Canyoneering Route Description

Sow Fork  - 3A II(III)
North Wash, Utah.

Quick Facts

03-10-12, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 7 hours) - Descended Hog 2. Pictures Icon

Time Required - 6 to 9 hours (depends on which Hog is used to complete route).
Distance - 6.4 to 6.9 miles Total with 0.5 to 0.7 miles Technical (depends on which Hog is used to complete route).
Rappels - up to 3 Rappels, Longest Rappel up to 125 feet. (depends on which Hog is used to complete route).
Elevation Range - 4100 - 5080 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Miles Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

If playing in Sow Fork only, all you need is some body armor like helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.  If you plan to use the Hog Ramble and Sow Fork as an approach to any of the Hog Canyons, you will need gear for the canyon you intend to do, which will be listed with the route description for that canyon.

General Comments

The technical rating for Sow Fork would be a 2 since no ropes are required.  However Stemming skills are needed to complete the route so I feel a technical rating of some sort is in order.  I have listed this with a tech rating of 3 although this can be argued as the rating system does not work well in all cases.  Another reason to give this a tech rating of 3 is that the route will most likely be used as an approach to the Hogs which are technical canyons.

The Hog Ramble is an alternate approach to the Hog Canyons starting from the parking area at Hog Springs.  If accessing the Hogs via the Hog Ramble, the exit route is down the main Hog Springs drainage back to the car.  The Hog Ramble makes for a longer day than the standard Hog Canyon(s) approach but may offer some variety for those wanting to see something different.

The Sow Fork is a short slot optionally accessed from the Hog Ramble.  Sow Fork is short, fun and requires no ropes.  But you may want to bring along knee and elbow pads to make the stemming more enjoyable.  But keep in mind Sow Fork is short.  If you are looking for a canyon experience with some meat on it, Sow Fork is not a good choice.  If you just want to see some new stuff and want to play in a cool but short slot then this might work well.

The Sow Fork is an optional slot and can be up climbed or down climbed.  So the way you decide to go depends on your mood and skill set.  Sow Fork offers good practice for upclimbing narrow slots if you want a place to practice.   Sow Fork is only about 300 feet long but is a fun and scenic side trip where one could practice high stemming moves while you are any where from a few feet to almost 20 feet off the deck.  The stemming up Sow Fork is of moderate difficulty.  If you decide you don't like it, you can always turn around and follow the standard Hog Ramble to bypass Sow Fork.

Warning:
There is poison ivy in the area around the bottom of Sow Fork.  Keep your eyes open if you are allergic to this stuff.

This route description will describe upclimbing Sow Fork then continuing the Hog Ramble approach to the top of the Hog System and passing by some very interesting pothole features along the way.  But after getting a feel for where things are, you can make up your own route.  Travel up the Hog Ramble to play in Sow Fork (downclimb, upclimb or both) then go back down to the cars or continue up to the Hogs or bypass Sow Fork altogether and just head straight up to the Hogs.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of Highways 95 and 276 (about 25 miles south of Hanksville), drive south on highway 95 for 7.2 miles to the Hog Springs picnic area.

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 route overview.
Map of the Sow Fork and Hog Wallows area.

Details

The Approach:
From the Hog Springs parking lot walk along the side of highway 95 for about 800 feet to the mouth of a drainage branching off north west away from the North Wash Drainage and the road.  Find a way to drop down off the road and cross the North Wash drainage to start up into this large side drainage.  The drainage has no name on maps but will be referred to here as Ramble Canyon.

If there is water blocking your way up the start of Ramble Canyon (wHogRmblRP-01) and you don't want to get wet going up and over the bank on the right (north) side will do the trick.

Continue north west up the drainage for about 0.5 miles the bottom of a dry fall about 30 or 40 feet tall.  Route find your way up the RDC (west) side to bypass the fall to get to the top (wHogRmblRP-02).

