U-Turn Canyon is a short technical adventure in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.
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There was still plenty of daylight left after Dennis and I climbed Ancient Art in the Fisher Towers, so I wanted to do something else. Dennis had to get back to his family, so whatever I decided on would be a solo adventure. I considered rope soloing a couple different rock climbs but then settled on U-Turn Canyon in Arches National Park.
U-Turn is billed as a relatively straightforward technical canyon. You hike up to the top of a big rock formation and make up to 4 rappels back down the formation, depending on how comfortable with downclimbing. Being a rock climber, I was pretty comfortable downclimbing. I ended up downclimbing the first rappel, jumping down the second, downclimbing the third, and rappelling the last one.
My car-to-car time was 1 hr 1 minute, so it’s not a difficult adventure by any means.
Click the image below for a printable (PDF) version of all you need to know to do U-Turn.
Click for PDF. © TheAloof.com
The approach ramp/gully as seen from the road
Approach the ramp.
Looking up the ramp/gully from its base
Looking back along the approach trail from the gully/ramp.
From the top of the ramp, looking toward the two domes.
Looking over Arches National Park, with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Looking at the start of U-Turn Canyon proper.
The first, very short rappel that I downclimbed.
The anchor boulder that people use for the second rappel. Either jump down it (what I did) or use the bolts. Don’t cause any more wear on the rock.
Looking out toward Park Avenue at the top of the third rappel
Wile E. Coyote Rock. It’s been climbed (and dubbed The Corndog) but they removed the bolts after they climbed it, leaving ugly bolt holes. Not nice.
Park Avenue and Wile E. Coyote Rock
The fourth and final rappel is not downclimbable.
Looking up from near the top of the fourth rappel
Ugly rope grooves in the soft rock. This is why you need to be careful where you put rappel anchors.
Ledge on the last rappel
Looking back at the last rappel. Like I said, it’s not downclimbable.
And then you end up back in Park Avenue.