Backpacking the Grand Canyon's Kanab Creek Wilderness: 6 Day Jumpup Esplanade Loop Hike
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
- Wow. I knew this place was remote, vast, diverse, scenic... did I say remote? Not just one of the longer sections of canyon narrows around, but multiple walkable canyon bottoms full of hidden gems like frog filled streams, cowboy glyphs, pictographs of the ancients, remote slots, water that gushes right from canyon walls and two of the best 5-star campsites I've ever come across!
We descended from the forested Kaibab Plateau at 6000ft into the white & pink Kaibab Limestone cliffs & Coconino Sandstone, eventually onto walkable red Esplanade slick rock benches full of hoodoos and spires. And even further down into narrows composed of Redwall, Muav and other limestone layers more reminiscent of the Grand Canyon down below 2000ft. These lower limestone layers house springs that literally gush out of canyon walls - where we encountered the unbelievable desert oasis that is Showerbath Spring. When describing this place I can only think of if the Canyonlands of Utah and the Grand Canyon slammed into each other.
We spent 6 days out there traveling from the upper reaches of Jumpup Canyon and the Esplanade down to the lower reaches of Kanab Creek and Showerbath Spring, before eventually heading back up Kanab Creek to loop around and climb back to the Esplanade where we would spend an entire day surrounded by red sand hills and epic slick rock benches that drop precipitously into vertical canyons.
6 days / April, 2021
CalTopo Link (use at your own risk, I am not a guide!):
caltopo.com/m/F94J
If you enjoy my content, please consider donating to my Patreon using the link below. Your support helps me to create and improve my content for years to come!
/ wildlandexplorer
Video Timestamps:
Intro: (0:00)
Day 1 Upper Jumpup Canyon & Sowats Canyon to Mountain Sheep Spring (2:20)
Day 2 Sowats Canyon to Jumpup Narrows (20:57)
Day 2 Jumpup Narrows to Kanab Creek (27:14)
Day 3 Lower Kanab Creek (41:13)
Day 3 Showerbath Spring (49:27)
Day 4 Upper Kanab Creek to Hack/Lawson Canyons (57:38)
Day 5 The Esplanade to Upper Jumpup (1:16:00)
Day 6 Upper Jumpup back to Trailhead (1:43:59)
Ending Thoughts (1:48:20)
Music by Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Week 3 Day 3 // DFM vs PRX | DRX vs TLN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/il3Twexat3A/mqdefault.jpg)
Amazing films ,I love the western states can’t wait to get back ,Chriss ,New Zealand
I think you have Tristan's channel beat with this excursion. You just added this to my bucket list.
This is my second time watching this trip, and it was even better this time. It's so spectacular that it's too big to take in all at once. This is one you come back to and savor, over and over again. Serious Canyonlands vibes, only surrounded by massive cliffs and grand panoramas. This is heaven on Earth! 👍😎
Good shots ,, i like the way you film , shows alot. Excellent .
Magnificent colors and textures on the canyon walls. The rounded river rocks are beautiful
Oh wow this place is beautiful
This is wonderful we can not get out much now so thank you really appreciate this xxuk.
Beautiful trip and beautiful video, thank you. In May 2019 I solo hiked from Sowats Point down Kwagunt, Jumpup, and Kanab canyons down to the Colorado and back so we had a fair bit of overlap. It was probably the best hike of my life (I'm 64) not least because I didn't see a soul the whole way, besides river runners on the Colorado. Thanks again for bringing it all back to me, vividly and gently.
Thank you! I have yet to hike Kwagunt. Seen lots of pictures- looks pretty! That part of the greater GC system has to be one of the more scenic places in the entire southwest.
Wow, like a oasis in the canyon, very beautiful!
Great job! Will be doing similar trip in the Kanab Wilderness next spring. Great video work. Can't wait to get down there!
Hope you have an awesome trip out there! Highly underrated place.
Great photography, music & trip. Thanks. Many years ago I did a bit of the trail but my friend got sick and we turned back.
absolutely stunning! Roxana and i have been to toroweap a couple of times, similar terrain so we sort of know what it is like to be there but Wow hiking all over in it/ this is unreal you all really got in there... those colors are amazing .. could go on all day about how awesome these 2 hours are thanks so much for taking us with you.
You make the BEST backpacking videos......unbelievably visually beautiful film-making.
Much appreciated you're too kind!
