Wife 5 Canyon

Beta for Wife 5 Canyon Capitol Reef National Park

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Duration

2 - 4 hrs.

Rating

3

Technical Class Indicates the technicality of the terrain and the tyoe of rope work require.

1 -

Canyon Hiking Non-technical. No rope is required. See the route description for difficulties.

2 -

Basic Canyoneering Scrambling, easy climbing or downclimbing. A rope may be handy for handlines, belays, lowering packs and emergency use. Exit or retreat possible upcanyon without fixed ropes.

3 -

Intermediate Canyoneering Rappels or technical climbing and/or downclimbing. A rope is required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Retreat upcanyon would require fixing ropes.

4 -

Advanced Canyoneering Aid climbing, multi-pitch rappels and/or complex rope work (such as re-belays, tyrollean traverse, or guided rappels) may be required. Might also require difficult pothole escapes, serious squeezing, extensive high-risk downclimbing, or have difficult-to-establish natural anchors. Rappels longer than 200 feet will usually earn a canyon a Class 4 rating.

B

Water Rating indicates complications due to flowing or still water, under normal conditions.

A -

Normally dry or with very little water. Wading to waist deep at most.

B -

Water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls are normally dry or running at a trickle. Swimming expected.

C -

Water with strong current. Waterfalls. Wet canyon rope techniques required.

I

Time or Grade indicates the length of the adventure.

I -

Short. A couple of hours.

II -

Requires about a half day.

III -

Normally requires most of a day.

IV -

Expected to take a long day. Get up early, bring a headlamp. Possible bivy.

V -

More than one day. Normally done in two days.

VI -

Two full days or more.

Additional Risk Rating indicates the presence of more risk factors than might be expected.

No Rating -

Normal risk factors are present on this adventure.

R -

One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment required. Not appropriate for beginners, even with competent leadership.

X -

Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should be attempted by expert canyoneers only. This is the least-well-established part of the rating system, and the most subjective. Use by beta-providers varies widely, to the point that this part of the rating means very little.

Longest Rappel

100 ft

Number of Rappels

5

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Torrey

Camping:

Cook's Mesa Camping Area

Approaches:

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Approach

First Rappel:

Last Rappel:

Exits:

Cohab Canyon Trail Exit

Calculate time for your adventure

Select your approach, exit, and any shuttles in order to calcualte an estimated time

1. Approaches:

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Approach

30 minute(s)

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Approach

Approach GPS: 38.282632, -111.246218

From the Cohab Canyon Trailhead, travel up the switchback to the mouth of Cohab Canyon. The trail through Cohab Canyon is well marked and as you travel East on the trail, you can see each of the 7 Wives Canyons’ exits to your right (South). When the wash in Cohab Canyon turns a bit left, there is a climbable gulley on to the South called, Betrothed Canyon. This is the last canyon you will see on your right. Scramble up the left side of Betrothed Canyon to a bench and continue up the canyon. Once you get up to smoother slickrock, head West. This is where the path isn’t very clear and you have to find the path of least resistance. Stay on the white layer of rock above the reddish/pink rock layer as you head West. Once you start heading West, you will travel along the slickrock until it somewhat cliffs out. Head a bit Southwest once the path cliffs out a bit for about 150 ft. You will then come upon a very short drainage you will walk down. Slightly to your right (East) after walking down the short drainage, there will be two creases in the rock. Go down the 2nd. crease/crack that runs down to the North. the crease will be directly West and below a white lump of rock. Downclimb down and to the right until you reach a small bush that will serve as the anchor for the first rappel.

Parking:

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Parking

GPS: 38.283491, -111.245996

Waypoints:

Leave Trail

GPS: 38.283076, -111.237954

Bench

GPS: 38.282880, -111.237663

Red Paint Slab

GPS: 38.281331, -111.238379

Scramble Down

GPS: 38.279738, -111.241193

Downclimb

GPS: 38.280146, -111.241001

2. Canyon Time:

1 hour(s), 22.5 minute(s).

