Canyoneering Route Description

Hog 2 Canyon - 3A(B) II
North Wash, Utah.

Quick Facts

03-10-12, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 7 hours) Used Hog Ramble / Sow Fork as approach.

Time Required - 4 to 6 hours
Distance - 3.4 miles Total, 0.6 miles Technical
Rappels - 3 Rappels, Longest Rappel 125 feet.
Rap 1 can be bypassed and reduces the longest rap to 60 feet.
Elevation Range - 5175 - 4355 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle - High Clearance (4WD if roads are bad) Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 60 feet if you bypass rap 1 or 125 feet if you rappel rap 1.  30 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement. 

It is hard to say if wet suits are needed.  During hot months, probably not since any water that might be there is very short.  But in cooler months a wet suit could be nice to have along as a "just in case" measure.  For the most part Hog 2 should always be mostly dry but a couple spots in the upper canyon could hold waist deep water.  The main concern would be the final down climb (The Birthing Canal) where you may have a large pool at the bottom that will see very little sunlight and would be cold if there is water.

General Comments

Rap 1 can be bypassed and personally I think more fun if you do bypass it.  Bypassing rap 1 adds a fun down climb and also allows you to carry ropes for a max rap length of 60 feet instead of 125 feet.

The Birthing Canal near the end of the canyon is a fun treat as well as you climb down a very dark slot then slide out the bottom to sand or water (which ever is there at the time).

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of highways 276 and 95, travel south on highway 276 for 3.6 miles to a dirt road turn off on the left (east) side of the road (extLandOZ-Hogs).  Turn left (east) onto the dirt road and drive about 2.1 miles to the crest of a small hill (pkHogsUpper).   This spot is also where the road starts to veer from east to south east.  Park along side the road to start the hike over to the Hogs.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the drive in and the route.
Map of the route overview.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot (pkHogsUpper) walk across the open desert north west at a bearing of 30 degrees for about 0.8 miles over to the rim of the Hog Canyon system (wHogsTopRP-01).  This is also where the southern end of a short sandstone cliff band starts.   From here you have a good view to the east over the Hog Canyon routes.

Note:
About 0.4 miles from the parking spot you will pass kind of near (jHogStndExTop) the head of a drainage on the right (east).  This drainage is used as one of the exits up out of the Hogs.  You likely will not notice it when hiking in on the approach route but I thought it worth mentioning as a helpful hint if you are navigating by map and written route description only.

When you get to the sandstone cliff band along the rim (wHogsTopRP-01) walk north along the rim for about about 0.2 miles to the top of a wide gently sloped drainage leading down southeast from the rim here.  This is the top of the Hog 4 / Miss Piggy route (yHog4-MsPigyTp).

Continue north then north west in the rolling desert roughly following the rim for about 0.3 miles to the head of a wide drainage running down to the south.  This is the top of Hog 1 - Boss Hawg (yHog1Tp).

From the head of Hog 1 continue east across the rolling desert over to another drainage dropping down to the south.  This is the head of Hog 2 (yHog2Tp).

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From the top of Hog 2 (yHog2Tp) scramble down into the drainage for Hog 2.  About 250 feet down canyon is the start of some easy galumphing.

Rap 1 (dHogTwo-R1) is about 600 feet down canyon from the head.

Anchored from rocks piled under a large sandstone flake and drops about 125 feet.  This is the longest rappel on the route.  If you want to carry less rope with you And throw in a fun down climb, bypassing rap 1 is a good option.

Rap 1 can be bypassed and makes for a fun down climb while doing so.  To bypass rap 1, traverse the slick rock on the LDC (east) side about 110 feet to the top of a cross joint (wHogTwoRP-02) and into a crack that is then down climbed to the bottom of rap 1.  With a little work the bypass downclimb can be upclimbed as well.

Note:
The final portion of the traverse is steeply sloped and may feel sketchy to some.  One person can climb high, sit in a divot and drop a rope as a safety line for all but the last person.  Someone already in the crack can sit securely and belay the final person into the crack.

After rap 1 is some galumphing and bouldering for about 350 feet to the top of an elevator (wHogTwoRP-03) dropping about 15 feet down into a dark subway like spot.  After the tiny subway the canyon opens up for a short walk in a corridor.  Shortly before reaching rap 2 is a down climb of about 10 feet.  Rap 2 is about 450 feet down canyon of the elevator. 

