Canyoneering Route Description

No Kidding Canyon - 4A(B) II(III)
North Wash, Utah.

Quick Facts

2012-03-31, 5 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 9 hours) Pictures Icon Time is for upper and lower sections and mostly using potshot anchors
2016-09-09, 6 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 9.5 hours  Time is for combining only lower No Kidding and Middle Leprechaun Canyon

Time Required - 6 to 8 hours
Distance - 2.1 miles Total, 0.4 miles Technical (0.2 tech miles if bypassing the upper and doing only the lower)
Rappels - 8 Rappels, Longest Rappel 150 feet.  (if bypassing rap 2, only 100 foot ropes would be needed.
Elevation Range - 5225 - 4580 Feet
Shuttle Required - No Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 150 feet and 20 feet of 1 inch webbing just in case.  Sandtrap for anchoring and a couple potshots in case needed to get out of a pothole.

No wetsuits needed since the canyon should be done when things dry out.  No kidding can be a wet muddy mess after rains.

General Comments

Suggested to enjoy No Kidding when dry. After recent rain activity No Kidding can be a muddy mess making anchors even more challenging. No Kidding is best enjoyed when things have dried out.  The A(B) water rating is due to this canyon being best done when dry but if wet there will be water and lots of mud.  The 4 rating for technical difficulty is due to advanced anchoring required and possible pothole escape.

Route finding to the top of No Kidding is pretty straight forward as you just hike southeast from the parking spot across rolling desert. But good map reading or GPS is helpful to keep you on track for the approach. If you aim too far south you will be greeted with steeper slickrock to scramble down. If you aim too far east you will have more gentle slope of slickrock to scramble down but have a little more wash to walk to the head of No Kidding.

No Kidding Canyon is a great place to practice anchoring from sand filled potholes. The canyon is short but offers a lot of bang for your buck as it is a series of pothole after pothole requiring a sand anchor. On my first trip through we used stacked potshots as out anchors which can be a tedious activity until you start to get a flow going. Years later we used a sandtrap for the anchors and wow what a time and work saver.

Sandtrap is perfect for this canyon. Potshots can be used for anchors but require more work and attention. When using potshots or sandtrap for anchors, be mindful of placement and constrictions that may stick a trap or pot by preventing it from fully dumping.

There is an upper and lower section to No Kidding. When you hear people talk about doing No Kidding Canyon, they are generally talking about the lower section. After following the approach route to the top of the upper section you can play through the canyon or easily walk the RDC rim of the upper section to drop into the lower section.

The upper section is about 1000 feet long and is mostly walking and galumphing with one 15 foot rappel at the end.
The lower section is about 900 feet long, and is where all the action is. It is common for people to bypass the upper section and do only the lower section walking in above rap 2.

There are a few potholes that will require partner assist or pothole escape techniques to get out of. Be prepared to help each other or use a pack toss or potshot to cross.  Small packs recommended due to one short section where you need to take your pack off to travel between skinny walls.

Rap 2 (the first rap of the lower section) uses 110 to 150 feet of rope depending on the chosen anchor. All other raps are well under 100 feet. Some people leave a long rope at rap 2 and retrieve it on the exit.  Optionally Rap 2 is easily bypassed walking around on the LDC side about 180 feet then walking back into the canyon.  If bypassing rap 2 bring in a few 100 foot ropes.

On my first visit in 2012 there are already a lot of rope grooves forming in the canyon. Please be mindful of this and try not to create more. Pulling your rope from farther down canyon in many cases can help greatly. Rock protection and anchor placement can be helpful as well.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of highway 95 and highway 276 (about 25.5 miles south of Hanksville), drive north on highway 95 about 0.7 miles to a dirt road turn off (extCedarPntRd).  The dirt road is called Cedar Point Road on some maps and is known by some as Turkey Knob Road.  Cedar Point road is graded making it passable for passenger cars although heavy rains might change that from time to time.  Turn right (east) onto Cedar Point Road.  

Drive east on the main Cedar Point Road passing a few small less traveled side roads.  About 3.9 miles from highway 95 is a junction known to some as “The Four Way” (extTheFourWay).

From “The Four Way”, turn right (south) onto another dirt road (not as well maintained) and drive about 0.3 miles to a flat spot to park (pkNoKidding1).  If your vehicle is not able to get down this short road to get to the parking spot you can optionally park back at “The Four Way”.   If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can drive another 700 feet to another parking spot (pkNoKidding2).

