Hike Lower Hackberry Narrows, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

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Hackberry Canyon is a moderately difficult hike is one of the more scenic and popular canyon routes in the western half of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. Hackberry Canyon is one of the most popular of the Cottonwood Canyon Road hikes, and it is done generally one of two ways. The first is as a dayhike into the lower part of Hackberry Canyon, and the other is as a through-hike up Hackberry Canyon to Round Valley Draw. This is a 2-4 day backpacking trip, depending on how far up the canyon you go. The lower end of the canyon can be done as a day hike. It's a 20.5 miles one-way from the mouth of Hackberry Canyon to the mouth of Round Valley Draw. It is 1.5 miles further to the top of Round Valley Draw, which is a difficult/technical hike/climb through a narrow slot canyon. To access the mouth of Hackberry Canyon from Hwy 89, travel east from Kanab to the Cottonwood Road (MM 18). Drive north on the Cottonwood Road (400) approximately 14.4 miles to the unimproved trailhead parking area located on the left (west) side of road at the mouth of Hackberry Canyon. To access Hackberry Canyon from Hwy12, drive to Cannonville and follow the signing for Kodachrome State Park. Continue south and east 8 miles on a paved road to the turnoff for Kodachrome State Park. At this junction, continue south and east on the unpaved Cottonwood Road approximately 23 miles to the unimproved trailhead parking area on the right (west) side of the road at the mouth of Hackberry Canyon. To access the head of Hackberry Canyon from Cannonville, drive south and east on the paved road to Kodachrome Basin State Park. After 8 miles, at the state park entrance, the pavement ends. Continue south on the dirt road (Cottonwood Road #400) for 5 miles. There is a minor dirt road which goes up the embankment to the right (west) and continues south-southwest. This road is closed to vehicles. Park in the turn-around area adjacent to the Cottonwood Road. Hike approximately 2 miles south and west on the two track road until you come to a corral. Hike down the dry wash past the corral into Hackberry Canyon. WARNING: Slot canyons are particularly dangerous due to the risk of flash floods. Storms far away can send walls of water down the narrow canyons and hikers have been killed in such events. In many slot canyons, it can be miles before a safe exit or rescue is possible. Hikers should check conditions carefully and not rely on seeing the sky to judge the weather. If there is even a slight chance of rain, do not enter slot canyons.

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