Rap 2 (dHogTwo-R2) is anchored from a pinch point between a boulder and the canyon wall and drops about 60 feet over two stages.  The first stage is about 15 feet and down climbable although a bit awkward.  Just as awkward if not more is starting this rappel over the boulder used for the pinch point.  At the top of the second stage is a large ledge and a rock that could optionally be used as an intermediate anchor.  The second stage drops about 35 feet.

Rap 3 is about 60 feet down canyon of rap 2.

Rap 3 (dHogTwo-R3) is anchored from a choke stone and drops about 50 feet to a ledge next to a pot hole on the LDC side.  When you drop down rap 3 aim for the lip at the edge of the pothole.  You may need to push off a wall a little to swing over to it.  Aiming for either side of the pothole will make this rap longer.  Also of note if you drop into the pot hole it could be quite deep and difficult to get out of if the sand gets scoured out.

From the lip of the pot hole scramble - down climb away from the pothole and down to the canyon floor.  The short slot down canyon of rap 3 is slanted and requires galumphing to continue that ends with a short elevator like down climb of about 10 feet before dropping into a large sandy corridor.

About 700 feet down canyon of rap 3 the corridor tightens up a bit and is more of a narrows to walk in for another 400 feet until the walls narrow in  forcing you to stem up a few feet and galumph along.

After about 60 or 70 feet of galumphing the narrows begins to drop getting deeper and darker then get to the Birthing Canal (wHogTwoRP-04).  Dropping into the first part of the Birthing Canal will drop into a deep pit you may not be able to get out of.  Instead stem over the first part than downclimb into the last part of this area.  The Birthing Canal is the last down climb before the canyon ends and is about 30 feet.  The final part of the down climb involves squeezing through a tight almost vertical section before slipping loose and dropping to the sand below.  Or water if the pool has filled.

After the Birthing Canal walk about 700 feet in sand down to the exit of Hog 2 where it joins Hog 1 (yHog-1and2-Bt). 

The Exit(s):
When you get to the confluence of the bottom of the Hog 1 and Hog 2 canyons (yHog-1and2-Bt), you have two choices for an exit route.  Option one is the standard exit which climbs up a ravine southwest of Hog 4.  Option two is to climb up the slick rock between Hogs 1 and 2.

Exit Option One - Standard Exit Route:
Option one is the standard exit and is about 1.6 miles back to the parking spot for the top entry to the Hog System.  This option climbs up out of the Hog Canyon area in a rocky ravine to the flat desert above.  This exit is shorter but involves more scrambling up boulders in the ravine.  This route also does not involve the difficult up climb that the other option has.

If you entered the Hogs from the top and are done for the day this is the shortest and easiest route back to the car.

To follow option 1, continue down the wash about 0.4 miles to a canyon joining in from the left (northeast) which is the bottom of Hog 3 (yHog3-Bt).  As you head down the wash down canyon of Hogs 1 and 2, look for a way to get up on the ledge on the RDC (southwest) side to find a use trail.  The use trail stays up out of the wash to avoid wet and heavy vegetation.

Note:
Walking down canyon all the way to the bottom of Hog 3 is optional and is about 0.5 miles longer than need be.  However I have not done the shorter version and can not give details on it.  If you wish to route find your own way for this short cut.....

From the bottom of Hog 1, continue down the wash about 600 feet then climb the left (west) side of the drainage.  After finding your way to the top continue southwest and route find your way about 600 feet over to way point wHogStndExRP-3.  When you get to waypoint wHogStndExRP-3 continue on the remainder of the route as described.

From the bottom of Hog 3 (yHog3-Bt) walk west directly across to the other side of the drainage you dumped into.  Route find your way up the bank on the west side up onto the desert above.  The bank is about 40 or 50 feet high and a mick of dirt and sandstone.

When you get to the top of the bank (wHogStndExRP-1), walk north west traversing up and along the dirt covered hillside. 

After about 400 feet the route will begin to level off a little into a mix of rolling desert and slick rock.  As the route levels off you begin to get good views toward the exit gully /ravine to the north west.

Note / Visual Navigation Note:
As you get to a point where you have good views of the entire area you will be able to see Hog 3 to the northeast and see over toward the area for Hogs 1 and 2 to the north.  Look north west for a large ravine / gully running north west up to the rim.  This gully / ravine is the exit route.  To the left (south or southwest) will be a larger drainage with an obvious huge vertical head wall.