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.

Map Link Icon
Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the drive into the route.
Map of the entire route.
Map of the technical section.

Details

The Approach:
From parking spot (pkNoKidding1) walk rolling desert southeast about 0.45 miles to the rim of No Kidding. If you aim too far south you will be greeted with steeper slickrock to scramble down. If you aim too far east you will have more gentle slope of slickrock to scramble down but have a little more wash to walk to the head of No Kidding.

At the rim of upper No Kidding (NoKidding01) scramble 30 to 50 feet down sloped slickrock into the upper wash of No Kidding. Once down in the wash, turn right and walk south down canyon to the head of No Kidding (yNoKiddingTp). 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From the top of No Kidding (yNoKiddingTp) where slot begins to form, continue down canyon for about 425 feet with a mix of walking and easy galumphing to a brief open spot.

Note:
To bypass the upper half and go directly to the lower section of No Kidding, walk the RDC (west) side rim following the canyon to where you can walk into the canyon above the lower section.

About 450 feet farther is 2 easy downclimbs (NoKidding02) of about 10 feet each just after a short open spot.

About 150 feet farther is a second short open spot (NoKidding03) then another slot begins with a mix of walking and easy galumphing.

About 270 feet farther is an easy downclimb (NoKidding04) of about 6 feet then a bridge over a small pothole as the slot starts to drop faster and become more deep feeling. Enjoy the short lived 200 foot long slot to where it opens up at the end of the upper section.  About 200 feet farther is rap 1.

Rap 1 (dNoKiddingR1) anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 15 feet to a shallow pothole and a very short slot. Optionally you can walk around this rappel and short slot on the LDC (east) side.  Less than 100 feet down canyon is rap 2.

Rap 2 (dNoKiddingR2) anchored using a deadman anchor or an up canyon rock horn and uses 110 or 150 feet of rope depending on anchor choice. This rap drops down steep wall with a hanging pothole to step over.

Note:
This rap can be easily bypassed on the LDC (east) side to an easy walk-in about 180 feet down canyon. If bypassed, all that is missed is the rappel and 180 feet of canyon with a couple small features that can be upclimbed if you want to walk up to the bottom of the rap.

Note:
The canyon can be easily entered or exited from either side. If you bypassed the upper section of No Kidding, this is where you will drop into the canyon from the RDC (west) side.

About 80 feet farther is small pothole (NoKidding05) to bridge over then an easy downclimb of about 8 feet.

About 80 feet farther is here you will walk back into the canyon (NoKidding06EE) is bypassing rap 2 on the LDC (east) side. The next rap is about 150 feet down canyon with galumphing then narrow slot where you will need to take your pack off to travel.

Note:
While continuing down canyon if you start to see a lot of water you can turn around and exit out the walk-in shortly up canyon. When wet this canyon can be a muddy mess best avoided.

Rap 3 (dNoKiddingR3) is anchored using chock stone and drops about 75 feet. The top half of the rappel can be downclimbed but rope is required for the second half. Pulling the rope from a little bowl up on the LDC side will help reduce the rope grooves created.  Shortly down canyon is an 8 foot downclimb to partner assist.  About 150 feet farther is the next rap.

Rap 4 (dNoKiddingR4) just after a stem over a small pothole, is anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 15 feet. Be careful of placement of the sandtrap as there is a v-slot at the start of the drop that can prevent the sandtrap from fully dumping.  Shortly after is the next rap.

Rap 5 (dNoKiddingR5) anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 20 feet to a deep keeper pothole that will likely require a potshot toss to get out of. Be careful of placement of the sandtrap as there is a v-slot at the start of the drop that can prevent the sandtrap from fully dumping.

A short distance farther is a downclimb of about 9 feet that will require partner assist down into a large pothole about 15 feet across with an easy scramble out the other side. If wet this pothole would be a swimmer, which is a reminder the canyon is best done when dry. The next rappel is anchored from down in that pothole.

Rap 6 (dNoKiddingR6) anchored from a sandtrap in a large pothole and drops about 70 feet with a mid point hanging pothole then down to a large pothole at the bottom. The pothole at the bottom is easy to exit but if in muddy conditions will need partner assist to get out. The next rap is about 20 feet down canyon of the pothole.