Wow, man! What an incredible trip. I'm relatively new to your channel. I grew up in Tucson so I naturally love your desert 🏜️ content. I had no idea this particular area existed. Fascinating. Stunning. Well done! Amazing that it seems to have its very own character and flavor despite being sandwiched in between the GC and everything in Southern Utah. Really great video. I look forward to making my way through your catalog. Cheers!
Excellent video's.Enjoyed them very much..thank you
Loved your video and what an incredible trip. So different from hikes on the South Rim. Many thanks
Thanks so much! Whole point of going out there is to get away from the usual GC crowds and see something different. It's not exactly an easy place to get to, but that kind of factors into how remote it feels.
I loved the video of your Backpacking the Grand Canyon's Kanab Creek Wilderness. I do wish that you had videoed some of the different vegetation along the way like the different cactuses. Thanks for sharing
Incredible shots, amazing filming and editing, I am a new fan of your work!
Thank you again, too kind.
Beautiful landscape shots man. Great work.
Oh yeah, You got MY atention, I'm subscribed!
Beautiful hike! Nice work fellas!
Wonderful!
I’ll definitely add this into the epic trip folder.
I’m a big fan of the lengthy videos. The beautiful terrain makes it easy to watch. Thanks for posting and happy adventuring!
This is the greatest hiking video ive ever watched loved every minute
Hey man thanks for posting this! We just got back from a one nighter out there following your route. Mountain sheep spring was seriously a great spot to set up camp. Definitely want to go again and make it to showerbath.
I love it out there. Wild and remote. You *need* to go back for Showerbath, haha.
Spectacular job, great colorful balanced exposures, smooth and steady camera work! It’s been 35 years since I’ve been to Showerbath (different loop) and your trip brought back such wonderful memories. I was also totally in awe of your commitment to all those camera retrievals! At one point I thought you must have a drone because this would be so exhausting on such a hard 6 day trip with pack as well. You rock!
You are too kind! When I first started doing this style of video I figured it would get old fast. But I figured out you get used to the camera retrievals and slower hiking pace. It's very satisfying to import footage to the computer and see these places come to life in a different way than in person.
Very nice video. Such amazingly beautiful and diverse country. You really captured that in your photography and did great editing. I am always amazed at the seeps and streams in the desert country. It makes it more special. Thanks for the great job of filming and having to go back and retrieve your camera. You will always cherish these trips and having captured them on film. Thanks for sharing. I subscribed.
Thank you! Part of the reason I film them is for my own record when I am old.
You guys pegged the Awesome Meter™ with this one...like the Grand Cyn, Zion, & Canyonlands merged with The Hanging Gardens of Shower-Bathylon. And the music lifts it into the realm of the sublime. Thanks for creating this superb experience. Looking forward to the next adventure! 😎
Probably my favorite trip of the last couple years. Was a pleasure to edit the video as well. Thanks again for all the kind comments!
As usual a great video.
You are a treasure !!!!
This is my most epic trip to date, by far! Words really can't express how awesome, and so much different each day was from the last. We went through so many different types of hikes throughout this trip. The vastness of esplinade, the colors of the narrows, finding water in the most remote and driest parts of the canyon, everything was so special in it's own way each day. Such a magnificent place, I can't wait to get back up there and explore more of the deeper parts and unnamed areas
Yo dwalg don't forget you were a big part of this video too! Had a great time hiking out there.
@@WildlandExplorer I had a friggin' blast! What an awesome adventure! Can't wait for our next one!
Wow, so beautiful & the water is so clear, not contaminated by man, you really find the most awesome places, I never even knew that place existed
Thank you for these videos. I'm not able to explore these beautiful places. Very much appreciate your efforts.
What a nice video, my friend! Great backpacking trip! Enjoyed watching, very useful info. Cheers from Russia, man, and welcome to my channel about bushcraft tips and hacks! Kind regards, Yuriy! 👍
this has to be one of the best videos youve made, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the trip was epic, all mixed with that music really makes it amazing, funnily enough, before this video even came out I was starting to plan a trip out in that area so it's definitely no coincidence
Thanks man, I put way more work into this one than others before and after it. Fun project to work on but I had to pay for the music. Probably won't do anything quite this involved production-wise again. I am just glad it's helping those who choose to go out into such a remote place.
@@WildlandExplorer well i definitely think the music was worth it, but thats just me lol, yeah thank you!
Incredible visuals, great production 👊
Breathtaking footage of an amazing place. Dave looks like a great hiking buddy. Can't wait to see your next adventure!
