Canyoneering Route Description

Chambers Canyon - 3A I
Robbers Roost, Utah.

Quick Facts

11-16-10, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 4 hours)
03-25-16, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 4.1 hours)

Time Required - 3.5 to 5 hours
Distance - 2.7 miles Total, 0.3 miles Technical
Rappels - 0 Rappels, Longest Rappel 0 feet. (don't let zero rappels fool you.  This is still rated a technical canyon due to how skinny it is)
Elevation Range - 4790 - 4220 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle - High Clearance (possible 4WD in bad conditions) Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

No Rappelling gear needed but bring your skills for climbing around between skinny walls.  Do not let the no rope comment lead you to believe a complete newbie can handle this route.  There are challenges that will require you to draw on some experience with climbing up and down in skinny places.  At the very least bring someone along with some experience.

General Comments

There are no ropes required for the route through Chambers Canyon.  If you do not have experience going through a skinny canyon this route may give you some serious trouble in couple of spots.  One section in particular slims down enough to prevent travel down low.  You will be required to stem up a few feet to continue down canyon.  The skinny sections can be deceivingly difficult to climb up and over.  Do not take the no rope required comment to mean this is a very easy canyon.  

Chambers is very pretty inside.  The route starts down into a long skinny section that opens up into small chambers along the way.  Most of the chambers in the first section are just enough to let you catch your breath before continuing in the deep skinny portions.  Little light gets into some portions so be prepared to take your time to feel around looking for the bottom or bring a flash light.  The second half is not as dark feeling but requires more work with high stemming and longer down climbs.  Keep the packs small for this route.  

One spot in particular in the second half will require you to stem up to get over a very skinny spot.  This will require some real effort and may be troublesome for those not experienced with climbing up between narrow walls.   If you are weak in this area consider gaining experience before going into Chambers.  At the very least take some experienced companions with you.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of Highways 24 and 95 in Hanksville Utah, drive north on Highway 24 about 16.2 miles to a turn off for a dirt road on the right (east) side of the road (ExtRobRoost).  This turn off is just across the highway from the Little Gilson Butte.  

Drive east on the un-named dirt road continuing past a small building with a water tank about 0.5 miles from the highway.  This small building and tank is close to what some maps label as Gilson Butte Well (wGilsonButeWel).  

About 2.0 miles from the highway will be an intersection with a major dirt road (extFlintTrail1).  Some maps have this road labeled as the Flint Trail.  Turn right (south) on to this large dirt road.  

After turning onto the Flint Trail, drive 4.1 miles to where the road turns left (east) and passes by a large corral (wJefferyWell).  This turn in the road is next to what is labeled as Jeffery Well on some maps.  

After passing Jeffery Well drive east about 2.8 miles and pass through a gate which is on the south side of the Little Flat Top (wLittleFltTpGt).  This gate is also at the top out of the road.  

Continue beyond the gate following the road east then slowly turning toward the south and passing along the south side of The Big Flat Tops.  About 6.0 miles after the gate will be a turn off to a road on the right (extFlintTrail2).  Turn right (south) and leave what is labeled as the Flint Trail on some maps and turn onto an un-named dirt road.  This spot is slightly north east of Texas Hill.  

About 0.4 miles after turning onto the un-named road will be a few small buildings and a mobile home with a sign reading Cow Patty Ranch (wCowPattyRanch).  When you get to the mobile home continue on the road and veer to the right (south).  Shortly after will be a gate to pass through.  

About 2.9 miles after the Cow Patty Ranch will be a fork in the road (ExtRoost1).  Stay left (east) at this fork.  

4.6 miles after the fork in the road the road will wind around a semi sharp turn to the right (west) before reaching a junction (ExtCabinRoad).  At this junction turn left to continue south west.  

Continue south west about 1.3 miles to a wide open area to park on the left (ExtCabinRoad).  This is a good spot to park cars if doing things in the upper section of Little White Roost.  

Continue southwest about 1.3 miles to a fork in the road (WChambersDP1).  Stay left at the fork.  

Continue southwest 2.7 miles to another fork in the road (WChambersDP2).  Stay right at the fork.  

Continue southwest 1.5 miles to where the road ends (PkChambers).  This is where you will park.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is required.  This is done as a loop hike.

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 into the route.
Map of the entire route.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot walk a little over 500 feet northwest (bearing of 325 degrees) to the top of a drainage (wChambersRP-01).   

Scramble down into the drainage about 650 feet to where it levels off a little and it feels like you have dropped down to the floor of the wash (wChambersRP-02).   

From the floor of the drainage do not continue down the drainage to the left.  Instead walk up the slick rock to the west (on the RDC side of the drainage you are in) and follow around a large slick rock nose curving around to the northwest.  About 600 feet after leaving the drainage you will be on the west side of the nose (wChambersRP-03).  