View Beta for Rappels

3. Exit Time:

Cohab Canyon Trail Exit

17.5 minute(s)

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Essential Canyoneering Gear

Descender - Hoodoo

Buy Now

Canyoneering Carabiner Pirate up Lock Carabiner Rock Exotica

Carabiners

Buy Now

Quicklinks

Buy Now

Harness

Buy Now

Gloves

Buy Now

Rope

Buy Now

Helmet

Buy Now

Personal Anchor System

Canyoneering Shoes (LA Sportiva TX3)

Webbing (Bluewater)

Buy Now

VT Prusik

Buy Now

Pull Cord

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Wife 5 Canyon

Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Descender - Hoodoo Buy Now
Carabiners Buy Now
Quicklinks Buy Now
Harness Buy Now
Gloves Buy Now
Rope Buy Now
Helmet Buy Now
Personal Anchor System
Canyoneering Shoes (LA Sportiva TX3)
Webbing (Bluewater) Buy Now
VT Prusik Buy Now
Pull Cord

Campsites Nearby

Cook's Mesa Camping Area

VIEW

Wife 5 Canyon Rappels

- 5 rappels

Rappel 1

Length: 100 ft

Coordinates: 38.280388,-111.240912

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Tips

When throwing your rope, error on throwing it to the right. There are a couple of snags and pinches to the left (down canyon) that your rope can get stuck in, making it difficult to retrieve.

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 2

Length: 42 ft

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

This rappel has a bit of an awkward start, but it is a pretty straight-forward rappel once you get started.

Tips

To avoid the tight squeeze DCL, stay high and DCR.

Top View Photos

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 3

Length: 50 ft

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Top View Photos

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 4

Length: 65 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-stage

Rappel 4 Anchor

Overview

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 5

Length: 35 ft

Coordinates: 38.281762,-111.240423

Rappel 5 Anchor

This is a deadman anchor

Overview

Top View Photos

Bottom View Photos

Wife 5 Canyon Trip Reports

October 10, 2020

We started at 9:30 a.m. and the conditions on the approach were great. At the top of the second rappel, the webbing that was there had been removed and we replaced it. The canyon was completely dry and we made it from car to car in about 3 hours. The weather was also perfect.

September 26, 2020

We ran this canyon along with Wife 3. We left our long rope at the first rappel of Wife 3 first and when we came back up to descend Wife 5 Canyon we retrieved our rope at Wife 3. Wife 5 Canyon was great. There was no water in the canyon and all anchors seemed to be in good condition. There is some wear to the solution pocket where the anchor for the third rappel is situated. I guess if you don't feel comfortable using the solution pocket, there is also a deadman anchor option with webbing that looks good.

August 15, 2020

It was a beautiful day when our group of 3 ran this canyon. We made it from car to car in right over 2 hours. The canyon was mostly dry except for a couple of ankle-deep puddles in-between rappels 3 and 4. All the anchors seemed to be in good condition and we only ran into one other group and the top of the first rappel.

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Wife 5 Canyon

Beta for Wife 5 Canyon Capitol Reef National Park

2

- 4 hrs.

3

B

I

100 ft

5

Wife 5 Canyon Rappels

Wife 5 Canyon Trip Reports

Join the Forum

Camping:

Approaches:

First Rappel:

Last Rappel:

Exits:

Calculate time for your adventure

1. Approaches:

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Approach

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Approach

Parking:

Cohab Canyon Trailhead Parking

Waypoints:

Leave Trail

Bench

Red Paint Slab

Scramble Down

Downclimb

2. Canyon Time:

3. Exit Time:

Cohab Canyon Trail Exit

Cohab Canyon Trail Exit

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Essential Canyoneering Gear

Seasonal Gear Recommendationsfor Wife 5 Canyon

Campsites Nearby

Cook's Mesa Camping Area

Wife 5 Canyon Rappels

- 5 rappels

Rappel 1

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Tips

Rappel 2

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Tips

Rappel 3

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Rappel 4

Rappel 4 Anchor

Overview

Rappel 5

Rappel 5 Anchor

Overview

Rappel 1

Rappel 1

Rappel 1

Rappel 2

Rappel 2

Rappel 2

Rappel 3

Rappel 3

Rappel 3

Rappel 4

Rappel 5

Rappel 5

Rappel 1

Rappel 1

Rappel 1

Rappel 2

Rappel 2

Rappel 2

Rappel 3

Rappel 3

Rappel 3

Rappel 4

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Wife 5 Canyon