Burro Wash

Burro Wash is a 6.8-mile out-and-back from the Notom–Bullfrog Road crossing to the chamber below an impassable pour-off and back. The published distance is 3.4 miles each way. The first miles are broad, sandy wash; farther in, the walls close into sandstone slots where chockstones require climbing and pools may mean deep wading or a short swim. This is a difficult, mostly unmarked route for experienced canyon hikers. It is a long day out, not a quick walk.

The mapped line measures about 3.06 miles one way and does not verify the precise terminal chamber. It ends roughly a third of a mile short of the published distance, so do not treat its endpoint as a confirmed turnaround.

The route starts among low hills and follows the wash west. At major wash junctions, stay left. After about two miles, the wash cuts into Navajo Sandstone and narrows. This is where the open approach gives way to the enclosed canyon; from here the footing and route-finding become more demanding. The first few miles cross BLM land before the route enters Capitol Reef.

A narrow side wash on the right leads to a large chockstone, sometimes preceded by a pool. The route description gives a south-side slickrock bypass: backtrack about 20 yards, climb the slide, then follow the route around the ridge and down beyond the boulder. More chockstones and two shoulder-width narrows follow. Near the usual 3.4-mile turnaround, two large boulders and sometimes a cold pool lead into the last narrows. A large chamber below the impassable pour-off is where most hikers turn back. Beyond it, the steep north-wall bypass is loose and severely exposed; the continuation is for technical canyon climbers, not part of this hike. In the narrows, a wedged boulder framed by both walls shows the scale of the route.

This is not a maintained trail. Cairns may be sparse or missing, so take a topographic map and be confident navigating the wash. Natural water is unreliable; bring what you need for the full day. Pools and obstacles change, and some pools can require swimming. Summer heat is extreme, and flash floods are a recurring danger, especially July through September; avoid the canyon whenever rain is possible. Spring and fall are the best seasons. Pets are not allowed on trails or in backcountry areas; an overnight trip requires a free backcountry permit.