About 0.2 miles farther will be anther dry fall to bypass.  Start the bypass on the right (east) side of the drainage about 200 feet before reaching the dry fall.  Once at the top of the dry fall (wHogRmblRP-03) continue walking in a wide sandy wash.

About 0.6 miles farther will be another dry fall to bypass.  To get to the top (wHogRmblRP-04), bypass on the left (west) side about 150 feet down canyon before reaching the dry fall.

Now the wash / drainage gets VERY wide and the slope on the left (west) is a gentle grade.  You could leave the Hog Ramble route here and likely route find your way up to the mesa top to the top of the Hogs.  But doing so would bypass access to the Sow Fork and also bypass some interesting pothole features farther up the Hog Ramble route.  Continue up the drainage to get to these areas.

About 0.6 miles farther the drainage loses its very wide feel and begins to narrow up a little (wHogRmblRP-05).  This are is by no means a slot it is just where the character of the drainage makes an obvious change from very wide open to a more canyon like feel.

About 700 feet farther you will be at the bottom of a side drainage (jSowForkBt) dropping in from the left (west).  Going up this side drainage is the continuation of the standard Hog Ramble route.  If you continue about 200 feet past the side drainage you will get to the bottom of a deep narrow slot which is the bottom of Sow Fork (ySowForkBt).

Note:
This is where you have a choice.  Start up the side drainage to follow the standard Hog Ramble route or take the side trip up through Sow Fork.  Both routes will rejoin before continuing the remainder of the Hog Ramble. 

If you decide not to do the Sow Fork route and want to follow the standard Hog Ramble, route find your way west up the side drainage.  The first part of the drainage has steep cliff like banks that you will need to find a way to scramble up.  The remainder is just wandering up the sloped slick rock to the saddle.   About 750 feet up the drainage will be a saddle (jHogWallows) which is where the Sow Fork side trip will rejoin the route.

The Side Trip to Sow Fork - (Kind of Technical):
This side trip section describes the Sow Fork option to the Hog Ramble.  The side trip up Sow Fork and a look around the Hog Wallows should take about an hour before you meet up with the Hog Ramble route again.
If you decided not to go up Sow Fork, skip down below this side trip section.

Walk northeast up the drainage about 200 feet to the bottom of Sow Fork (ySowForkBt).  Be careful, there is poison ivy as you approach the bottom of Sow Fork.  Sow Fork is about 300 feet long so it is a short but makes for some fun and scenic practice upclimbing in a narrow slot with some a little exposure.  Over the 300 feet there are only about 3 spots where you will be on the ground.  The remainder of the upclimb of Sow Fork you will be stemming up off the deck any where from a few feet up to about 20 feet.

Just past the top of Sow Fork (ySowForkTp) is a wide sandy bottomed flat area where the canyon turns sharp to the north west at a cross joint (wSowForkRP-01). Turn northwest and follow up the canyon past the cross joint.

About 500 feet will be a saddle (wSowForkRP-02).  If you continue past the saddle you would go about 300 feet and be at the top of a long ravine you could scramble north back down to the road.  Instead, when you get to this saddle route find your way up the steep slick rock to the left (west).  The first 150 or 200 feet of this slick rock is steep and you will likely want both hands and feet on the rock as you scramble up.  The scrambling is not overly difficult but it is slabby with few features so take your time and work a route that feels best for you.

About 350 feet after leaving the saddle is the top out on a large sandstone peak (sHogWallows).  Scattered around this peak are several crater like holes.  Some are 30 or so feet deep with steep sides.  Some of these would be extremely difficult to get out of so a rope and a friend up top are a good idea if you plan to drop into any of them.  This is a worthwhile place to look around.

From the Hog Wallows, continue west off down the other side of the peak and route find your way about 400 feet down to a saddle (jHogWallows).  You may need to down climb in one spot on the way depending on the route you took.

Back to The Approach:
The saddle (jHogWallows) is where the Sow Fork side trip rejoins the standard Hog Ramble route. 

