The "Swell"is an uplift in the center of Utah that has been eroded down to a scrappy, dry (mostly), wild area, ravaged by mining and ORV-use, and cut with interesting canyons. It is close to the Wasatch Front, and was my go-to canyon area when I lived in the City of Salt. A jagged reef of Navajo Sandstone surrounds it, mostly, and a mixed bag of sandstone, mudstones and limestones populates the interior. The scale is friendly, human. The canyons tend to be moderate both in length and difficulty. It is a good place for hiking, and has a few technical canyons of note, and technical terrain that provides a playground for exploration.
I have put very little energy into the Swell, and the Swell descriptions, since 2002, other than enjoying a few Swell Classics down at the southern end. This archive represents many of the first canyons I attempted to elucidate for the benefit of fellow desert lovers, and the descriptions are... what they are. Juvenalia. A bit rough, compared to the current level of polish. Many people still find them useful, however, so let's keep them available, with the understanding that they have not been maintained and thus should be read with a grain of salt.
| Central Swell Crawford Draw 2A (or B) I or II  Eardley Canyon 3B V Eardley Canyon Technical Day Hike 3B III (5.4) Forgotten and Eagle Canyons 3A III (5.4) Upper Straight Wash 2A III Eastern Reef Chute Canyon 1A II-III Chute/Crack Loop III Class 2 Crack Canyon 2A II-III Ding and Dang Canyons 2A II-III (5.4) Farnsworth Cyn & Jug Handle Arch 1A to 3A II-III Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons 2A II-III Lower Straight Wash 1A II Wild Horse Canyon 2A II Moroni Slopes Lower Squeeze from Muddy Creek 4B IV Seger's Window Canyon from Muddy Creek 3B IV 5.4 |
Northern Reef Box & Double Arch Canyons Reef Walk III Class 4 Southern Reef Grand Gorge of Muddy Creek 2B II Knotted Rope Direct 3B III Knotted Rope Hidden Splendor II Class 3 Knotted Rope Ridgewalk 3A 4th Class Quandary Canyon & Quandary Direct 3B/4B III Southern Swell Baptist Draw to Upper Chute Canyon 3A III Upper Chute Canyon 3B IV (5.4R) Mud Canyon 2A II-III Music Canyon 3A III Penitentiary Canyon 2A II-III |