{"id":4634,"date":"2016-02-15T20:42:47","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T20:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/?p=4634"},"modified":"2021-02-28T23:12:24","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T23:12:24","slug":"hike-guide-the-baker-route-and-stevens-canyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/hike-guide-the-baker-route-and-stevens-canyon\/","title":{"rendered":"Hike Guide: The Baker Route and Stevens Canyon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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– Stevens Canyon meets The Escalante –<\/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 makes 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 east-to-west and DOWN the canyon. If heading the other direction, click to reverse<\/a>\u00a0and read about the hike headed up canyon.<\/p>\n

The Baker Route (Halls Creek to Middle Stevens Canyon)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Baker Route begins on the eastern side of the Waterpocket Fold<\/strong> at approximately N37.538538\u00b0 W-110.852807\u00b0.\u00a0 Most hikers will likely get to this remote spot by coming down Halls Creek<\/strong>. Others may come up from Lake Powell<\/strong>. Coming from either way, it appears on the map that it might be possible to shave off some mileage by angling up sooner and hiking through the slickrock. This may indeed be the case, but it’s likely more work than it’s worth as walking a straight line in this country is impossible. Before heading up the slickrock though, try to stay in the wash or along its eastern side to avoid the deep brush that chokes the small streams entering from the fold.<\/p>\n

Once headed up, the Baker Route can be confusing as it is only sporadically marked with cairns. Thus, excellent navigational skills are essential. \u00a0At some points the route is marked every 10 feet, but then other sections there’s not a cairn to be found. In general I found it easiest to just pick my own route of least resistance. When I do, I frequently then find myself coming across route markers. A word of caution though: this is an extremely remote location and you likely won’t see anyone else. Make sure you generally know where you are as you don’t want to wander aimlessly along the Fold in the wrong direction. FYI: my linked map includes coordinates for several confirmed waypoints\/cairns.<\/p>\n

Depending on the season, one is likely to find multiple potholes going up the eastern slopes. They seem to be more prevalent on the lower slopes unfortunately instead of up on top where they’d be more beneficial.<\/p>\n

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Eastern Panorama from top of The Fold<\/p><\/div>\n

Once on top the views are great even though it’s not as prominent as other places along the fold. Ahead of you are views across Stevens Canyon<\/strong> to Fiftymile Mountain<\/strong>. Behind you is a great panorama of the Henry Mountains<\/strong>, the rolling domes\/fins of the Fold and the Bullfrog Bay<\/strong> and Marina on Lake Powell. This location is also one of the spots that has Verizon cell reception<\/strong> so check in if needed.<\/p>\n

The route along the crest wanders a bit before making its way down into a gully.\u00a0The trail is sporadically marked in this section and it will be easy to lose it in spots, but generally if you keep heading west toward the canyon system below you will be fine. Soon the route will\u00a0wind its way through some domes gradually losing elevation before making it to the top of a hill in about another \u00bd mile. Descend the hill and enter the wash.<\/p>\n

Walk down the likely sandy and bone-dry wash for about \u00be a mile before exiting on the the right where a well-worn trail heads to and around some Navajo domes. If you miss this exit, you will eventually run into an impassable dryfall.\u00a0This segment is maybe the trickiest part of the route and must be followed precisely as all other routes are impassable. Study my map to get the gist of the route through this section.<\/p>\n

Rim-walking to the north \u00a0around the domes one’s goal is to get to the next side canyon. There is no way down on this side though, so continue rimwalking until you cross the wash at another dryfall. Then continue around and eventually find a weakness (likely marked) where it is possible to double-back and get down below the dryfall.\u00a0I call this the “Switchback” and it seems like the wrong direction, but it’s necessary to descend. Head back east and into the side canyon. From here descend to the main side canyon. Near the bottom progress may appear blocked, but a\u00a0simple (steep) bypass is apparent. You are now down into the major side canyon which leads to Stevens — often referred to as Exit Canyon <\/strong>(I believe guidebook author Steve Allen dubbed it this.)<\/p>\n

Immediately down canyon there is likely to be a large pothole of water<\/strong> which is\u00a0reported to frequently\u00a0hold water throughout the year.\u00a0During wetter seasons one will likely find water in many of the potholes along this section. Before long the wash ends in another dryfall and one should rimwalk on the southern (left) Wingate Sandstone shelf. \u00a0This section is quite scenic running above the entrenched inner canyon.<\/p>\n

Keep going for 30 minutes or so and soon you will notice the canyon opens up as it nears Stevens providing excellent views of the lush area around the spring to the north and the prominent rock “Tower” to the south. \u00a0From here the route quickly descends to Stevens where there is likely to be water.<\/p>\n\n\t\t