Benign Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:2, max ↨40ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD - High Clearance Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 3 May 2025
"Scenic and fun. Best of the Beaver canyons (IMO). Anchors all good. Plenty of downclimbable drops |
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| Best season: | Spring;Summer;Fall;HOT in Summer
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38.2590, -110.5471
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Introduction[edit]
Easy approach. Easy, non-highly technical descent. Easy exit. A little taste of what a real canyon is. Very scenic and highly recommended for taking beginners. Defeating the keeper pothole located about halfway through the canyon adds to the excitement.
Approach[edit]
From the parking/camping spot at 38.25397, -110.54048 follow the tiny drainage immediately to the north-northwest. This tiny drainage quickly meets up with the Benign drainage that you can see a coule hundred feet down the road. Follow the meandering drainage for 0.7 miles until a 20 foot downclimb to a ledge and an obvious rappel.
Descent[edit]
38.25897, -110.54729 marks the start of the technical section. First you encounter a 20 foot downclimb to a wide ledge where the first rappel is, 40 feet from the anchor to the bottom, although the drop is only 20 feet. After a few hundred feet is a 30-foot downclimb down a low-angle slide that is pocked with nubs and safe for most beginners. In another few minutes a minor pothole is reached. There is a slightly sketchy step-around on the left that beginners may want a handline or may want to avoid altogether. Dropping into the pothole with a partner assist out or with a pack toss is another option. Shortly after this pothole is a partner-assist down-climb of about 10 feet. Then the canyon opens for about 15 minutes. Just before the next rappel is another partner-assist short drop. The 2nd rappel is 60 feet from the deadman anchor to the bottom, although the drop is only 30 feet. Shortly after this is the 3rd deadman anchor, 60-feet from the anchor to the bottom, but only a 20 foot drop. This drop can be downclimbed by the highly skilled or can be partner-assisted. Soon after this is the 4th and final rappel, 25 feet off a deadman. Immediately followed by a 25 foot easy downclimb.
Exit[edit]
From the bottom of Benign to Beaver Wash is choked with thick and unforgiving willows. Stay left along a cow trail hugging the wall as much as possible. Take the 2nd of the cracks on the left for easiest ascent up.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Minislot Guide
Dave Pimental's Minislot Guide : Benign Canyon
AJ RoadTrips
- RoadTripRyan.com : Benign Canyon
- Super Amazing Map : Benign Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
- Bogley.com : Bogley.com trip report
- Candition.com : Benign Canyon
- YouTube.com : Richard Pattison, Benign Canyon movie
Background[edit]
Benign, a canyon that drains into Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Dirty Devil River was originally pioneered by Dave Pimental (Wyoming Dave) who pioneered many nice mini slots in the area. It offers a short, very scenic and fun route that can be done in a half day.