Atlas › San Rafael Swell - South
Baptist Draw to Upper Chute
verified
ACA 3B
High flood risk
Hanksville, UT
A classic short loop in the Central Swell: drop into Baptist Draw, hit the main rappel where it joins Upper Chute, then exit the chute's sculpted narrows on foot.
Cited everywhere as a great introduction to Swell canyoneering. The Upper Chute exit is shorter and the scenery payoff; longer Chute extensions exist but involve cross-country travel out of canyon. The technical content is modest; the route reads as a sandstone scramble with a single mid-grade rappel.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Price Field Office, San Rafael Swell |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Dispersed BLM land in the Wilderness-designated portion of the Swell. Contact BLM Price Field Office (435-636-3600) for current conditions. |
| Time | 4-9 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3B III (v3a2 III). One to three rappels depending on linkup choices. First obstacle is a roughly 10 ft chimney down a chockstone, then a 20 ft drop best rappelled. The main rappel at the Baptist / Chute intersection is 70 to 84 ft. A final 15 to 20 ft drop over an undercut chockstone closes the slot. Standing pothole water shows up in most years and is bypassable on a high line. |
| Season | Spring through fall |
| Flood risk | High. Wilderness drainage focuses quickly through the chute; monsoon storms Jun-Aug make the exit slot a hard no. |
| Vehicle access | High clearance required on the approach road from the Hidden Splendor area. |
| Crowd | Low to moderate. The accessible-classic combination keeps a steady but never crowded trickle. |
| Coordinates | 38.6975, -110.8064 |