This is walking toward the standard exit gully.  Hogs 1 and 2 are to the right, the exit gully is center image.  Note the bottom of another canyon on the left which has a huge vertical head wall which can be seen as you continue the walk to the exit gully.

About 0.25 miles after getting up out of the drainage at the bottom of Hog 3 the route toward the exit gully will cross over (wHogStndExRP-2) a wide slick rock drainage.  The point marked here for crossing the drainage is located at a fork in the drainage where the north fork goes up to the exit gully and the west fork goes over to the side canyon with the huge head wall. 

Cross over the drainage and start traveling up the slick rock running up along the north side of the drainage.  Following up out of this drainage avoids obstacles down in it.

About 450 feet after crossing the drainage you will get to what feels like a top out in the slick rock (wHogStndExRP-3) where you have a good view over to the exit gully.  From this top out on slick rock do not climb any higher.  Instead traverse along whatever route feels comfortable to get over and into the exit gully a few hundred feet ahead.

Scramble and hike your way up the exit gully for about 0.3 miles.  There is a lot of scrambling on the way up this gully but non of it is overly difficult, just a lot of it.  As you get near the top of the gully you will notice it begins to get a lot steeper.  Keep an eye on the left (southwest) wall and look up high for an obvious rock pinnacle.

Keep an eye on the left wall as you get near the top of the exit gully.  Look for this rock pinnacle for a clue when to start climbing the left side wall along ledges.

As you get roughly parallel with the rock pinnacle look for a series of ledges to climb up to get to the ridge just above the pinnacle.  There are multiple ways to climb up the ledges.  Some of the spots to climb up will feel a little exposed and make you think a little to complete the moves.  There are only a couple spots that may be moderately difficult but over all an easy series of ledges to get up.  About 80 feet up you will get to sloped dirt to walk up.

After getting up onto the ridge above the pinnacle (wHogStndExRP-5) walk up the sloped dirt ridge about 250 feet to join the approach route in the rolling desert (jHogStndExTop).

After meeting with the approach route (jHogStndExTop) veer left and walk about 0.45 miles southwest on a bearing of 216 degrees back to the parking spot for the top entry to the Hogs (pkHogsUpper).

Exit Option Two - Alternate Slick Rock Exit:
Option two is begins with a difficult up climb on steep slick rock (generally rated as a 5.7) then becomes an over all easy route following up slick rock to the desert above.  This route is the longer option back to the cars at the top entry coming in at about 2 miles.  This is a good exit to use if you plan to do more than one Hog in a day.  Using this exit gets you to the desert above the Hog system between the tops of Hogs 1 and 2 making the traverse over to any of the Hogs easy.

If you are planning to do a second Hog after your exit up, this exit is a good choice as it will get you to the rim in a spot to quickly head over to the head of any of the other Hogs.

To follow exit option 2....  When you get to the end of Hog 1 at the confluence of Hog 2 (yHog-1and2-Bt) turn left (east) and start into the bottom of Hog 2.  Look for a smooth steep sloped section of slick rock starting up the nose between Hogs 1 and 2.  The base of the climb is on a ledge above the vegetated canyon floor next to Hog 1.

Note / Warning:
The first 25 to 30 feet of this exit involves a steeply sloped almost smooth section of slick rock and is generally rated as a 5.7 up climb.  If you are confident of your skills for a slab style up climb for about 30 feet you are good to go.  If you are not confident in your ability you should have someone along on the route that is if you intend to use this exit.  The first person up can tie a rope to them selves and offer a meat anchored hand line for every one else.

The good thing is the hardest part of this route is the very first 30 feet.  If you check out the climb up and decide it is not what you want to do you have not committed too much time to the effort.  If you check it out and decide you do not want to make the climb you can turn around and follow the standard exit up out of the Hog system.

If you make it up this climb the rest of the route up is easy and will get you to the rim between Hogs 1 and 2 ready to go over to the head of another Hog.

This is is the first 30 foot climb up the slick rock exit.  If you make it up this the rest is an easy up hill slog on slick rock to the rim.

After getting up to the top of the 30 foot up climb (wHogAltExRP-1) route find your way north up the wide wandering slick rock ridge.