Rap 7 (dNoKiddingR7) anchored from a sandtrap and drops 80 feet with a mid point ledge then down to a pothole about chest deep and easy to get out of. Continue down canyon for about 140 feet in mostly horizontal slot with undulated walls to a downclimb.

Just before reaching the last rap is a spiraling staircase like downclimb (NoKidding07) over about 15 feet. 

Rap 8 (dNoKiddingR8) is anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 20 feet down to wide walls as the canyon ends (yNoKiddingBt).

Note:
On both visits to this canyon we have anchored on the RDC side from a releasable knot chock anchor instead of the sand trap. With the knot chock being releasable, nothing is left behind.

The Exit:
From the bottom of No Kidding (yNoKiddingBt), walk down the slope then turn right and walk west up the wash.

About 450 feet farther the climb gets significantly steeper (wShnanyKelRP-1).  Continue up the steep section above by going up the wider ravine to the right and do not go up the this slot on the left.  Continuing up is a mix of scrambling up rock sections and trudging up steep loose dirt.

About 300 feet farther is a soft sandy section (KelsyButlr2) running along the left (south) side of the ravine and the ravine above looks like it begins to get a lot more difficult.  From the top of the sandy area, turn right (north) and cross over to a chute that provides a much easier climb up.  Scramble up the chute about 100 feet to find an easy traverse to the right (north) side of the ravine (KelsyButlr3).

At the easy traverse (KelsyButlr3), traverse right (north) and route find to a wide open slick rock area running north east along the base of a cliff face.  Walk north east about 275 feet on slick rock to a series of small potholes, cross over those small potholes and walk another 175 feet to a deeper drainage with deeper potholes which is the drainage for No Kidding.

Once on the rim of the No Kidding drainage (KelsyButlr4), turn left and scramble west up fairly steep for about 300 feet to a top out.

From the top out (KelsyButlr5) where the climb levels out, veer slight right (north west) and follow up the gently sloped ridge to dirt then walk an open dirt area about 400 feet to another short slick rock slope then scramble north up the slope.

From the top of the slickrock slope (KelsyButlr6) the exit vehicles can be seen across the open desert about 0.5 miles to the northwest.

Route find rolling desert northwest toward the exit vehicles parked on the dirt road (pkNoKidding).  There will be a few ups and downs in shallow gullies along the way.

