Stair Canyon (Upper)
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| | Difficulty:3A II R (v5a1 II) Raps:0
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD - High Clearance Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 16 Oct 2025
"Unsure why the beta on this page lists “several silo crossings”. No such defined silo crossing exists in this canyon from my perspective, nor are |
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| Best season: | Any; hot in Summer, cold in winter
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38.0583, -110.4336
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Introduction
Head of the route is 38.05891, -110.43273. The best part of Upper Stair is bottom section after passing by two open sections each with an early exit on the right. Upper Stair starts out mildly with several easy downclimbs and small silos and swirls. The bottom section, which starts at 38.05311, -110.43698, is where the goods are. Below this point is a short narrows with high-stemming up to 40-feet and a couple high silo crossings. It is not possible to go low all the way through. This is a real R-rated slot canyon. The upper section is so short it is not worth doing this canyon unless you are doing the full route described here.
Approach
Park your vehicle at 38.05676, -110.43901, by driving on the dirt road past Main Butler until it gets to a Tee. Make a sharp right hand turn and go until the end where it is blocked by a branch road block before it gets into deep un-maintained sand. This will make the exit hike as short as possible. From here, hike 1/4 mile up the dirt road you just came down, then head south to the obvious head of the canyon.
Descent
The crux is the final 200 feet of the bottom section. In the bottom section it is possible to stay low for the first half, but you will be forced up high. There are several silo crossings in the crux, while only one is mandatory, but they are all secure and at a reasonable width at the top.
Exit
Exit right here 38.05174, -110.43887. Requires a 5.6 climbing move to get up the first 15 feet. Then it's fairly straightforward. Stay left of a huge fault with a steep rock-fall on it's north end. Follow the slickrock in the middle for the easiest way up. There is a somewhat exposed 5.5 climb for about 100 feet.
Red tape
Beta sites
BluuGnome.com : Upper Stair Canyon- RoadTripRyan.com : Upper Stair Canyon
- HikeArizona.com : Stair Canyon
- Super Amazing Map : Stair Canyon
- Climb-Utah.com : Upper Stair Canyon - North Wash
Trip reports and media
- Candition.com : Upper Stair Canyon; North Wash