DRAGONFLY CANYON ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

October 04, 2016


Potholes in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah
Last day at Arches National Park and it was the afternoon when we got back to Arches to start off at the Dragonfly trailhead, The canyon is a 3AII and only took around 4 hours to complete. The trail started off through the petrified dunes until we got to the head of Dragonfly canyon.       

pothole to swim through in
Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
We got to the bottom of the canyon and there were people at the head of the potholes hanging out talking about how great of an experience they had going through this canyon the day before. We walk around the potholes and get to the first pothole challenge.

First Rap in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
It was not much of a pothole challenge as we just slid down and could walk out of it and the second pothole was a bit deep.  I set up an escape rope just to practice pothole escape and it was easy to scale the pot hole.  The first drop was right after the pothole which was around 100ft to the bottom. I set up a line to send the packs down as we made our way over the first rap and into the bottom of the canyon below.  
Canyon after first drop in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
Once we got to the bottom the canyon was beautiful and quiet with the desert winds and a lonely dragonfly guiding us to the next drop.  The canyon was very interesting as it had a lot of charter from potholes to a nice drop and now the canyon is opening up a bit until we got to a slot and the final 120ft drop.
Second rap in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
This drop was quite impressive and I was becoming more and more impressed with this canyon as we went along the route.  We dropped into this canyon and the walls grew taller which was a beautiful site to see the stained and tarnished sandstone walls and the dense poison ivy to the side of the canyon. Wow this was a very impressive place.
rappelling rap 2 in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
Once we got to the bottom of the canyon, we continued on our hike which took longer than we thought but it was a beautiful hike out!

canyon bottom in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
It reminded me of the trail in coyote gulch with the large canyon passage and the maple and oak trees growing proud in the sand meanders away from the cut banks of the dry canyon.
Canyon Passage Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
Eventually we made it over to a confluence and headed left to check out the canyon and than went up canyon to head out back onto the petrified desert dunes.
Canyon Passage in Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
We continued to walk through these massive canyon wall until we found a way to proceed up to the top through a section where the slope was not as steep which took us back out to the dunes.
Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
What a wicked canyon this was and I was really impressed with the scenic views we had going through this place.  It was truly an amazing experience and it is a must do canyon for anyone looking to get away from the crowds it is pretty straightforward and, In my opinion, had some breathtaking views.
Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.
I am looking forward to coming back to arches to visit more of these beautiful canyons in the near future. I went into this place thinking it will be cool to check out and left pleasantly surprised as to the beauty of these wonderful places.
Petrified Dunes hike out of Dragonfly Canyon, Arches National Park, Utah.





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