Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → ⊗ Ringtail Canyon

  ⊗ Technical Route ⊗

Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Egypt Bench, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

Distance: 8.2 miles roundtrip to/from Fence Canyon Camp, ~0.75 miles technical

Elevation Ascent/Descent: 400 feet/400 feet

Time Required: 6 hours from Fence Canyon Camp or 9.5 hours from Egypt Bench trailhead

Rappels: None required – partner assists and down climbs should suffice. Two possible locations where a rappel may be opted for by some parties. 60 foot recommended for safety (in addition to the usual slings, webbing, etc.)

Red Tape/Notes: Canyon includes two potential keeper potholes – bring pothole escape tools and know how to use them before entering this canyon. Extensive beta on this canyon as a technical route (top down) is not readily available online – the best source seems to be Climb Utah’s page, which has rudimentary information available to the public and good details if you join their Circle of Friends (it’s only $39.95 per year).

What’s Nearby?: Neon Canyon, Egypt Bench to the Escalante River

Ringtail is a great canyon and well worth doing if you’re already in the area. It can be combined with a trip through Neon if you start early enough (and do the normal short trip through Neon as opposed to starting farther up canyon). It does have some keeper potholes in it, though, so if you’re not comfortable with pothole escapes, you may want to reconsider this canyon. Otherwise, it’s a terribly fun, narrow, dark adventure through beautiful slick rock walls. The hike there is very pretty and as a bonus there’s a wonderful wall of extensive rock art on the way. It’s dark and cold inside Ringtail, so you’ll definitely want a headlamp and you’ll be happy in a wetsuit.

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → ⊗ Ringtail Canyon