Note:
If you just got done following the Sow Fork side trip you are ready to continue with the rest of the Hog Ramble.  If you bypassed the Sow Fork side trip and just came up the drainage to this saddle you have the option of continuing up the Hog Ramble route or taking a short trip up to the Hog Wallows.  To go check out the Hog Wallows scramble up to the top of the peak about 400 feet east and look around.  See the note in the side trip for a description of what the Hog Wallows are.

From the saddle travel up the slick rock to the west route finding your way over a couple small cross joints.  About 0.2 miles away will be another saddle (wHogRmblRP-06).  From this saddle you want to be up on the mesa ahead of you to the west.  The climb up to the mesa top does not look friendly from the saddle.

From the saddle go left (south) about 200 feet to the bottom of (wHogRmblRP-07) a steep but easily traveled slope traversing north up to the mesa top.  The scramble up will involve a couple spots to easily upclimb some small ledges about 4 or 5 feet high.

After about 600 feet you will be on the mesa top and greeted with wide open flat vegetated desert (jHogRambleTp).

Once on the mesa top you can turn around and head back the way you came or descend on of the Hogs to complete your day.  The top of Hog 3 is about 0.3 miles south.  The top of Hog 2 is about 0.2 miles west.  The top of Hog 1 is about 0.4 miles west.

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
If you plan to descend one of the Hogs, refer to route descriptions for the Hogs for more info.

The Exit:
If you have followed the Hog Ramble to access one of the Hog Canyons, you will likely want to get back to your car at the Hog Springs parking lot.  After completing a Hog don't follow the standard Hog exit route.  Instead just follow Hog Springs Canyon back to the parking lot and your car.

As you head down toward the bottom of Hog 3 on this exit stay RDC (southwest) up out of the wash following a use trail to avoid water and heavy vegetation.  As you travel down canyon beyond the bottom of Hog 3 there is no one best route.  Follow one of a few use trails staying up out of the main Hog Springs Drainage.

About 0.25 miles down canyon below the bottom of Hog 3 follow use trails down off a ridge line and back down to the main Hog Springs Canyon drainage (wHogSpringsRP-01).

About 0.2 miles down canyon is a pool to bypass (wHogSpringsRP-02). 

Then another pool to bypass about 0.2 miles farther (wHogSpringsRP-03). 

About 0.25 miles farther is a big drop off in the water course with a large pool below (wHogSpringsRP-04).  This pool could be a nice swimming hole on hot days.  Bypass this drop on the RDC (southwest) side.

Continue down canyon following use trails that become more and more obvious for about 1 miles to the Hog Springs Parking area.

