Atlas › San Rafael Swell - Southern Swell
Music Canyon
verified
ACA 3B
Extreme flood risk
Hanksville, UT
A 13.8 mile Southern Swell descent built around the Music Chamber, exited by walking or packrafting 3 hr down the Muddy Creek narrows.
Ropewiki calls the Music Chamber one of those rare places of inimitable serene beauty; the Muddy chute itself is a miniature private Zion Narrows. Stage at the Hidden Splendor airstrip; the descent links the upper canyon to the same Muddy exit that Knotted Rope and Cottam's Cabin Crack use. Packraft saves an hour or two on the exit when the Muddy is running; useless when dry.
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 | 13.8 |
| Elevation | ~1500 ft loss |
| Time | 6-10 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3B III (v3a2 III). Zero to seven rappels, maximum about 30 ft. Most drops are hand-line scale; three or four require partner assist or short rope. The standout feature is the Music Chamber, a sculpted opening on the descent. Exit is 3 hr down Muddy Creek with packraft an option when flow allows. |
| Season | Spring or fall |
| Flood risk | Extreme. Muddy Creek is the exit, so any upper-basin storm that charges the Muddy strands parties in the slot. Watch the entire watershed, not just the trailhead. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car when dry on the Hidden Splendor approach. 20 min shuttle. |
| Crowd | Low. The 13.8 mi day and Muddy Creek exit logistics keep numbers down. |
| Coordinates | 38.6237, -110.9121 |