Overview

Hype:

This short and easy trail takes hikers down a dry riverbed past Duckett Arch, past Big Arrowhead Arch, and to a cluster of shallow sandstone grottos.

Trail Condition: Class 1 (Trail is either paved or gravel. Navigation skills are not needed because there is only one trail or because there are signs. Elevation gains are gradual or there are stairs.)

Time: 1 hour

Length: 1.7 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: Negligible

Fees: None

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

Getting There

Navigate to 37.742684, -110.281179.

Park in the pullout on the side of the road.

Route

From the trailhead, follow the road through the box culvert under the highway. This will drop you in a dry streambed. Turn right (southeast) and follow the river for 0.8 miles, passing 2 arches and ending at some shallow sandstone caves. Big Arrowhead Arch is the highight of the trip.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Hite, Utah

Coordinates: 37.738878, -110.270816

Interactive Guide Map

Download Guide Map

View map fullscreen.

May 26, 2023 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye, Matt Laurendeau, Amanda Laurendeau, Alex Laurendeau, Caleb Laurendeau, Rose Laurendeau, Lila Laurendeau, Trey Laurendeau, Ryan Baker, Eliza Baker, ,

Logistics

Trailhead: 8:15

Top of canyon: 8:25

Bottom of canyon: 10:15

Me back at truck: 10:40

Group at Grotto trailhead: 12:40

Story

We did Short Canyon. It was great for our group of 3 adults and 6 kids. I ended up carrying most of the kids across the water. It was about armpit deep. We got wetsuits for all the kids, but they didn't fit very well so we took sympathy on them and shuttled them. Cooper carried a 10-foot-long stick through the whole canyon. 

At the bottom of the canyon, we split up and I took the climbers exit up to the truck while Tara and Amanda took the kids down the wash. I drove down to camp and then hiked up the river and met them about halfway down. We ate lunch in the shade and then hiked down canyon. We stopped at a couple of cool arches (The Grotto, Big Arrowhead Arch, and Ducket Arch) and then hiked the rest of the way to camp. 

View map fullscreen

Pictures