About 0.35 miles up the ridge you will begin to see a distinct pointy slick rock peak about 0.2 miles ahead. 

Continue the 0.2 miles up the slick rock to the top of the peak (wHogAltExRP-2).  From the peak the route levels off and continues north along the now dirt covered ridge.

A little over 500 feet after the peak is the base (wHogAltExRP-3) of a sandstone cliff band about 40 feet high.  To continue the exit up and back to the cars parked at the upper parking area, find a spot to climb / scramble up onto the top of the cliff band then continue north west about 600 feet to meet up with the route that travels along the tops of the Hogs (jHogSlickRkEx).  There is no specific landmark here.

Note:
From the base of the cliff band (wHogAltExRP-3) if you plan to go over to Hog 2 or Hog 3 do not climb up the cliff band.  Instead veer right and follow the ledge system about eastish about 700 feet over to the head of Hog 2.  Or continue beyond the head of Hog 2 wrapping around south east then south down to the top of Hog 3 about 0.5 miles away.

After meeting up with the approach route turn left and head west about 250 feet over to the head of Hog 1 (yHog1Tp).

From the top of Hog 1 roughly follow the rim and route find your way west then wrapping around southwest through the rolling desert.  About 0.35 miles from the top of Hog 1 will be a wide dirt ravine / drainage dropping down from the rim and heading down southeast.  This is the top of Hog 4 (yHog4-MsPigyTp).

Note:
From the top of Miss Piggy the top entry parking area is about 1 mile southwest on a bearing of 208 degrees.

Continue south along the rim crossing over the top of a small sandstone cliff band (wHogsTopRP-01) about 700 feet away.

After crossing over the sandstone cliff band route find your way southwest through the desert back to the road where you parked your cars at the top entry (pkHogsUpper).

 

GPS Waypoint Information

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........

Hog Two (1) - Drive in to Trailhead

extLandOZ-Hogs          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97361   W -110.56810        Elev: 4,770 Feet Exit off highway 276 for the Land of OZ canyons and access to the top entry for the Hogs. This is between mile markers 3 and 4. Dirt road needs high clearance and 4WD is recommended as the road condition varies greatly. pkHogsUpper          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97219   W -110.53028        Elev: 5,175 Feet Park here for access to the Hogs from the top. This is at the crest of a hill andjust as the road begins to veer from east to south east. The Hogs can be done as a loop route from here.

Hog Two (2) - Approach

pkHogsUpper          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97219   W -110.53028        Elev: 5,175 Feet Park here for access to the Hogs from the top. This is at the crest of a hill andjust as the road begins to veer from east to south east. The Hogs can be done as a loop route from here. jHogStndExTop          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97684   W -110.52602        Elev: 5,135 Feet Top out of the standard gully exit route where it meets with the approach route from the top. wHogsTopRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98157   W -110.52342        Elev: 5,000 Feet Southern end of a sandstone cliff band feature to walk along the top of on the approach into the Hogs from the top. yHog4-MsPigyTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98350   W -110.52262        Elev: 5,020 Feet Top entry of Hog 4 - Miss Piggy. This is the head of a wide gentle sloped draiange leading down south east from the rim here. jHog1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98538   W -110.52020        Elev: 5,050 Feet From here turn southeast and walk about 100 feet to the rim and look for a spot to scramble down off the rim. jHogSlickRkEx          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98622   W -110.51788        Elev: NaN Feet This is where the slick rock exit up out of the Hogs meets the approch route that travels along the rim around the heads of the Hogs. No specific land mark here. yHog2Tp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98551   W -110.51537        Elev: 5,025 Feet Top entry for Hog 2. This is where you scramble down into the start of Hog 2.

