Atlas › San Rafael Swell - South
Eardley Canyon (Lower)
verified
ACA 3B
High flood risk
Green River, UT
A half day of potentially watery rappelling in the Eastern Reef of the San Rafael Swell, with six drops feeding into a wash exit known for quicksand.
Also called Straight Wash (Lower) on some maps. Trailhead is the dropoff coordinate; parking and shuttle exit is at the wash mouth coordinate. The lower exit wash holds quicksand pockets that swallow legs past the knee after wet periods; trekking poles help. Water levels and pool depth shift through the season, so plan for swims even on a dry forecast.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Price Field Office, San Rafael Swell |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Dispersed BLM land. Contact BLM Price Field Office (435-636-3600) for current conditions. |
| Distance | 1.5 |
| Elevation | ~1266 ft loss |
| Time | 5-8 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3B III (v3a2 III). Six rappels, max about 50 ft: 25 ft into a pool, 40 ft, 10 ft downclimbable or jumpable, 20 ft into a semi-keeper pool, 20 ft, and 15 ft. Potential swims through wading sections that hold water year round. Quicksand is well documented in the lower exit wash. |
| Season | Spring and fall. Summer is hot and the wash can carry standing water for weeks after storms. |
| Flood risk | High. The Eastern Reef drainage focuses fast. The semi-keeper pool at R4 already shows how the slot holds water; add a charged catchment and it becomes uncontrollable. |
| Vehicle access | High clearance recommended on the approach road off I-70 / Green River; standard 4WD adequate when dry. |
| Crowd | Low to moderate. A regular weekend objective for Swell-savvy parties. |
| Coordinates | 38.7858, -110.4885 |