Scott starting to hike up Tuckup canyon, Grand Canyon National Park. |
The Tuckup canyon is a non technical canyon deep within the north to north west region (AB9) of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Justin, Yannick, and Daniel prepare to hike out from camp in the Tuckup canyon. |
This canyon is one of the most scenic non technical canyons within the park and has access to the river which
can be done as a over night trip, or could be included with a canyoneering trip by providing an exit to the esplanade.
tuckup canyon |
The day before, my group hiked the Tuckup trail around the esplanade to Hades Canyon for a long day and 13 miles from the top of the trail at east tuckup to the confluence of Hades Knoll Canyon and Tuckup canyon.
Daniel hiking out of the tuckup canyon |
The night before we were relaxing at our campsite and Justin got stung by a bark scorpion. He wasn't doing so well so the decision was made to hike out and back to the car the following day.
conglomerate arch in tuckup canyon |
The walls were reflecting a fiery color of reds and oranges when we started our hike out of the canyon. We were also pleased to see the conglomerate arch just above camp.
conglomerate arch in tuckup canyon |
River runners seem to get a bit more of a leisure by hiking from the river up through the best parts of the canyons and returning when they are ready. The top down hikes provide more of a remote back country challenge which has its own benefits.
Tuckup canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
The walls towered over us, providing no escape from the canyon except for a downward or upward meander.
Daniel hiking out of the Tuckup canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
Small springs were seeping water from the walls and there was some reliable sources of water along the way. This is a life saver and I can only imagine how hot this place must get in the summer months.
Tuckup canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
We continued to hike out and boulder hop and scramble are some massive boulders until we came to a series of narrow redwall limestone sections.
Tuckup canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
The walls were quite polished and looked similar to Hades Knoll canyon but with out all of the boulder obstacles the Hades Knoll provided.
Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
There were some high corridors of polished limestone and some substantial varnishing from the sandstone above the limestone.
Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
The narrow canyons continued to provide some interesting color as the sun started to reflect color from different directions as the days went on.
Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
We also passed Dome pocket and Rocky point canyons. These are two side canyons that are worth running from the top down.
Justin and Daniel hiking through the red wall portion of Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
There is also a escape route just beyond rocky point that provides access to the esplanade and access to run both western tributary canyons.
Yannick in Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
We continued to hike out and eventually the walls started to lower as we rose in elevation
A natural arch toward the top of the redwall limestone section of Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
There was one last feature that we went looking for and that was the Shaman Panel.
Shamen Panel Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
This was a really interesting panel with colored pictographs on the wall of tall standing people with outfits on, other designs, and silhouettes of animals.
Shamen Panel Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
unfortunately, some idiots also put their names in the panels.
Shamen Panel Tuckup Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park |
The hike out took just over an hour and we had a cool breeze with sunny conditions.
I think this was the most ideal of situations as we did not have to go through as much water as we did when we hikes over to the top of Hades Canyon.
Hiking out of the Tuckup canyon |
I think this was the most ideal of situations as we did not have to go through as much water as we did when we hikes over to the top of Hades Canyon.