Hog Two (3) - The Canyon

yHog2Tp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98551   W -110.51537        Elev: 5,025 Feet Top entry for Hog 2. This is where you scramble down into the start of Hog 2. wHogTwoRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98490   W -110.51543        Elev: 4,965 Feet Start of a short section of easy galumphing. dHogTwo-R1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98391   W -110.51583        Elev: 4,870 Feet Rap 1 Hog Two. Anchored from rocks set under a large sandstone flake and drops about 125 feet. wHogTwoRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98393   W -110.51540        Elev: 4,900 Feet Top of the bypass downclimb for rap 1. Bypassing rap 1 is done by traversing a little over 100 feet LDC (east) to get to the top of a cross joint crack that is then down climbed to the bottom of rap 1. The traverse is steeply sloped and may feel sketchy to some. One person can go high and set a rope for all but he last who can then be belayed by someone already in the crack. wHogTwoRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98293   W -110.51608        Elev: NaN Feet Elevator of about 15 feet into a dark subway like spot. dHogTwo-R2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98177   W -110.51658        Elev: 4,670 Feet Rap 2 - Hog 2 Canyon. Anchored from a pinch point and drops about 60 feet over two stages. The first stage is an awkward start or it can be downclimbed. dHogTwo-R3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98156   W -110.51674        Elev: 4,640 Feet Rap 3 - Hog 2 Canyon. Anchored from a choke stone and drops about 50 feet to a ledge / lip of a pothole. Try not to drop into the pot hole as it will increase the rap length and possibly be difficult to get out of. wHogTwoRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97884   W -110.51875        Elev: 4,540 Feet The Birthing Canal. The slot drops down into a dark twisted corkscrew like slot to down climb which is the final downclimb. yHog-1and2-Bt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97753   W -110.52006        Elev: 4,480 Feet Bottom exit of both hogs 1 and 2. This is the confluence of the two routes.

Hog Two (4) - Standard Gully Exit

yHog-1and2-Bt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97753   W -110.52006        Elev: 4,480 Feet Bottom exit of both hogs 1 and 2. This is the confluence of the two routes. wHogStndExRP-1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97335   W -110.51604        Elev: NaN Feet Top of the bank to climb up for the start of the standard exit after Hog 3. wHogStndExRP-2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97438   W -110.51938        Elev: 4,510 Feet Exit route corsses over a wide slick rock drainage on the way to the exit gully. This is also where this drainage forks where the north fork goes up to the exit gully and the west fork goes over to the side canyon with the huge head wall. wHogStndExRP-3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97488   W -110.52071        Elev: 4,540 Feet Top of a sandstone section whith good views over to the exit gully. wHogStndExRP-4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97491   W -110.52176        Elev: NaN Feet Bottom of the exit gully. wHogStndExRP-5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97667   W -110.52508        Elev: 5,020 Feet On the ridge just above the rock pinnacle. jHogStndExTop          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97684   W -110.52602        Elev: 5,135 Feet Top out of the standard gully exit route where it meets with the approach route from the top. pkHogsUpper          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97219   W -110.53028        Elev: 5,175 Feet Park here for access to the Hogs from the top. This is at the crest of a hill andjust as the road begins to veer from east to south east. The Hogs can be done as a loop route from here.

Hog Two (5) - Optional Slick Rock Exit

yHog-1and2-Bt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97753   W -110.52006        Elev: 4,480 Feet Bottom exit of both hogs 1 and 2. This is the confluence of the two routes. wHogAltExRP-1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97774   W -110.52005        Elev: 4,481 Feet Top of the climb at the base of the Slick Rock exit up out of the Hogs. wHogAltExRP-2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98327   W -110.51826        Elev: 4,965 Feet A pointy peak along the slick rock ridge. wHogAltExRP-3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98465   W -110.51747        Elev: 5,010 Feet Base of a slick rock cliff band about 40 feet high. jHogSlickRkEx          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98622   W -110.51788        Elev: NaN Feet This is where the slick rock exit up out of the Hogs meets the approch route that travels along the rim around the heads of the Hogs. No specific land mark here. jHog1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98538   W -110.52020        Elev: 5,050 Feet From here turn southeast and walk about 100 feet to the rim and look for a spot to scramble down off the rim. yHog4-MsPigyTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98350   W -110.52262        Elev: 5,020 Feet Top entry of Hog 4 - Miss Piggy. This is the head of a wide gentle sloped draiange leading down south east from the rim here. wHogsTopRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98157   W -110.52342        Elev: 5,000 Feet Southern end of a sandstone cliff band feature to walk along the top of on the approach into the Hogs from the top. jHogStndExTop          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97684   W -110.52602        Elev: 5,135 Feet Top out of the standard gully exit route where it meets with the approach route from the top. pkHogsUpper          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97219   W -110.53028        Elev: 5,175 Feet Park here for access to the Hogs from the top. This is at the crest of a hill andjust as the road begins to veer from east to south east. The Hogs can be done as a loop route from here.