Cheesebox Canyon
not verifiedpermit verified 2026-08-20
ACA 3B
High flood risk
Blanding, UT
A 5 mile multi-pitch Cedar Mesa descent with zero to five rappels, swims, a hidden arch grotto, and a tight rabbit-hole section, all reached via a long 4WD approach.
Often called one of the top three technical descents on Cedar Mesa. Anchors range from R to X exposure on the downclimbs; bring webbing and rappel rings to replace any tat that looks old. Pair with Owl Canyon (already in atlas) for a Cedar Mesa weekend; the two descents share approach logistics but are different drainages.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Monticello Field Office, Bears Ears National Monument |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit or pass is required for this canyon, but the boundary matters and is easy to get wrong. Bears Ears National Monument does run a paid permit and pass system, covering the Shash Jaa Special Recreation Management Area around Comb Ridge and the canyons of Cedar Mesa: Grand Gulch and its tributaries, Slickhorn, Fish, Owl, Lime Creek, Road Canyon and the South and North Forks of Mule Canyon. Cheesebox sits in the White Canyon drainage and is not on that list. Note that an America the Beautiful pass does not cover these BLM individual special recreation permits. BLM advises calling the Monticello Field Office if a trip starts in a Cedar Mesa canyon not listed on recreation.gov. |
| Distance | 5 |
| Elevation | ~400 ft exit |
| Time | 6-10 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3B III (v3a2 III). Zero to five rappels, maximum about 45 ft. Multi-pitch character: downclimbs, stemming, swims through narrow passages, a sublime grotto under a hidden arch, and a section ropewiki calls the rabbit hole. |
| Season | Spring through fall |
| Flood risk | High. Cedar Mesa drainages flash quickly; the multiple narrow passages with pools mean no fast exit. |
| Vehicle access | 4WD high clearance required on the approach road. |
| Crowd | Low. The Cedar Mesa drive and full-day length thin the crowd compared to Capitol Reef or the Swell. |
| Coordinates | 37.7067, -110.0679 |