From the west side of the nose, continue north and route find your way down along the slick rock to a major wash about 0.3 miles away (wChambersRP-04).  This major wash is the drainage leading into Chambers.  Turn left in the wash and walk west about 200 feet down the wash to where things start to tighten up (yChambersTp).  This is where the fun starts. 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
Walk down the wash to where things start to tighten up (yChambersTp).  The walls will quickly come together and eventually force you to stem up a few feet to continue down canyon by stemming along sloped walls on each side.  

After a couple hundred feet the narrow sections are tight and may be difficult for larger people.  Work your way down canyon by squeezing through sections of very tight narrows with little chambers that open up along the way.  The chambers give you time to get a little elbow room before squeezing in the next skinny part.  There are 5 or 6 of these small chambers.  Portions of the canyon are very dark since it is tight and deep keeping the sun out.  You can bring a head lamp or just feel your way around to find the floor and walls.  

Near the end of the first half of Chambers will be a very large Chamber that is more like a subway section with a more closed in top.  The light coming in from down canyon as you enter the subway is beautiful.   

After the subway like chamber the walls widen out and you have a section of flat sand to walk along.  About 250 feet after exiting the subway like chamber will be a large boulder on the canyon floor next to a side drainage joining in from LDC (wChambersRP-05).  This is about 0.25 miles from the head of Chambers where you first started to stem between narrow walls.  

Walk LDC around the large boulder in the wash and find a way to down climb to the canyon floor.  As you down climb you will be starting down canyon into another long tight section of canyon.  

This second portion of the canyon is a little over 500 feet long, has a few down climbs of about 15 feet that you will need to chimney down.  It is not as deep and dark feeling as the first section but does require more work than the first half.  There are also sections that will be too skinny to stay on the floor of the canyon which will force you to go high and stem between the walls while hanging your pack.  

One section in particular is long and skinny.  Thin people will look down it and think they “might” be able to fit…….. likely not.  You will need to climb up between the walls to go high and stem over this spot.  Climbing up this spot will require some real effort.  If you are not experienced at climbing up between narrow walls this spot my give you a lot of trouble.  

Along the way through here are also a couple of silos that open up and are interesting to look around in.  

The exit of the technical portion (yChambersBt) ends with a down climb of about 8 feet when exiting the slot back into the wider canyon.  The drop is under cut a little.  The easiest way down is to turn around and hang from a jug and drop down a couple feet to the sandy floor.   

After climbing down out of the exit slot take a moment to look back at it.  A view from here puts perspective on where you just were.  It looks like you just exited a long narrow crack and dropped right out the side of the canyon wall.

The Exit:
After the exit slot (yChambersBt) walk down canyon in the very wide sand floor bottomed canyon.  Continue west down canyon.  Along the way will be a long seep spring under a subway like ledge LDC.  

About 0.4 miles down canyon of the exit slot will be a sand dune on the LDC wall (jChambersExit).  This sand dune on the side of the canyon will be the start of the climb up and out of the canyon.  At the top of the sand dune will be a short up climb or scramble of about 5 feet up onto the slick rock.  

After getting up onto the slick rock (wChambersRP-06), turn left (east) and follow along the rim of the canyon you were just in.  Follow along the most natural route to take staying just above the steep sloped drop off over into the canyon.   

About 0.3 miles along the rim (wChambersRP-08) you will begin to get a view ahead of you down to the exit crack of Chambers.  This point is just north of the peak labeled 4671T on the 7.5 minute maps.  

As you pass around the north side of peak 4671 the slope becomes steeper for a short distance.  Be careful in this short section of steep sloping slick rock, especially in snow.  If there is snow or ice in the area it might be best to route find your way up and over peak 4671 to avoid the steep sloped rock.  After passing peak 4617, continue almost due west along the slick rock crossing a few minor drainages along the way.  

About 0.4 miles after passing peak 4671 will be a very wide open drainage to cross over.  This wide open drainage is the drainage that runs down and drops into Chambers by the big rock after the subway like chamber.  

Just after crossing this wide open wash (wChambersRP-09) route find your way up the slick rock and begin veering right (southeast).  About 600 feet up along the slick rock you will meet up with the route you took to start into Chambers (wChambersRP-03).  This will be by the nose you walked around on the way in.  

Continue southeast down to the drainage floor (wChambersRP-02).  Then scramble up to the rim in the drainage to the east (wChambersRP-01).  When you reach to top of the drainage turn right (southeast) and walk about 500 feet across the desert back to the car (PkChambers).

