Sowats BP 2017

Kanab Canyon is one of the major side canyons on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Eastern tributaries include Jumpup, Sowats, Kwagunt, and Ojojojo Canyons. Western tributaries include Hack Canyon and Scotty's Hollow. Access is easier from the East. Eight of us did a 6-day backpack starting and ending at Sowats Point. The night before, we camped only 150 feet from the rim where we had a 270 degree view. Only at the North Rim can you find places like this. The following morning, Oct 16 2017, we hiked down to a camp site in Sowats Canyon and spent 2 nights there. We then moved our camp about 6 miles to Ojojojo Canyon and spent 3 more nights. We did day hikes the other 3 days. The Itinerary was as follows.

Day 1 - 6 miles - Backpack to a campsite in Sowats Canyon at Sheep Mountain Spring.
Day 2 - Layover day with a loop day hike past the Jumpup.
Day 3 - 7 miles - Backpack to a campsite near water at the mouth of Ojojojo Canyon where it meets Indian Hollow.
Day 4 - Layover day with day hike to climb Racetrack Knoll.
Day 5 - Layover day with day hike to Kanab-Sowats confluence.
Day 6 - 6 miles - Backpack back to Sowats Point.

It is about 50 miles from the town of Fredonia to the Sowats Point Trailhead. Follow Road 22 south just east of Fredonia. The first part is paved, the second part is good gravel, and the last part is high clearance gravel. In good conditions, a passenger car can do the entire drive but in muddy conditions, the last part is not passable. Most of the route is in the Kanab Creek Wilderness. Indian Hollow Canyon is the Grand Canyon NP boundary.

Our group consisted of Ron Bartell, Christine Mitchell, Greg and Mirna Roach, Terry and Bruce Turner, Rena, and I

View from Sowats Point.
Camping at Sowats Point. We camped 150 feet from the edge and there was no one around for miles.
Yummy quesadilla dinner at Sowats Point.
And some beer and appies.
View of Racetrack Knoll from Sowats Point.
View of Racetrack Knoll and the far side of the Kanab Creek Drainage from Sowats Point.
Map of our backpack. Our camps and route were slightly different than on this map. We camped 2 nights at Mountain Sheep Spring and 3 nights near the spring in lower Ojojojo Canyon - We hiked directly from Sheep Mountain Springs to Ojojojo Canyon and did not hike Kwagunt Canyon.
map detail
Day 1 - View as we descended a good trail from Sowats point.
Day 1 - View as we descend.
Day 1 - We are near the rim of Sowats Canyon.
Day 1 - Great trail work in Sowats Canyon.
Day 1 - Our camp at Sheep Mountain Springs.
Day 1 - Lots of water at Sheep Mountain Springs Camp.
Day 2 - Looking at the petroglyphs at Sheep Mountain Springs Camp.
Day 1 - Petroglyphs at Sheep Mountain Springs Camp.
Day 2 - Mirna and pressure points.
Day 2 - Climbing out of Sowats Canyon on our day hike to the Jumpup.
Day 2 - Following a good trail on the Esplanade. (Jumpup Nail Trail # 8)
Day 2 - The Jumpup. To descend into the canyon, you need to descend a 4th class ledge and climb down on a very sturdy ladder.
Day 2 - The Jumpup. Descending the ladder.
Day 2 - The Jumpup - Almost there.
Day 2 - The Jumpup - Waiting below.
Day 2 - The section of canyon below the Jumpup was extremely scenic.
Day 2 - Jumpup Canyon.
Day 2 - An orderly group in Jumpup Canyon.
Day 3 - Walking through the very scenic lower Sowats Canyon.
Day 3 - Ron and I did a 20 minute side trip up Kwagunt Canyon and found a good place to camp, but we continued on to Ojojojo.
Day 3 - Ron and I hiked down Jumpup Canyon for a short distance. We retraced our steps and exited before the Redwall to get to Indian Hollow.
Day 3 - We hiked along the Esplanade above Indian Hollow. Had we continued in Jumpup Canyon to where Indian Hollow entered, we would have been stopped by a large boulder a mile or so up the canyon.
Day 3 - Hiking above Indian Hollow to Ojojojo Canyon.
Day 3 - Our very nice camp at the mouth of Ojojojo Canyon. There were several tent sites here. Water was carried from the spring 5 minutes up Ojojojo.
Day 4 - Greg and Mirna at Ojojojo camp.
Day 4 - Rena happily drinking morning coffee at Ojojojo Camp.
Day 4 - Mirna using "hikers wool" from New Zealand to cushion her toes. Works better than moleskin.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. A butterfly floating in a pool.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. View to Northeast up toward Indian Hollow Spring.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. Tiny sandstone holes formed by little pebbles.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. Horses have been here.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. Our objective is ahead.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. Lunch and a view to the South.
Day 4 - Racetrack Knoll day hike and climb. View to the North.