Boltergeist Canyon
Beta for Boltergeist Canyon in Southwestern Utah
Duration
2
- 4 hrs.
Longest Rappel
105 ft
Number of Rappels
3 -
6
Country: united states
State/Province: UT
City or Nearest City: St. George
Approaches:
First Rappel:
Last Rappel:
Exits:
Calculate time for your adventure
Select your approach, exit, and any shuttles in order to calcualte an estimated time
1. Approaches:
Boltergeist Canyon Approach
Approach GPS: 37.25017, -113.43018
A couple of minutes down the dirt road from where you parked, pick up the social trail on the right-hand side of the road. Follow it to the drainage and follow the watercourse down to the first rappel. There will be a couple of easy down-climbable obstacles before the first rappel.
Parking:
Boltergeist Parking
GPS: 37.250663, -113.432546
2. Canyon Time:
1 hour(s), 15 minute(s).
3. Exit Time:
Creek Trail Exit
Exit GPS: 37.251288, -113.428144
Once you are down the last rappel, work your way down to the creek where you will pick up a pretty easy-to-spot social trail. Follow that social trail up the creek for 5-10 minutes. On the West side of the creek there will be a well-used trail that will appear. Head up the steep switchback trail. There are a couple of spots you will have to scramble up some rocks to continue on the trail, but the trail is well-cairned. Once you reach the top a series of trails will appear. Go left on the most well-worn trail and head back in the direction of your car. The trail will connect with FR 4057. Continue following the FR 4057 Southwest until you reach your car.
Waypoints:
Leave Creek
GPS: 37.253436, -113.426851
Top of Climb
GPS: 37.25344, -113.42756
FR 4057
GPS: 37.251857, -113.429398
Total Adventure Time:
2 hr(s), 4 mins
Essential Canyoneering Gear
Descender - Hoodoo
Carabiners
Quicklinks
Harness
Gloves
Rope
Helmet
Personal Anchor System
Canyoneering Shoes (LA Sportiva TX3)
Webbing (Bluewater)
VT Prusik
Pull Cord
Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Boltergeist Canyon
Boltergeist Canyon Rappels
3 - 6 rappels
Rappel 1
Rappel 1 Anchor
Webbing from two bolted hangers
Overview
This rappel is a straightforward and a good beginning intro to the canyon that keeps you out of the watercourse.
Top View Photos
Bottom View Photos
Rappel 2
Length: 45 ft
Type of Rappel: Optional
Rappel 2 Anchor
Overview
This is a great chimney downclimb if you are confident in your downclimbing skills. The downclimb is directly in the watercourse. If you choose to rappel this drop, the anchor is located above the watercourse on the right. The rappel has an awkward entry into the vertical section.
Tips
Make sure to extend your webbing and be careful of your rope placement. The rope can get stuck fairly easily if not placed well. Also, be mindful of sharp edges.
Top View Photos
Bottom View Photos
Rappel 3
Length: 48 ft
Type of Rappel: Low-angle
Rappel 3 Anchor
Extended webbing around a sturdy tree in the watercourse.
Overview
This is a low-angled rappel with a short vertical section at the bottom.
Top View Photos
Bottom View Photos
Rappel 4
Length: 52 ft
Rappel 4 Anchor
Overview
Top View Photos
Rappel 5
Length: 105 ft
Small Tree Anchor
There is webbing around a small tree/ large bush, left down canyon.
Overview
This rappel seems so much bigger than it actually is because of how open the canyon is at this point. From the bottom of the fourth rappel, walk down canyon a bit, and work your way slightly to the left to reach the anchor for this rappel. This rappel is fun because you end up free-hanging for a bit and it feels pretty exposed.
Tips
Mind the rope grooves on this rappel. They are big and can easily stick a rope.
Top View Photos
Bottom View Photos
Rappel 6
Bush/Tree Anchor
This rappel is anchored from another small tree/large bush with webbing just above a dryfall.
Overview
Walk down the watercourse from rappel 5 for a few seconds and you'll come across the last rappel. This rappel follows a small, short flute directly in the watercourse and dumps you into a sandy bottom.
Bottom View Photos
Boltergeist Images
Boltergeist Canyon Trip Reports
April 17, 2021
This was our third canyon of the day for our group of 4 people. Earlier we had done Yankee Doodle and Pictograph Canyon. We ran this canyon in about 2.5 hours. This wasn't the most exciting of canyons but is great to do if you are in the area. The chimney downclimb is the most exciting part of this canyon. It is very vertical and a little wider than most chimney downclimbs. It was kind of scary actually. Once we exited the slot portion of the canyon, it became very windy and hard to hear people yelling from the bottom of the 5th rappel. All the anchors were in good condition. I can see that the anchor for the second rappel can get pretty worn in the upcoming future.