"2015-10-27T23:27:35","date_gmt":"2015-10-27T23:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=4155"},"modified":"2020-08-07T02:03:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T02:03:19","slug":"stevens-canyon-and-the-baker-route","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/stevens-canyon-and-the-baker-route\/","title":{"rendered":"Stevens Canyon and the Baker Route"},"content":{"rendered":"
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– Entrance to Stevens Canyon –<\/p><\/div>\n

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Stevens Canyon<\/strong> is a classic Escalante drainage which remains relatively infrequently visited thanks to its remote location. \u00a0With no major obstacles, Stevens makes for a great backpacking destination. Combined with the historical Baker Route<\/strong>, it \u00a0makes for a great “connector” for longer hikes and is becoming a popular alternate for hikers on the Hayduke Trail<\/strong><\/a> looking to avoid the long tedious segment along the Escalante River.<\/p>\n

Here is my description headed UP the canyon <\/strong>from the bottom. If you are prefer, change directions<\/a> and reverse the description for heading down canyon.<\/p>\n

Lower Canyon (Escalante to Slickrock Ramp)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most hikers will begin an adventure up Stevens Canyon after already visiting Coyote Gulch<\/strong><\/a> and possibly even doing the side hike up inside Stevens Arch<\/strong><\/a>. In any case, this description begins where the\u00a0small trickle comes out of Stevens Canyon at bottom where it meets the Escalante River and Stevens Arch looms high above (photo above right).<\/p>\n

The lower canyon is highly entrenched in Wingate Sandstone, but the towering Navajo walls are still frequently visible high above. One will likely be in and out of shallow water while traversing the lower canyon.<\/p>\n

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Nice Alcove<\/p><\/div>\n

There are a few points where deeper pools appear to block one’s progress, but there is always a way around — usually by climbing upon a slickrock shoulder nearby. The only point that might require removing the pack is at the “rock stack” climb<\/strong> — an 8′ to 10′ climb which is assisted by, you guessed it… a stack of rocks.<\/p>\n

A little farther up canyon one comes to “Poison Ivy Hill<\/strong>“. Here progress up the main water course is stopped by a fall which creates a scenic grotto with a hanging arch. True to its nickname — there is a lot of poison ivy in the area.<\/p>\n

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Looking up canyon at “Poison Ivy Hill”<\/p><\/div>\n

The bypass heads up through the overgrowth on a muddy, slick path. Luckily there are enough exposed roots which provide hand-holds to get one up through the quagmire. The hill quickly dries out and one continues up the steep talus slope of a rockfall. In 2015 and 2018 the route was fairly easy to follow to the top where it quickly drops back down into the watercourse which is dry at that point.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> a bend above the “Poison Ivy Hill”, a scramble route climbs up to the Kayenta ledges which can then be followed all the way back down the canyon and through Stevens Arch. From there it’s possible to descend to the Escalante near the confluence with Coyote Gulch. \u00a0I do not recommend this route for thru-hikers because a) the climb up is difficult, especially if solo or with a big pack and b) the lower part of Stevens Canyon is really great. Instead — just do the short hike up-and-back to the arch from the river.\u00a0This route is shown on the Hayduke Reference Map<\/a>. and more detail is given on the Stevens Arch Page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Above Poison Ivy Hill one follows the twisting “subway”-like canyon where once again pools of water appear along with more poison ivy which is extremely difficult to avoid. One will pass the only major side canyon branch on the right. I’ve read reports that there is a “climber’s route” which exits this way, but I have not explored the route.<\/p>\n

Soon one arrives to the next milestone in the canyon — the exit ramp<\/strong> on the right one must use to gain access to the high route. If you miss it, you will soon come to a pool and a 10′ dryfall. Turn around and head about 3 minutes back down the canyon.<\/p>\n

The bypass route is loosely cairned and heads up a jumble of rocks to exit the wash. Then it uses a steep slickrock ramp of about 100′ to gain access to the higher Kayenta ledges. The climb up may give those afraid of heights some pause, but it’s really not that bad as the exposure is minimal.<\/p>\n\n\t\t