Lower Cottonwood Wash
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| | Difficulty:2B II (v1a2 II) Raps:max ↨0ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | |||
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38.1599, -111.1131
38.1655, -111.0896
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Introduction
This page is for the lower section of Cottonwood Wash that the National Park lists as a hike. This hike is a class 2B, bottom-up canyoneering route that is family friendly. For the class 3 technical canyoneering route see: https://ropewiki.com/Cottonwood_Wash
Cottonwood Wash is located 9.1 miles (14.6 km) south of Highway 24 on the Notom-Bullfrog Road.
Approach
Hike up canyon through a series of narrows and open areas. About one miles (1.6 km) up the wash (west) from the trailhead, a side canyon enters from the right (north) and could be mistaken for the main drainage; stay left. There are several chances to play around stemming and chimneying as you go. The class 2 section will end in an alcove with an impassable dryfall. This dryfall is the final rappel of the Cottonwood Wash top-down, class 3 technical route.
Descent
A few hundred yards (meters) further, the main canyon narrows and a 1/4 mile (0.4 km) stretch begins that is chocked with large boulders and requires scrambling to negotiate; a bypass route over and around the boulder jams follows the left (south) side of the canyon.
After another 1/3 mile (0.5 km), the narrows begin. Then, another side drainage enters from the left (south); stay right.
Shortly beyond this point, the canyon abruptly narrows to a thin slot. A deep pool of water is often found here, and deep wading or swimming may be required to continue up canyon; hikers often choose to turn around at this point.
For the next mile (1.6 km), the canyon alternates between tight narrows and more open areas with a number of chockstones that must be negotiated and possibly more pools of water. An impassable 35-foot (11 m) pour-off blocks the canyon at the end of this stretch of narrows (just over 3 miles [4.8 km] in from the road) and marks the end of the route. To return to the trailhead, retrace the route back down the canyon.
Exit
To exit, turn around and trace the route back to the parking lot.
Red tape
Beta sites
CRNP: Burro Wash Hike