Overview

Hype:

Wife 3 Canyon is a short and fun canyon in Capitol Reef National Park. There are 3 rappels up to 200 ft. Like the other Wives, Wife 3 Canyon ends at the Cohab Canyon Trail.

Canyon Rating: 3A

Time: 2.5 hours from Betrothed to bottom of canyon

Length: 0.2 miles with 1 mile approach from trailhead to Betrothed and 0.5 mile approach from Betrothed to top of Wife 3

Longest Rappel: 200 ft

Gear: 200 ft rope, 200 ft pull cord, standard rappelling gear

Fees: Entrance Fee

Recommended Ages:

0-3
4-11
12-19
20-49
50-69
70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Features:
  • Rappels
  • Fixed Anchors
  • Wetsuit Generally Not Required
  • No Drinking Water
  • Wayfinding
  • Road Access is Paved
  • Access Road is 2WD Accessible

Permits: Permits are not required

Links: Road Trip Ryan
Bluu Gnome

Getting There

Navigate to 38.285177, -111.246297.

Route

Approach

Hike up Cohab Canyon until you get to Betrothed Canyon. Then take the cliff route south past Betrothed Canyon until you get up on top of the cliffs. Stay relatively high as you travel west to the top of the canyon.

Canyon

Rappel #1: 200 ft off a tree on the west side of the canyon. 

Rappel #2: 50 ft off a chockstone.

Rappel #3: 30 ft off a solution pocket.

Rappel #4: 2-stage rappel 15 ft into a pothole then 15 ft to the canyon floor.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Torrey, Utah

Coordinates: 38.279713, -111.242661

Interactive Guide Map

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November 12, 2016 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Anthony Dye,

Logistics

3:30 Leave parking lot. Start hiking Cohab Canyon.

4:05 Betrothed Canyon turnoff.

4:25 Top of Wife 3 Canyon (Anthony drops in, pull cord too short, look for other options).

5:00 I drop rope and Anthony continues without me.

5:15 Anthony reaches bottom of Wife 3 Canyon.

5:35 Anthony hikes back to top of canyon.

5:40 Drop into Wife 2 Canyon.

6:45 Bottom of Wife 2 Canyon.

7:01 Parking lot.

Story

Anthony and I did this canyon after finishing Cassidy Arch Canyon. Well, actually that's not entirely true. We both started to do the canyon, but then we realized our pull cord was only 100 ft long instead of 200 ft long, so Anthony did the canyon by himself. After he went down the first rappel (200 ft) I untied the rope and dropped it to him. He did the canyon solo in about 15 minutes and then ran back up to the top so we could both do Wife 2 Canyon before it got too late.

While I was waiting, I explored upper TOTGA from the bottom up.

Video of Trip

Pictures