GC - Snake Gulch 2018
In Oct 2018, Rena and I joined Hal Tompkins, Joan Marshall, Craig Taylor, and Carol Drummond on a 7-day backpack. We started at the Snake Gulch Trailhead. located about 25 miles south of Fredonia in the Kanab Creek drainage on the north side of the Grand Canyon. We finished at the Jumpup Cabin Trailhead. The total distance was about 49 miles of fairly easy terrain.
The main attraction of Snake Gulch is pictographs. Starting about 3 miles into the hike and continuing until about mile 6, hundreds of pictographs and some petroglyphs can be seen. Most are on the right side of the canyon, although the best panel is on the left, just before Table Rock Springs.
Water availability is often a problem for this route. There are several springs, but they are not completely reliable. Kanab Creek flows at times. Pothole water must be used for several days. Heavy rain occurred about 10 days before our trip so the potholes were full.
ITINERARY
Day 0 - Oct 13 - All 6 of us meet at the Jumpup Cabin Trailhead and camp nearby.
Day 1 - Oct 14 - We leave 2 vehicles and all pile into my VW Vanagon and drive north to the Snake Gulch Trailhead. 6 miles, camp at Table Rock Springs.
Day 2 - Oct 15 - 8.8 miles, camp at Rock Springs.
Day 3 - Oct 16 - 7 miles, camp about 2 miles south of the Snake Gulch-Kanab Creek drainage.
Day 4 - Oct 17 - Find and hike the Ranger trail. 7.1 miles and camp near Lawson Canyon.
Day 5 - Oct 18 - Continue south and then east along the Ranger Trail. 6.8 miles, camp near feature 4224AT on the 15 min topo map.
Day 6 - Oct 19 - Hike to the junction of the Ranger Trail and the Nail Trail. Descend Jumpup Canyon past Lower Jumpup Springs to Sowats Canyon. 6.4 miles, camp at Mountain Sheep Springs.
Day 7 - Oct 20 - Hike out to the cars at the Jumpup Cabin Trailhead. 7.1 miles.
Read MoreThe main attraction of Snake Gulch is pictographs. Starting about 3 miles into the hike and continuing until about mile 6, hundreds of pictographs and some petroglyphs can be seen. Most are on the right side of the canyon, although the best panel is on the left, just before Table Rock Springs.
Water availability is often a problem for this route. There are several springs, but they are not completely reliable. Kanab Creek flows at times. Pothole water must be used for several days. Heavy rain occurred about 10 days before our trip so the potholes were full.
ITINERARY
Day 0 - Oct 13 - All 6 of us meet at the Jumpup Cabin Trailhead and camp nearby.
Day 1 - Oct 14 - We leave 2 vehicles and all pile into my VW Vanagon and drive north to the Snake Gulch Trailhead. 6 miles, camp at Table Rock Springs.
Day 2 - Oct 15 - 8.8 miles, camp at Rock Springs.
Day 3 - Oct 16 - 7 miles, camp about 2 miles south of the Snake Gulch-Kanab Creek drainage.
Day 4 - Oct 17 - Find and hike the Ranger trail. 7.1 miles and camp near Lawson Canyon.
Day 5 - Oct 18 - Continue south and then east along the Ranger Trail. 6.8 miles, camp near feature 4224AT on the 15 min topo map.
Day 6 - Oct 19 - Hike to the junction of the Ranger Trail and the Nail Trail. Descend Jumpup Canyon past Lower Jumpup Springs to Sowats Canyon. 6.4 miles, camp at Mountain Sheep Springs.
Day 7 - Oct 20 - Hike out to the cars at the Jumpup Cabin Trailhead. 7.1 miles.
