Ashdown Gorge - Dixie National Forest

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Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 5.9 miles / 9.5 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: ** Update: as of 5pm 8/3/012 hwy-14 is expected to reopen all hours and days. Work is still being done and part of the road is gravel, expect delays.
** 7/2012 update, work in almost complete, hwy-14 is now open, but limited to weekends. Fri - Monday 7 am.
** 5/2012 update, work continues on hwy-14, still closed
** 3/2012 update, work on hwy-14 has finally started, but still closed.
** 2/2012 update, hwy-14 closed with June/July possible opening.
** 1/2012 update, hwy-14 still closed.

As of 9/2011 a massive landslide has closed (destroyed) hwy-14 at the junction of Ashdown Gorge and Cedar Canyon. Please contact local authorities to determine if travel in the area is possible.

Canyoneering is an adventure sport quickly gaining in popularity. A combination of route finding, problem solving, swimming, hiking, and in technical canyons; rappelling, create an adventure not likely to be forgotten.

Ashdown Gorge is a non-technical canyon, no rappelling or swimming is required. This slot canyon is often ignored because of the popular canyons of Zion National Park and elsewere in the southwestern deserts of Utah. Ironically Ashdown Gorge is not part of the Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area, but exists partly on Dixie National Forest and Bureau of Land Management controlled lands.

Hiking as the stream flows puts the trailhead at Potato Hollow. Access can be made via the Rattlesnake Trail, Crystal Springs / Potato Hollow Trail. Use a shuttle car system if entering from the trailhead. The canyon can also be accessed from the Cedar Canyon side and most prefer to hike upstream to Flanigan's Arch for a short slot canyon experience.

The short 2 mile roundtrip hike to the waterfalls of Lake Creek and Rattlesnake Creek is highly recommended.

Tips: Backcountry Route! Safely hiking backcountry routes depend on your own good judgment, adequate preparation, and constant attention to your surroundings. Your safety is your responsibility.

Carefully evaluate the weather forecast and flash flood potential BEFORE entering the canyon. Remember a 30% chance of rain equals 30% of the coverage area land mass will receive rain. If that 30% land mass is above you, then 100% of the runoff will come down the canyon in the form of a flash flood.

You must have and know how to use a map, compass and route description. GPS and cell phones rarely work in the confines of slot canyons.

Good water / hiking shoes. Cold water gear including neoprene socks at a minimum. Walking stick or a pair of walking poles for balance.

Drink plenty of water (water filtration / purification process).

Energy snacks. Emergency bivouac gear. Extra food. First aid kit including ankle wrap. Flashlight / headlamp.

Helmet!

Camera!

Points of Interest

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Hwy-14 Closed due to landslide

As of 9/2011 a massive landslide has destroyed the road in Cedar Canyon at the junction of Ashdown Gorge and Cole Creek. Setting up a shuttle system might be impossible. Please contact Dixie National Forest office for details.

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Ashdown Gorge Trailhead

The trailhead for Ashdown Gorge can only be reached by using either the Rattlesnake Trail, or Potato Hollow Trail. High Mountain Trail, Crystal Springs Trail and even Blowhard Trail all converge into either Rattlesnake or Potato Hollow. Many choose to hike up from the bottom and view only as much of Ashdown Gorge as they so desire.

Ashdown Gorge, Pototato Hollow, Junction Photo

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Slot Canyon

Ashdown Gorge is a non-technical slot canyon. Carefully evaluate the weather and the potential threat of flash flood BEFORE entering this narrow canyon. Carved from soft limestone much of Ashdown Gorge contains incredible overhangs as the force of water has eroded the steep walls.

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The Route is the River

Hiking down stream inside a slot canyon requires 3 things: Walking sticks or poles, good water shoes and in cold water hiking neoprene socks! Some advise getting in the river and staying there thus avoiding the frequent crossing of the stream. I found better speed from hiking over land where I could see all the pitfalls instead of trying to see them through murky, fast moving water.

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Tom's Head

After only 3/4 mile (seems longer) the way opens up into a small amphitheater with duel spires in the center right. Tom's Head marks the confluence of Rattlesnake and Lake Creek into Ashdown Gorge.

Time permitting take the 1.9 mile round trip (1:47 minutes) to view the narrow slot canyons and beautiful waterfalls both streams create.

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Rattlesnake / Lake Creek Slot Canyon

The travel is easier and water crossing are less stressful in this slower moving, smaller volume stream. About mid way is a teaser waterfall with ladder located on the left to help ascend the obstacle. Spread throughout this small side canyon is a beautiful green plant with vibrant red berries. Really adds color to the sickly yellow limestone.

Rattlesnake Creek / Lake Creek Wash Photo

Rattlesnake Creek / Lake Creek Waterfall Photo

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Rattlesnake Creek Waterfall

Another fork in the river. Turn right and work through the increasingly narrow slot canyon. Use caution as some bouldering is necessary to arrive at the waterfall. The boulders are wet and slick from the constant moisture in the air.

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Lake Creek Waterfall

After only a short hike in the Lake Creek slot canyon the waterfall appears. Created by a series of chockstones that blocked the stream and created a down spout behind the largest chockstone.

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Higher and Deeper

The further west one travels in Ashdown Gorge the higher the surrounding cliffs (and overhangs) become; reaching astonishing heights of hundreds of feet. Fresh debris is noted in areas where the limestone color clashes with the stream bed causes you to worry about the house size boulders that surround the riverbed. I had forgotten my helmet and regretted that fact the entire trip.

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Death takes a Holiday

Passing through a large curve in the stream bed beneath a towering overhang, a hundred stories in the air, you try to catch your breath. The debris field is massive and contains many boulders the size of houses and cars. At this point it is best to leave the stream bed and work your way through the rubble cutting off a portion of the curve. Feeling like they should be selling t-shirts saying "I survived" a boulder comes into view that is the size of a building. Sitting prominently at the opposite end of the curve, the boulder forces the stream to makes it's way around this monolith of rock.

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Flanigan Arch

Sitting on the Northern slope near the ridge line is Flanigan Arch. After passing the building size black boulder and continuing down stream there is a spot where two bus sized boulders make the stream converge. The bus on the right has a pine tree growing on top of it. Because you are required to enter the stream at this point, when you reach the passageway between the two bus boulders, stop and look to your right near the skyline. Flanigan Arch can be seen. Emerging from the stream on your left is a pile of rocks. Almost like a summit registration this carin would be massive if not for the constant washing away each year.

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Cole Creek

Continuing down stream the walls begin to open up and soon another stream enters from your left. Cole Creek adds it's run off to the increasing size of volume in the stream bed. The way is more difficult for a short time as large rocks and boulders make stream crossing more challenging. Use caution as energy stores wain and enthusiasm drops, now is when you are most prone to a twisted ankle.

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Wide travel and 1940's vehicles

The stream bed turns to small stones and the wading in and out of the water is wide and easy to negotiate. Look to the South along the rivers edge and you'll notice 1940's vehicles used in mining and erosion prevention.

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Exit Riverbed

Soon a gravel road can be seen on the left as you exit the riverbed to the awaiting shuttle car.

Pictures in this guide taken by: steve625

How does this work?

Not your typical slot canyon. The loose, crumbly limestone hanging hundreds of feet overhead created a heightened level of anxiety that made the trip uncomfortable. The side trip to see the waterfalls of Rattlesnake creek & Lake creek; Flanigan's Arch, make the trip worthwhile, but give me a narrow sandstone slot canyon full of pot holes any day.
Visited on Aug 19, 2011

by steve625 on Feb 27, 2012