GPS Waypoint Information

Downloadable GPX files available at BG-Gear Store (easier than manual entry and a great way to support Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.  Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format. 
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
No Kidding (1) - Drive to Trailhead
  1. extCedarPntRd          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03375   W -110.57510        Elev: 4,690 Feet
    Exit for Cedar Point Road. Some refer to it as Turkey Knob Road since it is not singed and is near Turkey Knob.
  2. wCdrPntDP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04365   W -110.54989        Elev: NaN Feet
    Small road spur leaves Cedar Point Road to the south.
  3. wCdrPntDP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04506   W -110.54855        Elev: 5,020 Feet
    Dirt road leaves Cedar Point road to the north.
  4. wCdrPntDP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.05152   W -110.53746        Elev: NaN Feet
    Dirt road leaves Cedar Point road to the south.
  5. extTheFourWay          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04852   W -110.51810        Elev: 5,272 Feet
    A spot where roads cross Cedar Point Road. This spot is known to some as "The Four Way"
  6. pkNoKidding1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04433   W -110.51793        Elev: 5,225 Feet
    A wide area to the left side of the dirt road that can be used as parking when doing canyons in the area. This is where you would start and end for the No Kidding Route. It is also where you park if using the Kelsey exit for any of the Butler Canyons like Shenanigans, Monkey Business or Foolin Around. To go to No Kidding, walk rolling desert southeast about 0.45 miles to the rim of No Kidding. If you aim too far south you will be greeted with steeper slickrock to scramble down. If you ai too far east you will have more gentle slope of slickrock to scramble down but have a little more wash to walk to the head of No Kidding.
  7. pkNoKidding2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04245   W -110.51800        Elev: 5,180 Feet
    Alternate parking 700 feet further down the road for No Kidding if you have ho clearance.
No Kidding (2) Approach
  1. pkNoKidding1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04433   W -110.51793        Elev: 5,225 Feet
    A wide area to the left side of the dirt road that can be used as parking when doing canyons in the area. This is where you would start and end for the No Kidding Route. It is also where you park if using the Kelsey exit for any of the Butler Canyons like Shenanigans, Monkey Business or Foolin Around. To go to No Kidding, walk rolling desert southeast about 0.45 miles to the rim of No Kidding. If you aim too far south you will be greeted with steeper slickrock to scramble down. If you ai too far east you will have more gentle slope of slickrock to scramble down but have a little more wash to walk to the head of No Kidding.
  2. NoKidding01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04016   W -110.51189        Elev: NaN Feet
    One of many spots aloong the rim where you can scramble 30 to 50 feet down sloped slickrock into the upper wash of No Kidding. Once down in the wash, turn right and walk south down canyon to the head of No Kidding.
  3. yNoKiddingTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03935   W -110.51142        Elev: 5,075 Feet
    Top of the upper slot for No Kidding where slot begins to form. To play through upper No Kidding, continue down canyon for about 425 feet with a mix of walking and easy galumphing to a brief open spot. Note: To bypass the upper half and go directly to the lower section of No Kidding, walk the RDC (west) side rim following the canyon to where you can walk into the canyon above the lower section.
No Kidding (3) - The Canyon
  1. yNoKiddingTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03935   W -110.51142        Elev: 5,075 Feet
    Top of the upper slot for No Kidding where slot begins to form. To play through upper No Kidding, continue down canyon for about 425 feet with a mix of walking and easy galumphing to a brief open spot. Note: To bypass the upper half and go directly to the lower section of No Kidding, walk the RDC (west) side rim following the canyon to where you can walk into the canyon above the lower section.
  2. NoKidding02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03823   W -110.51197        Elev: NaN Feet
    2 easy downclimbs of about 10 feet each just after a short open spot.
  3. NoKidding03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03781   W -110.51197        Elev: NaN Feet
    Second short open spot then another slot begins with a mix of walking and easy galumphing.
  4. NoKidding04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03716   W -110.51210        Elev: NaN Feet
    Easy downclimb of about 6 feet then a bridge over a small pothole as the slot starts to drop faster and become more deep feeling. Enjoy the short lived 200 foot long slot to where it opens up at the end of the upper section.
  5. dNoKiddingR1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03673   W -110.51180        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 - No Kidding. Anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 15 feet to a shallow pothole and a very short slot. Optionally you can walk around this rappel and short slot on the LDC (east) side.
  6. dNoKiddingR2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03668   W -110.51144        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 2 - No Kidding. Anchored using a deadman anchor or an up canyon rock horn and uses 110 or 150 feet of rope depending on anchor choice. This rap drops down steep wall with a hanging pothole to step over. Note: This rap can be easily bypassed on the LDC (east) side to an easy walk-in about 180 feet down canyon. If bypassed, all that is missed is the rappel and 180 feet of canyon with a couple small features that can be upclimbed if you want to walk up to the bottom of the rap. Note: The canyon can be easily entered or exited from either side. If you bypassed the upper section of No Kidding, this is where you will drop into the canyon from the RDC (west) side.
  7. NoKidding05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03660   W -110.51115        Elev: NaN Feet
    Small pothole to bridge over then an easy downclimb of about 8 feet.
  8. NoKidding06EE          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03645   W -110.51097        Elev: NaN Feet
    Where you will walk back into the canyon is bypassing rap 2 on the LDC (east) side. The next rap is about 150 feet down canyon with galumphing then narrow slot where you will need to take your pack off to travel. Note: While continuing down canyon if you start to see a lot of water you can turn around and exit out the walk-in shortly up canyon. When wet this canyon can be a muddy mess best avoided.
