Wife 5 Canyon

Beta for Wife 5 Canyon Capitol Reef National Park

View Gallery

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

VoyOut Canyon Rappel Icon
Wife 5 Canyon Rappels

View Rappels

 VoyOut Trip Reports Icon
Wife 5 Canyon Trip Reports

View Reports

 VoyOut Forum Icon
Join the Forum

Ask a Question

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: Torrey

Camping:

Camping Icon

Cook's Mesa Camping Area

Approaches:

Approach Icon

First Rappel:

First Rappel Icon

Last Rappel:

Last Rappel Icon

Exits:

Exit Icon

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

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

Exit GPS: 38.28239, -111.24033

Once you are down the last rappel, the slot with immediately deposit you back onto the Cohab Canyon Trail. From there, just take the same route you took on the approach to return to your car. If you parked near the Cohab Canyon Trailhead, turn left and head West/Southwest on the trail once you are out of the slot. If you parked near Hickman Bridge, take a right instead.

Total Adventure Time:

2 hr(s), 9 mins

Essential Canyoneering Gear

Canyoneering Descender Hoodoo

Descender - Hoodoo

Buy Now
Canyoneering Carabiner Pirate up Lock Carabiner Rock Exotica

Carabiners

Buy Now
CAMP Oval Quick Link

Quicklinks

Buy Now
canyoneering harness canyon XP Singing Rock

Harness

Buy Now
Canyoneering Gloves Metolius

Gloves

Buy Now
canyoneering ropes

Rope

Buy Now
canyoneering helmets

Helmet

Buy Now
PAS Canyoneering Sterling Chain Reactor

Personal Anchor System

Canyoneering Shoes LA Sportiva TX3

Canyoneering Shoes (LA Sportiva TX3)

Canyoneering webbing Bluewater

Webbing (Bluewater)

Buy Now
VT Prusik Bluewater

VT Prusik

Buy Now
Canyoneering Pull Cord Bluewater

Pull Cord

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Wife 5 Canyon

Campsites Nearby

BLM campsite at Cook's Mesa Torrey, UT

Cook's Mesa Camping Area

VIEW

Wife 5 Canyon Rappels

- 5 rappels

wife 5 canyon capitol reef rappel 1 bottom view

Rappel 1

Length: 100 ft

Coordinates: 38.280388,-111.240912
Anchor Icon

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

wife 5 canyon rappel 2 top

Rappel 2

Length: 42 ft

Anchor Icon

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 wife 5 canyon top

Rappel 3

Length: 50 ft

Anchor Icon

More anchor information coming soon.

Overview

Top View Photos

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 4 Bottom wife 5 canyon

Rappel 4

Length: 65 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-stage

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon

Overview

Bottom View Photos

Rappel 5 Top wife 5 Canyon

Rappel 5

Length: 35 ft

Coordinates: 38.281762,-111.240423

Rappel 5 AnchorAnchor Icon

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.

0 0 votes
Adventure Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments