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.

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.

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.