Granary Canyon
verified
ACA 3A
Moderate flood risk
Moab, UT
A seven-rappel river-facing descent off Potash Road, capped by a 200 ft final drop next to an ancestral Puebloan granary at the canyon mouth on the Colorado.
Two granaries on route: one near the top after the first rappel, one at the base of the final rappel by the river. Strict leave-no-trace at both; the upper site in particular is unsigned but archaeologically sensitive. Potash Road shuttle is the planning headache (often two vehicles or a paid shuttle); Tag Along Tours and the Moab Adventure Center run drops on request.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Moab Field Office, Behind the Rocks Wilderness adjacency |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Dispersed BLM land. Contact BLM Moab Field Office (435-259-2100) for current conditions and shuttle access on Potash Road. |
| Time | 7-10 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3A IV (v3a1 IV). Seven rappels, longest about 200 ft. Final rappel lands near the Colorado River with an ancestral Puebloan granary at the base. Sandstone rappels, no significant water in the standard descent. |
| Season | Winter, spring, fall. Summer dangerous in Moab heat. |
| Flood risk | Moderate. Short Potash Road slickrock drainage but the 200 ft final rappel is unrecoverable if a wall of water arrives. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car. Shuttle required between the upper trailhead and the river exit. |
| Crowd | Low to moderate. The full-day length and shuttle requirement thin the crowd compared to the headline Moab descents. |
| Coordinates | 38.5443, -109.7199 |