Boltergeist Canyon

Beta for Boltergeist Canyon in Southwestern Utah

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.

A

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.

II

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

105 ft

Number of Rappels

3 -

6

Country: united states

State/Province: UT

City or Nearest City: St. George

Approaches:

Approach Icon

First Rappel:

First Rappel Icon

Last Rappel:

Last Rappel Icon

Exits:

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Calculate time for your adventure

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

1. Approaches:

2. Canyon Time:

1 hour(s), 15 minute(s).

3. Exit Time:

Total Adventure Time:

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Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Boltergeist Canyon

Boltergeist Canyon Rappels

3 - 6 rappels

Bottom view of rappel 1 in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 1

Length: 35 ft

Type of Rappel: Optional

Coordinates: 37.250252,-113.429440

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon

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.



Looking through the slot on rappel 2 in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 2

Length: 45 ft

Type of Rappel: Optional

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon


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 of the third rappel in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 3

Length: 48 ft

Type of Rappel: Low-angle

Rappel 3 AnchorAnchor Icon

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 of rappel 4 in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 4

Length: 52 ft

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon


Overview



Looking up from the bottom of rappel 5 in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 5

Length: 105 ft

Small Tree AnchorAnchor Icon

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.



Fluted rock feature in Boltergeist Canyon

Rappel 6

Length: 30 ft

Type of Rappel: Optional

Coordinates: 37.251224,-113.428279

Bush/Tree AnchorAnchor Icon

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.


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.

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