Llewellyn Gulch, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Utah

Llewellyn Gulch Narrows

Llewellyn Gulch is accessible from Lake Powell at Mile Marker 62.5. Take the side canyon to the west from the main channel. This inlet is about 60 miles from the BullFrog Marina. Llewellyn Gulch has magnificent slot canyons and beautiful desert surroundings.

Getting There:
We started in the morning at the Bullfrog Marina located on Utah state highway 276 about 70 miles south of Hanksville Utah. Plan on about 2 hours by boat from Bullfrog to Llewellyn Gulch.

The Trail
After getting checked out on the rental boat from ARAMARK, the park concessionaire, at the marina we packed our gear into the boat and started off towards Llewellyn Gulch.

"The water was as smooth as glass. You could see the reflection of the sky and cliffs in the water as if we had entered some other world where the canyon walls tower downward..."

Reflection on Lake Powell

Seeing the inlet, we turned into the side canyon. What a spectacular sight! The water was as smooth as glass. You could see the reflection of the sky and cliffs in the water as if we had entered some other world where the canyon walls tower downward. After taking some pictures we beached the boat at the canyon's end and set up camp on a flat sand bar. The beach is wide and open, with plenty of room for all five solo tents for a review which you'll see on GearReview.com in a couple of months.

The trail starts up a little creek that spills gently into the lake. You can keep relatively dry for the first mile or so, then you'll start getting our feet really wet. Beavers have been very busy this year (1999) creating several dams. Most of these spots can be avoided, but some require wading up to your calves. The broad canyon narrows quickly as you progress upstream. At a small waterfall, with a deep pool at its base your ability to follow the stream comes to an end. Rhett tried to get up the falls, but it is too deep and slick. We had to take a trail through heavy brush up to a ledge on the south to get around the obstacle.

Small falls

From here there is about a mile of frequent water crossings and some bushwhacking. The stream gives plenty of water for the growths of reeds, willow, and tamarisk. After walking for about another mile, you enter the narrows. At one point we wondered if they were ever coming. But your wait is rewarded as one of the Southwest's awesome narrows closes in around you. The trail begins to dry out, alternating between a trickling stream and a dry sandy bottom. There are places where there is no sand, nothing but slickrock below your feet. All around are scarred walls, evidence of the violence of flash floods and their captive debris.

When you are over a mile into a slot and there is no immediate way out, you start to think what it would be like in this place during a flash flood. Awe inspiring, yet uneasy thoughts. Luckily our trip was on a cloud-free day very early in the season, when rain is unlikely. Do not enter Llewellyn Gulch when there is even a slight threat of rain!

Not much further down the trail, you'll encounter the first chokestone. This obstacle is about seven feet tall and is easy to climb over. In many areas of the canyon the walls are less than four feet apart. It always amazes me that how water and wind carve such twisted, writhing shapes, where solid rock seems to flow like carmel.

Narrows filled with rock debris.

The second chokestone is a more significant obstacle. This one is about 15 feet up and requires some climbing experience to get around. After some careful consideration we decided to give it a try. We dropped our packs, planning to retrieve them on the way out. The walls of the canyon are close enough the put one foot on each side of the canyon and shimmy up to a point where you can grab the side of the boulder and pull yourself the rest of the way up.

For those with a less adventurous spirit, you can go back down trail about 100 yards and climb up a slide on the south side to the top of the canyon. I recommend going up to the top for a look of the area, rather than climbing the chokestone. From the top you'll get a feeling for the desolation and solitude of the area. Remember your route, because this is the best way to come back down and avoid the obstacle. Getting back down over the chokestone would be more difficult than the trip up.

Once on top, following up the gulch about 200 yards you will come to a fork in the trail. The best reentry to the narrows, (or exit to get back down around the chokestone) is just after the fork. Follow the left, or south, fork for about 100 feet to a steep, rocky sluff, then descend to reenter the narrows.

From here it is about another 2 miles to the base of Fifty Mile Mountain. Our trip ended here, as we wanted to make sure to get back to camp before dark. However, both arms of the narrows looked very interesting and warrant further exploration. Make sure to allow enough time for full exploration. The trip back takes less than half the time it takes to get up.

Sitting in camp listening to the frogs and resting our legs is a great treat after one of our favorite slot canyon hikes in Utah.

Jeff Porcaro is a Contributing Editor and Co-Founder at GearReview.com.