Canyoneering - U Turn Canyon, Arches NP 3/15/25

Emily Hacken
May 25
2 min read

Itinerary: (can sleep over on BLM land as well)

8:30 am - enter Arches NP

9:00- 1pm -First Canyon (U Turn)

1-5pm - Second Canyon (Tier Drop)

6pm - Dinner Green River or Moab

7-11 pm - Drive home

Directions: Park Avenue Trailhead, Arches NP

Cost: $ 30 Arches NP Pass (free if you have a National Parks Pass) per vehicle

$6 canyon permit - Recreation.gov starting at 8:00 am MST the day before your trip

Activity: Both canyons have the same access hike in. Start WEST of the parkinglot and hike along the road for about 5 min and then you will see a small sign indicating the trail to the north that will take you to a crack in the plateu that you can scramble up. It is steep and takes about 20-30 min. Then you are at the top of all three canyons (U Turn, Not Tier Drop, Tier Drop - we recommend doing Not Tier Drop as it's own trip since it takes about 3-4 hours while the other two take 2-3 hours)

Canyoneering - U Turn (recommended to start with this canyon - great views, easy hike out back to the Park Avenue Trailhead). U Turn is the furthest south from the top of the plateu and hiding behind a large sandstone hill. 1.1 miles round trip. 3AII

Rappel 1 - 1 bolt/chain under a large boulder down to your right. 20 ft. Sloped. Hike about 15 ft to next anchor on your left.

Rappel 2 - 2 bolts/chain to the left of a large boulder on your left. 25 ft. Around the corner are the best views of Park Avenue. Next rappel on your left.

Rappel 3 - wrap through a sandstone hole on the left. 50 ft sloped

Rappel 4 - bolts.100 ft with a little free hanging

10 min hike out to the trailhead. Road Trip Ryan U Turn Trip Report,

Approach