Totally! I'm always planning a next adventure. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely awesome video. Extraordinary footage, great filming skills, very good narration... And then you added some music here and then. I love that.
Reminds of Joey Coconatos channel combined with the one from the Norwegian Explorer.
It must be such a great effort to walk back and forth and back and forth and back and forth ... in order to make these greate walking perspectives.
Thx for showing us such a great landscape.
Regards from Germany
Thanks again! It's wonderful to hear that.
Wow! This is the best backpacking trip video I have seen on youtube. You have a great talent for storytelling and filmmaking. What is your backpacking background? How long have you been going on trips? Great work and I look forward to seeing more of your videos!
Beautiful hike! Thank you.
Dude, this is your best so far. Have enjoyed the videos from the Superstitions to Sycamore Canyon and lean on them for planning annual SW adventures coming from Portland, OR. Appreciate your eye for composition and enthusiasm for awesome views and campsites.
Thank you that is very kind!
Nicely shot video! Really been enjoying your channel!
Next time you camp at the Kanab/Jumpup confluence, get up really early and do a long day hike to the river and back. There's a side canyon close to the river (on the left) that'll be an hour long detour to explore. Below Shower Bath spring, the canyon is spectacular. Yes, it adds a full day, but it's the highlight of the trip. Try parking at Sowats trailhead, descending down Kwagunt to Kanab and back...you can do the whole thing in two nights for strong hikers...three nights for most people. I've done this hike and others in the area a dozen times since 1993. Pure wilderness.
Thanks for the tips. The main issue with Kanab Creek is trailhead access. I in no way have access to a vehicle that can make it all the way to Sowats when the canyon is in season. Ditto for the jumpup cabin. We relied on my buddy's 4Runner on this video. My first foray to Sowats was me parking along the Ryan Rd. and "bikepacking" my backpacking gear all the way to the trailhead on the jeep road which had mud ruts and deep cow pools across. It was a logistical nightmare. Sowats is a nice steep hike I've done before but only that one time. So far I'm not getting any takers on the whole "please donate to me a free truck or jeep" offer. :)
What Timing! Just got my chocolate brownies out of the oven... now I can enjoy the new video while enjoying my Brownies 😊
You just gave me a great idea for a backpacking snack my friend!
Amazing that you walk that far and not see any other people
It's a really remote part of the Grand Canyon. Far from pretty much everything - 40 miles dirt road drive from Hwy 89 in the middle of the AZ Strip. You still bump into other hikers - but everyone out there was backpacking. Love it out there!
Hello fellow explorer. I've enjoyed your hikes. I was wondering have you ever been to the Havasupai Falls? They look absolutely amazing. I'm from Tucson ☁️🌵✌️
Nice water cress growing in the stream ,nice in a salad or boiled with bacon
Great video. Want see more videos.
really nice video! did you have to carry water for night #2?
Yep we carried enough to get us from Sowats to Showerbath. Thanks for checking it out!
This was frickin awesome! What camera and selfie stick/tripod do you use on your adventures?
Thanks Stephanie! For once I actually listed my gear in the video description.
Really enjoyed this video; very well done! Would it be possible to get the GPX data to plan for a similar trip? Will probably want to build on to your route so any data you can share would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks! There's a CalTopo link in the description. You can export it to your own map to your heart's desire. Usual caveats about "I'm not a guide etc." do apply. Have a good trip!
Great looking adventure! I’m sure I’ve overlooked it somewhere, but how many miles total including the side hikes did you two end up doing?
Cowboy glyphs: Steve, Charlie, Dean, Brent, Wayne and some symbols
The secret no youtubers want you to know is that exposure can be adjusted in post, haha. It was pretty dark in that canyon.
Thanks!
You're amazing, thank you so much for the support! I have a big cross country Sierra Nevada video coming out soon I think you will enjoy.
@@WildlandExplorer that’s awesome! My guess is not the super tourist spots but looking forward to seeing that. Seems like an incredible area
More exposure bench walking , the better!
28:20
Rocky man bee plant
great video. awsome hike. what camera do you use?
Thanks! Panasonic Lumix G9, 12-60 f/2.8 lens + GoPro Hero 11.
Tell me your friend didn’t get tired of all the stopping and starting to set up and retrieve the camera😜
He knew what he was signing up for but I think it might have been eye opening, lol.
Wildland Explorer haha. It was a great looking trip.
