Woods Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B IV (v3a2 IV) Raps:3-5, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD - Very High Clearance Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 10 Jun 2023
"Replaced R2 webbing. Toggled off a tree at R4 to ease rope retrieval. Light trickle flowing through Woods. A few deep wades and two cold swims in uppe |
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| Best season: | Early Summer to Late Summer;BEST in Jun;Jul;Aug;Sep
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34.8341, -111.6637
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Introduction[edit]
Woods Canyon can be done either as a rugged non-technical out-and-back hike or as a technical loop, as described here. While the technical tributary isn't incredibly scenic (fun rappels, though) it does offer some different scenery than you would otherwise get on the out-and-back and is roughly the same mileage (assuming your destination is the supai pools).
Note that this is a long, arduous day. Do not underestimate Woods Canyon.
Approach[edit]
Turn off I-17 onto FR 80. About 4 miles of driving down an aggressive, rocky and rutted road. 30 minutes to an hour (depending on how much you care about your vehicle). Bring spare axle shafts.
Descent[edit]
Bushy starting down canyon.
R1: 40' tree in canyon or possible downclimb.
20' downclimb on boulders.
25' downclimb down angled sloped dry fall with good ledges.
15' downclimb RDC.
30' downclimb in crack.
R2: 80' using rock pinch. Be mindful of rope eater cracks midway down rappel.
R3: 70' climbing nut in rock crack.
R4: 100' tree back about 30' from lip. Aggressive overhanging start.
Exit[edit]
Head up Woods Canyon. A couple miles of boulder hopping will bring you to the beautiful supai pools. Plan for them to slow your progress as you navigate around the obstacles on one side or the other.
The upper part of Woods Canyon slots up in sections with a couple pools to swim through and multiple wades interspaced with more boulder hopping. One long 100+ ft swim through a nicely sculpted corridor.
Navigate up / around a few small basalt falls and then exit Woods Canyon up dry side drainage.
Continue up drainage until it becomes substantially brushier and then exit RUC to FR 80A and to your vehicle.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Woods Canyon- HikeArizona.com : Woods Canyon - Sedona
- HikeArizona.com : Woods Canyon - Upper
Arizona Technical Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Woods Canyon- ToddsHikingGuide.com : Woods Canyon Loop