Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → Egypt 3

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

Distance: ~5 miles

Elevation Gain: up to 1000 feet

Time Required: About 4 – 7 hours

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required, no shuttle required. Directions to the trailhead and additional info on the canyon can be found here.

What’s Nearby?: Egypt Bench to the Escalante River, Devil’s Garden

Egypt 3 looks like a whole lot of nothing when you first pull up and start hiking towards it, and then suddenly you realize you’re at the edge of the earth, with sheer cliffs dropping down over a hundred in front of you. Figuring out how to get to the bottom may be the most difficult part of this canyon – if you walk along the rim far enough, you’ll eventually come to a steep slope that you can scramble down, after which you’re on your way, traveling through a series of potholes, narrow passages, and high canyon walls. Some down climbing and safe sliding skills are helpful, and stemming and partner assists can prevent you from getting wetting in many places. You don’t need ropes until the very end, and you can easily exit the canyon prior to that, making this a wonderful way to spend a few hours exploring a classic slot canyon with a very light pack and practicing your non-rope related canyoning skills.

Epic Travel → North America → Mountain States → Utah → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → Egypt 3