Nebo Middle Basin (NMB)
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| | Raps:6, max ↨160ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 1.3 mi Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 14 Sep 2025
"Awesome day, gorgeous canyon! Make sure you’re competent with building basic anchors. Rappels 1-3 come fast. Rap 4 was bypassed and between 3-6 ther |
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| Best season: | Jul-Oct
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39.8079, -111.7510
39.8433, -111.7207
39.8360, -111.7149
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WaterflowIntroduction
Big mountain views right below the Nebo Ridge, with views as far as the eye can see off to the east. Beautiful lush area full of vegetation, grazing cattle, mountain goats, and come to find out.... waterfalls.
In 2021 we began looking at the drainages on the east side of Mt. Nebo. In an effort to check out the drainage on a scouting mission, I set out and traversed the Nebo Ridge, returning along the Nebo Bench trail (which at that time seemed quite overgrown). After studying up on the area, it seemed this would be ripe for an exploration. Thanks to @Austinfarnworth for helping with the research and @Caboalta for joining on the descent.
Approach
Park at the Nebo Bench/Monument TH (pit toilet available), after staging your exit car (either 1.3 miles down the road @ the Right Fork TH), however additional options for a longer shuttle and shorter hike out are available (See Exit Section: Salt Creek TH/Bear Canyon Campground).
The approach hike from the TH is 5.0 miles with 1200' of vertical gain. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. Chances are you will run into some grazing cows along the way.
Descent
Once you reach the drainage for NMB Canyon, after 10 minutes of going down canyon you will reach your first rappel. The rappels come in semi-rapid succession, with varied durations of creek hiking in between (no bushwhacking). NMB Drainage: 39.80758, -111.75095
- R1: 160', slung roots RDC
- R2: 40', slung boulder LDC
- R3: 150', slung tree LDC
- R4: optional - bypassed/downlclimbed LDC
- R5: 100', slung boulder LDC
- R6: 25', slung tree LDC
- R7: 50', Salt Creek Canyon Trail Falls
After the final rappel, you can take off your gear and prepare for the hike out.
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Exit
On the exit we chose to finish the loop back to the Nebo Bench TH. The hike up Salt Creek to the Right Fork seemed to be the most straightforward (2.8mi and 1760' gain back to the road). There is a place to park a car there along the road for your shuttle, however we lucked out and hitched a ride back to the TH (saving us another 1.3 miles of hiking).
Another optional exit with a longer shuttle would be to park a car at the Salt Creek TH/Bear Canyon Campground. This shuttle is 28 min (12mi), but the result would be hiking south (down) salt creek on the exit for 1.2 mi (52' of gain)... saving you the extra 1.6 miles and 1700' of vert.