GPS Waypoint Information

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

Chambers (1) - Drive to Trailhead

ExtRobRoost          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.58715   W -110.59263        Elev: 5,120 Feet Exit for an un-named road used to access the Robbers Roost area. wGilsonButeWel          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.58688   W -110.58377        Elev: NaN Feet Building and small water tank near what is labeled on some maps as Gilso Butte Well. extFlintTrail          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.58822   W -110.55632        Elev: NaN Feet Turn off from an un-named dirt road onto another dirt road labeled on some maps as the Flint Trail. wJefferyWell          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.53010   W -110.54118        Elev: 5,280 Feet Road turns left here on the drive into Robbers Roost. There are corrals along side the road here. wLittleFltTpGt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.53837   W -110.49108        Elev: 5,520 Feet A gate the road passes by on the south side of The Little Flat Top. extFlintTrail2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.49947   W -110.41446        Elev: NaN Feet This is where you leave the Flint Trail on the drive into Chambers. wCowPattyRanch          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.49489   W -110.41079        Elev: NaN Feet Mobile home and ranch buildings with a sign that reads Cow Patty Ranch. ExtRoost1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.45645   W -110.41949        Elev: NaN Feet Fork in the road on the way into Chambers and the Little White Roost area. Stay right (east) on the drive in. extHo-Hum          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.42988   W -110.41586        Elev: NaN Feet Road and Unpaved Road ExtCabinRoad          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.41222   W -110.44626        Elev: NaN Feet Junction where the road becomes labeled as Cabin Road on some maps. WChambersDP1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.38154   W -110.47302        Elev: NaN Feet Fork in the road on the drive into Chambers. Stay left at the fork on the drive in. WChambersDP2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.34799   W -110.49800        Elev: NaN Feet Fork in the road on the drive into Chambers. Stay right on the drive into Chambers. PkChambers          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33312   W -110.51767        Elev: 4,800 Feet Park near here to start the Chambers route.

Chambers (2) - Approach and The Canyon,

PkChambers          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33312   W -110.51767        Elev: 4,800 Feet Park near here to start the Chambers route. wChambersRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33430   W -110.51873        Elev: NaN Feet Top of a drainage to scramble down into on the way into Chambers. Or scramble up out of on the way back. wChambersRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33483   W -110.52081        Elev: NaN Feet Feels like the floor of the wash on the route in. You will not continue following the drainage on the route in. Instead walk up the slick rock around the nose to the northwest. wChambersRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33521   W -110.52254        Elev: 4,600 Feet Now on the west side of the slick rock nose on the route into Chambers. On the way into Chambers continue north and route find your way down the slick rock to a major wash about 0.3 miles away. On the way out of Chambers walk southeast around the nose to go back along the route you came in on. wChambersRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33831   W -110.52434        Elev: NaN Feet Route down the slick rock drops into the drainage for Chambers here. yChambersTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33828   W -110.52493        Elev: 4,410 Feet Top entry for Chambers Canyon. This is where the draingae starts to get very narrow as compared to the wide open space just up canyon. wChambersRP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33663   W -110.52803        Elev: NaN Feet This is about the half way mark and is next to a side drainage joining in from LDC. THis is also just after the larger chamber that is similar to a subway like area. yChambersBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33590   W -110.52938        Elev: 4,305 Feet Bottom exit of Chambers Canyon. This is wher a narrow slot ends and opens up to a wider canyon with a sandy floor.

Chambers (3) - Exit

yChambersBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33590   W -110.52938        Elev: 4,305 Feet Bottom exit of Chambers Canyon. This is wher a narrow slot ends and opens up to a wider canyon with a sandy floor. jChambersExit          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33661   W -110.53533        Elev: 4,200 Feet Sand dune on the LDC side of the canyon that is used to start up the exit route out of the canyon. wChambersRP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33652   W -110.53583        Elev: NaN Feet Up on the slick rock after getting up off the sand dune. wChambersRP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33535   W -110.53329        Elev: NaN Feet Non specific point along the route out along the rim of the canyon. wChambersRP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33529   W -110.53048        Elev: 4,430 Feet From here you start to get a view ahead of you down into the canyon where the exit crack of Chambers is. This point is just north of the peak labeled 4671T on the 7.5 minute maps. wChambersRP-09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33596   W -110.52439        Elev: NaN Feet Shortly after crossing a very wide drainage. This drainage is the one that runs down into Chambers and drops off into the canyon by the large rock after the subway like chamber. wChambersRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33521   W -110.52254        Elev: 4,600 Feet Now on the west side of the slick rock nose on the route into Chambers. On the way into Chambers continue north and route find your way down the slick rock to a major wash about 0.3 miles away. On the way out of Chambers walk southeast around the nose to go back along the route you came in on. wChambersRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33483   W -110.52081        Elev: NaN Feet Feels like the floor of the wash on the route in. You will not continue following the drainage on the route in. Instead walk up the slick rock around the nose to the northwest. wChambersRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33430   W -110.51873        Elev: NaN Feet Top of a drainage to scramble down into on the way into Chambers. Or scramble up out of on the way back. PkChambers          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 38.33312   W -110.51767        Elev: 4,800 Feet Park near here to start the Chambers route.