Canyoneering - Hidden Star Cyn, Leeds Cyn, St George 5/10/24

Emily Hacken

May 21, 20242 min read

Itinerary:

Trailhead - 10:00 am

Run Hidden Star - 10-2 pm

Run Yankie Doodle or Boltergeist Cyns

Directions: Yant Flats Parking area (exit and entrance are the same), Leeds Cyn

Activity:

Canyoneering Hidden Star Canyon (4BI) - 2.5 mile loop, some potholes with water - technical canyon. Takes about 3-4 hrs. Park at the Yant Flats/Candy Cliffs Trailhead. Hike up the road west about 1/4 mi to rd 4052 heading south (You can also drive up this high clearance road to a parking area). Follow road up to the end (about 1/4 mi) and head southeast up to the top of the closest hill. Follow the ridge south and west to the drainage that brings you to the first rappel.

Rappel 1 - Webbing around multiple boulders in a dry pothole, abt 180 ft (sloping for the first 1/3, then drops you into a narrow crack with wet potholes. Final 1/3 is a steeper slope with a narrow crack in the center). Highly recommend leaving rope to retrieve later as the pull is very difficult.

Follow the canyon through and over wet and dry potholes. Biggest obstacle is a keeper pothole about 8ft + deep to the edge. Can also bridge above. We had several in our group go over and then build a rope bridge for those going through the water. (watch out for small frogs)

Hike Out:

There is another rocky downclimb and then the exit where the canyon to the west meets on the right. Scramble up the ridge to above where your first rappel is and follow a small trail down to it. Retrieve rope and hike out the same way you came in. Rope Wiki Trip Report.

Bathrooms - no

Cell Phone Service - at trailhead

Dogs - no

Gear: harness (can rent), helmet (can rent), rappel device (ATS, Squirrl, Critter, etc), locking carabiners, (NO COTTON) thin liner T-shirt, hiking pants, fleece jacket, rain/windproof jacket, hiking boots or grippy shoes, headlamp, backpack, 2 L water, 6-8 snacks, first aid kit, small knife, sunscreen, sunglasses, 2 - 65 m static ropes, webbing, quick links, figure 8s, carabiners

Rentals:

- Harness: $5/day (BYU Outdoors Unltd); $17 (BYU Outdoors Unltd)

- Helmet: $4/day (BYU Outdoors Unltd); $4/day (UVU Outdoor Adventure Center)

Map