Tom's Utah Canyoneering Guide: Fry Canyon, White Canyon Area

Fry Canyon
White Canyon Area

Fry Canyon is a remarkable little slot right next to the road. I must have driven past it a dozen times, thinking it was too hot out (usually about 110 F) to do anything. Now I know better.
Two options are presented here. The Frylette or Short and Sweet option drops into the slot from the highway, swims and wades a hundred yards, then finds a scrambling exit to the right shortly thereafter. Time = 1 hour. Fun factor = high.
The Fry Canyon option continues downcanyon, does one 80' rappel into a beautiful cavern, and swims about 100 yards through a very amazing slot. A brief hike downcanyon and exit to the right allows return to the car. Time = 3 hours. Fun Factor = also high.

Frylette Canyon (Short and Sweet)

Rating:		2B I
Season:		Spring, Summer or Fall.
Length:		1 hour.
Equipment:		Dry bags for your gear. Summer level wet suit. This is a good canyon to have a lot of flotation in your pack.
Drinking Water:		None, bring plenty.
USGS 7.5' Maps:		Jacob's Chair
Difficulties:		Long Swims. Floatation recommended.
Logistics:		Route Starts at bridge over Fry Canyon on Route 95. Return alongside the canyon to the same point.
Flash Flood Danger:		Moderate.

The start of The Frylette.

A Refreshing Oasis in the Stinking Hot Desert, just don't look at the water too close. The Frylette offers a quick and stimulating swim through a cool slot canyon.
And the navigation is really easy. Park at the Fry Canyon bridge, just past the Fry Canyon lodge. Head upcanyon about 1/4 mile, then drop into the slot. Follow it downcanyon. Scramble down a little slot and through some small potholes, then into the water. Swim. Quite a ways.
After your swim, enjoy the heat of the canyon. Traipse downcanyon about 5 minutes, to where some large boulders have fallen into the canyon on both sides. This is the first easy exit. It *looks* like one can exit on the right, but no easy way is found. Instead, climb steeply 5 feet up a slab on the left, to access a terrace with two giant boulders on it. Scramble up among some smaller boulders to the rim. Follow the rim of the canyon back to the bridge.

Fry Canyon

Rating: 3B II

Season: Spring, Summer or Fall.

Length: 2-4 hours.

Equipment: 165' rope and rappeling gear. Dry bags for your gear. Summer level wet suit. This is a good canyon to have a lot of flotation in your pack.

Drinking Water: None, bring plenty.

USGS 7.5' Maps: Jacob's Chair

Difficulties: One Rappel. Long Swims. Floatation recommended.

Logistics: Route Starts at bridge over Fry Canyon on Route 95. Return alongside the canyon to the same point.

Flash Flood Danger: Moderate.

The Emperor wading in the flooded chamber, Fry Canyon. Photo: Brian Cabe
Even More Fun in the Stinking Hot Desert, by continuing down Fry Canyon, you can rappel into a very cool flooded chamber, and swim out the bottom.
Keep Going: from the end of the Frylette, continue downcanyon about 30 minutes. Eventually you come to an area of slickrock, with a slot forming in the bottom. Locate a two bolt anchor on the right, and rappel 85 feet to the bottom and the edge of a pool. Perhaps you were feeling a little warm? Not for long.
Swim 100 to 200 yards through a wonderful slot canyon.
After the swim, hike downcanyon past a ruin and a short narrows section to where the main canyon comes in on the right. It seems pretty obvious now, but for some reason, Brian and I walked right by it and down White Canyon for a couple of miles. Hike *UP* White Canyon about 15 minutes to where a series of ledges and dirt allows exit from the canyon on the right. There are some cairns and a small trail going up here - follow to the rim. Then follow the edge of the canyon back to Highway 95.
EZ Print File for Fry Canyon

Big Printable Fry Canyon Map 213 kB
Notes on Printing Maps
Return to Cedar Mesa Index