  9. dNoKiddingR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03615   W -110.51063        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 3 - No Kidding. Anchored using chock stone and drops about 75 feet. The top half of the rappel can be downclimbed but rope is required for the second half. Pulling the rope from a little bowl up on the LDC side will help reduce the rope grooves created. Shortly down canyon is an 8 foot downclimb to partner assist.
  10. dNoKiddingR4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03585   W -110.51031        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 4 - No Kidding just after a stem over a small pothole. Anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 15 feet. Be careful of placement of the sandtrap as there is a v-slot at the start of the drop that can prevent the sandtrap from fully dumping.
  11. dNoKiddingR5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03575   W -110.51015        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 5 - No Kidding. Anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 20 feet to a deep keeper pothole that will likely require a potshot toss to get out of. Be careful of placement of the sandtrap as there is a v-slot at the start of the drop that can prevent the sandtrap from fully dumping. A short distance farther is a downclimb of about 9 feet that will require partner assist down into a large pothole about 15 feet across with an easy scramble out the other side. If wet this pothole would be a swimmer, which is a reminder the canyon is best done when dry. The next rappel is anchored from down in that pothole.
  12. dNoKiddingR6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03568   W -110.51000        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 6 - No Kidding. Anchored from a sandtrap in a large pothole and drops about 70 feet with a mid point hanging pothole then down to a large pothole at the bottom. The pothole at the bottom is easy to exit but if in muddy conditions will need partner assist to get out. The next rap is about 20 feet down canyon of the pothole.
  13. dNoKiddingR7          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03558   W -110.50989        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 7 - No Kidding. Anchored from a sandtrap and drops 80 feet with a mid point ledge then down to a pothole about chest deep and easy to get out of. Continue down canyon for about 140 feet in mostly horizontal slot with undulated walls to a downclimb.
  14. NoKidding07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03530   W -110.50953        Elev: NaN Feet
    Spiraling staircase like downclimb over about 15 feet just before reaching the final rap.
  15. dNoKiddingR8          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03520   W -110.50941        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 8 - No Kidding. Anchored using a sandtrap and drops about 20 feet down to wide walls as the canyon ends. Note: On both visits to this canyon we have anchored on the RDC side from a releasable knot chock anchor instead of the sand trap. With the knot chock being releasable, nothing is left behind.
  16. yNoKiddingBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03515   W -110.50922        Elev: NaN Feet
    Bottom exit of No Kidding where the walls widen to the side of wide open wash. To exit, walk down the slope then turn right and walk west up the wash.
No Kidding (4) - Exit
  1. yNoKiddingBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03515   W -110.50922        Elev: NaN Feet
    Bottom exit of No Kidding where the walls widen to the side of wide open wash. To exit, walk down the slope then turn right and walk west up the wash.
  2. KelsyButlr1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03528   W -110.51070        Elev: NaN Feet
    The exit route gets significantly steeper. Continue up the steep section above by going up the wider ravine to the right and do not go up the this slot on the left.   Continuing up is a mix of scrambling up rock sections and trudging up steep loose dirt.
  3. KelsyButlr2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03547   W -110.51186        Elev: NaN Feet
    Soft sandy section running along the left (south) side of the ravine and the ravine above looks like it begins to get a lot more difficult. From the top of the sandy area, turn right (north) and cross over to a chute that provides a much easier climb up.
  4. KelsyButlr3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03568   W -110.51213        Elev: NaN Feet
    At the easy traverse (KelsyButlr3 ), traverse right (north) and route find to a wide open slick rock area running north east along the base of a cliff face. Walk north east about 275 feet on slick rock to a series of small potholes, cross over those small potholes and walk another 175 feet to a deeper drainage with deeper potholes which is the drainage for No Kidding.
  5. KelsyButlr4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03645   W -110.51125        Elev: NaN Feet
    Once on the rim of the No Kidding drainage, turn left and scramble west up fairly steep for about 300 feet to a top out.
  6. KelsyButlr5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03671   W -110.51228        Elev: NaN Feet
    Top out to more level terrain, veer slight right (north west) and follow up the gently sloped ridge to dirt then walk an open dirt area about 400 feet to another short slick rock slope then scramble north up the slope.
  7. KelsyButlr6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.03762   W -110.51350        Elev: 5,110 Feet
    Top of another slick rock slope. Route find rolling desert northwest about 0.5 miles toward the exit vehicles parked on the dirt road.  There will be a few ups and downs in shallow gullies along the way.
  8. pkNoKidding1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.04433   W -110.51793        Elev: 5,225 Feet
    A wide area to the left side of the dirt road that can be used as parking when doing canyons in the area. This is where you would start and end for the No Kidding Route. It is also where you park if using the Kelsey exit for any of the Butler Canyons like Shenanigans, Monkey Business or Foolin Around. To go to No Kidding, walk rolling desert southeast about 0.45 miles to the rim of No Kidding. If you aim too far south you will be greeted with steeper slickrock to scramble down. If you ai too far east you will have more gentle slope of slickrock to scramble down but have a little more wash to walk to the head of No Kidding.

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