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........
Sow Fork 1 - First part of Hog Ramble to bottom of Sow Fork
  1. pkHogSprings          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96273   W -110.49129        Elev: 4,100 Feet
    Hog Springs Rest Area. Restrooms and trail head for Hog Springs. This is where you also start the route into Hogwartz or the Hog Ramble approach to the Hog System.
  2. wHogRmblRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96480   W -110.49314        Elev: 4,120 Feet
    Mouth of Ramble Canyon and the start of the Hog Ramble approach. Bank on the RUC side can help bypass water here.
  3. wHogRmblRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96830   W -110.49847        Elev: 4,235 Feet
    Top of a 30 or 40 foot dry fall. Bypass this on the RDC (west) side for travel up or down canyon.
  4. wHogRmblRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97060   W -110.49915        Elev: 4,278 Feet
    Top of the second dry fall to bypass on the way up the Hog Ramble. The bypass starts about 200 feet down canyon on the LDC (east) side.
  5. wHogRmblRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97759   W -110.50310        Elev: NaN Feet
    Top of another spot to bypass. Bypass on the RDC (west) side.
  6. wHogRmblRP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98352   W -110.50601        Elev: 4,540 Feet
    The wide wash on the way up begins to narrow down but is by no means a slot. This is just the start of an obvious change from very wide open to a more canyon like feel.
  7. jSowForkBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98520   W -110.50501        Elev: 4,590 Feet
    On the way up the Hog Ramble route you have a choice to branch here where you can choose to stay on the Hog Ramble route or do an optional run up Sow Fork. Coninuting up the main drainage here about 200 feet will leed to the bottom of Sow Fork. Or leaving the main draiange and starting up a side draiange on the left (west) will continue up the standard Hog Ramble.
Sow Fork 2 - Up Sow Fork, over Hog Wallows
  1. jSowForkBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98520   W -110.50501        Elev: 4,590 Feet
    On the way up the Hog Ramble route you have a choice to branch here where you can choose to stay on the Hog Ramble route or do an optional run up Sow Fork. Coninuting up the main drainage here about 200 feet will leed to the bottom of Sow Fork. Or leaving the main draiange and starting up a side draiange on the left (west) will continue up the standard Hog Ramble.
  2. ySowForkBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98566   W -110.50437        Elev: 4,660 Feet
    Bottom of Sow Fork.
  3. ySowForkTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98626   W -110.50357        Elev: 4,680 Feet
    Top of Sow Fork.
  4. wSowForkRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98651   W -110.50335        Elev: 4,634 Feet
    Wide open flat sandy area at a cross joint just up canyon of the top of Sow Fork.
  5. wSowForkRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98748   W -110.50469        Elev: 4,710 Feet
    Saddle up canyon of the top of Sow Fork. Scramble west up the steep slick rock to follow the route over to rejoin the Hog Ramble.
  6. sHogWallows          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98709   W -110.50581        Elev: 4,845 Feet
    Hog Wallows are on a large sandstone peak. There are a bunch of large crater like features in the sandstone. Don't fall in some of these unless you have someone with a rope up top to help you out.
  7. jHogWallows          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98654   W -110.50696        Elev: 4,760 Feet
    Saddle on the way up the standard Hog Ramble route. The Hog Ramble continues west but if you have the time it is a worthwhile side trip to go east up to the peak about 400 feet away to check out the Hog Wallows where there are several large crater like features.
Sow Fork 3 - Remainder of Hog Ramble
  1. jHogWallows          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98654   W -110.50696        Elev: 4,760 Feet
    Saddle on the way up the standard Hog Ramble route. The Hog Ramble continues west but if you have the time it is a worthwhile side trip to go east up to the peak about 400 feet away to check out the Hog Wallows where there are several large crater like features.
  2. wHogRmblRP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98576   W -110.50991        Elev: 4,815 Feet
    A saddle just before the final scramble up to the mesa top at the top of the Hog System.
  3. wHogRmblRP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98518   W -110.50983        Elev: 4,780 Feet
    Start of a slope that traverses and climbs to teh mesa top above the Hog System.
  4. jHogRambleTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.98562   W -110.51198        Elev: 5,080 Feet
    Top ot of the Hog Ramble Route where gets to the mesa top above the Hog System.
Sow Fork 4 - Exit down Hog Springs Canyon
  1. 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.
  2. wHogSpringsRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.97151   W -110.51327        Elev: 4,305 Feet
    Bottom exit from the Hogs. Use trails drop off a ridge back down into the main Hog Springs Canyon drainage.
  3. wHogSpringsRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96959   W -110.50956        Elev: 4,250 Feet
    Large pool to bypass.
  4. wHogSpringsRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96735   W -110.50741        Elev: 4,237 Feet
    Pool to bypass on a use trail on the RDC (southwest) side.
  5. wHogSpringsRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96493   W -110.50723        Elev: 4,173 Feet
    Large swimming hole and a large drop in the watercourse. Bypass the drop on the RDC (southwest) side.
  6. pkHogSprings          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.96273   W -110.49129        Elev: 4,100 Feet
    Hog Springs Rest Area. Restrooms and trail head for Hog Springs. This is where you also start the route into Hogwartz or the Hog Ramble approach to the Hog System.

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