So it seems like you guys were able to bypass the big drop in Jumpup by taking the route over to Sowats and down that to the lower Jumpup? I've heard that the makeshift ladder was removed and a rope was installed, making it much more difficult. Heading out there in a few weeks - any info is helpful. Thanks!
That’s exactly why we took that route. Other than that I mean it’s all straightforward canyon bottom hiking. From reports it sounds like that water in upper Kanab is there year round but I still feel weird banking on it. Have yourself a good trip!
@@WildlandExplorer Thanks! We originally planned to be out there this week, but a few weeks ago the road reports were pretty bad. By the time we get there now, the conditions should be good enough to get all the way in to Sowats.
I'd imagine that's right. I've been to that side of the GC a couple times and found my car could not make it all the way to Sowats Point in mid-april. It was mud ruts and some ankle deep meltwater pools across the road. Ended up biking in the last several miles with a backpack on, which sucked. End of April / early May is better if you can stomach the heat.
@@WildlandExplorer Ya the heat...on the other hand, we were in Snake Gulch March 2019 and froze our butts!
On the Colorado plateau it feels like there are just the two seasons of winter and summer sometimes lol
Are you related to Joey Coconato. Brother or cousin? I thought you were a younger Joey at first.
No relation! We chatted once or twice about hiking but have never met. I was sorry to see he deleted his YT channel, but seems to be doing well over on Patreon.
Hey about to attempt this loop starting tomorrow but have limited navigational information.. do you have a more detailed guide or waypoints that I could use? Much appreciated.
Thanks
You caught me at a good time while I was replying to other comments! I went ahead and put a CalTopo link into the video description but here it is as well: caltopo.com/m/F94J
This is my primary navigation tool. Normally I don't share them unless asked as they aren't always this detailed. If you're so inclined, you can absolutely make a copy and use it offline on your phone if you want to pay a $50/year subscription to CalTopo.
Your only navigational challenge will be finding where to head back up onto the Esplanade from upper Kanab Creek (End of Day 4 in this video). It is unmarked except for a large cairn right smack in the drainage. At that point, when you look to your right looking up-canyon (east bank), you will see a trail going up to the bench above the drainage. It's easy to miss if you're looking for a sign, but it's totally obvious if you're looking for the big cairn. This is the Hack/Lawson trail #110. Once you find it, is very well marked and difficult to get lost back to the Ranger Trail. If you reach the mouth of Hack Canyon then you've gone too far up Kanab Creek.
Otherwise you're in a mix of well marked trails with signs and unmarked drainages. No major obstacles in the specific canyon bottoms along this route. Enjoy your trip!
@@WildlandExplorer awesome!! Thanks so much. I’m pumped for this route.
It's a badass hike you're gonna love it!
Are those little canyons subject to flash flooding?
Absolutely - they originate high up on the Kaibab Plateau.
also where did you hear that you can't go through all the way in Indian Hollow? I'm just wondering if that's true or not, thank you
I believe Mike Kelsey mentions it in his non-technical Colorado Plateau book. I've seen pictures on some blogs as well and it was pretty clear that going up the obstacle would be impossible without ropes and help. Going down looked easier, but only within a group setting to drop packs. Still doubtful it's doable completely without ropes from either side. Quite a plunge though a veg choked slotted section of potholes about a mile up canyon from Jumpup.
@@WildlandExplorer makes sense, thank you for the help
You told someone you listed the camera in the description, but I’m not seeing it.
Huh, thought I posted it. Well, it's a Panasonic Lumix G9 with a Leica 12-60mm lens. Back then my audio was a Rode Videomicro but these days it's a Movo Stereo mic. I also got a GoPro 8 in order to add more annoying wind noise to my videos.
Wildland Explorer thank you👍🏽
In the video it didn’t seem like there was too much rock hoping or points where you need to use your hands, was there? Also were there any parts with sketchy exposure? I’d like to take my wife but those things are definitely not her jam.
Nothing particularly difficult other than an annoying amount of boulder hopping in the Jumpup narrows, but you are on your feet the entire time, highest difficulty is like class 2. Since we wanted to do Sowats canyon, we avoided a somewhat technical section in upper Jumpup Canyon that involves a hand-made ladder of juniper logs ties together with rope. this area is just below the spring shown in this video before we made the last night's camp. People climb it all the time but it does look sketchy from photos I've seen. I have not done it myself, so I can't advise going all the way down Jumpup from the top.
@@WildlandExplorer thanks so much, looks like a wonderful trip and appreciate your video, great job!
Are you related to Joey Coconato? I think you might be brothers.