Baptist Draw
A San Rafael Swell canyon with a built in escape hatch: at the Chute Canyon junction you can turn north and be out fast, or keep going south for the full loop.
The slots never pinch below shoulder width and the anchors are a straightforward mix of natural and bolted, which is why this one gets recommended to people new to the Swell. Two spots still deserve respect. The roughly 20 foot drop above the Chute junction looks downclimbable from above and is not; find the webbing or the rock outcrop up and left and rappel it. Lower down, the canyon wide chockstone is severely undercut, so use the wedged trees for a 15 to 20 foot rappel instead of downclimbing over the lip. The main rappel at the Chute junction goes off a three bolt anchor on the right and gets reported anywhere from 70 to 84 feet depending on the source, so bring rope for the long number. The recommended finish is the short exit left up Upper Chute Canyon, with good upclimbs and stemming to stay out of the water; the alternative down canyon exit adds a long walk through narrows plus an hour or two of cross country to close the loop. High clearance for the approach road.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Price Field Office, San Rafael Swell |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Dispersed BLM land, San Rafael Swell. |
| Time | 4 hr-7 hr |
| Technical | 3 rappels, longest 83 ft |
| Season | Spring; Summer; Fall |
| Vehicle access | High Clearance |
| Coordinates | 38.6975, -110.8064 |