Wonderland Canyon

Beta for Wonderland Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park

Duration

5.5

- 8 hrs.

Rating

4

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.

III

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

210 ft

Number of Rappels

3 -

5

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:

2. Canyon Time:

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

3. Exit Time:

Total Adventure Time:

(select route options above)

Essential Canyoneering Gear

Wet Canyon Gear

Because this is a wet canyon, we strongly recommend having these supplies

Seasonal Gear Recommendations
for Wonderland Canyon

Wonderland Canyon Rappels

3 - 5 rappels

Downclimbing in Wonderland Canyon

Slot Entrance Downclimb

Length: 13 ft

Coordinates: 38.269302,-111.191153

Anchor Icon

More anchor information coming soon.


Overview

This is a chimney-style downclimb down into a pool that is typically shin deep. Depending on your stemming sill level, you can avoid the water at the bottom.

Tips

If you are going to wear a wetsuit, suit up before this downclimb.



Bottom view of rappel 1 in Wonderland Canyon

Rappel 1

Length: 52 ft

Type of Rappel: Standard

Coordinates: 38.270027,-111.191644

Rappel 1 AnchorAnchor Icon


Overview

There is a handful of downclimbs before the first rappel, and this first rappel is preceded by a 20 ft. chimney-style downclimb to a shallow pool. The rappel is directly in the watercourse after the downclimb and is a very simple rappel. This rappel will drop you to the wash below where the canyon opens up quite a bit for a short section.


Wonderland Canyon Capitol Reef National Park

Rappel 2

Length: 200 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-stage

Rappel 2 AnchorAnchor Icon

This big rappel is anchored from a large mound of earth about 15 ft. from the edge. Webbing is slung around the mound that offers a courtesy anchor from the start. Beware though, if using the courtesy anchor, this rappel is longer than 200 ft.


Overview

This is an amazing two-stage rappel. The first stage is around 85 ft. and the second is about 115ft.

Tips

This rappel will use all 200 ft. of your rope to get to the bottom. If you are using the courtesy anchor, this rappel WILL be longer than 200 ft. It will be about 210 ft. Make sure to rig releasable in case you need to lower someone on rappel.



Top view of rappel 3 in Wonderland Canyon

Rappel 3

Length: 145 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-stage

Rappel 3 AnchorAnchor Icon

Anchored from a deadman in a pool in the watercourse.


Overview

A short downclimb after the 2nd rappel leads to the 3rd rappel. Rappel from a deadman anchor in a shallow pool over two stages to the canyon floor.

Tips

Check the deadman anchor carefully. Use a meat anchor as a backup. In the case that the deadman gets washed out, have the first person go down using a meat anchor and then collect rocks at the bottom of the rappel and then have them hauled back to the top to build the deadman anchor. You will find few rocks that would be sufficient at the top of this rappel to build any sort of anchor.



Downclimbing into the semi-keeper pothole in Wonderland Canyon

Semi-Keeper Pothole

Length: 8 ft

Anchor Icon

More anchor information coming soon.


Overview

Downclimb into a large pothole that can have varying water levels depending on recent rain fall and time of year.

Tips

Use a partner assist the help people downclimb into the pothole and get out of the pothole.



Bottom view of the last rappel in Wonderland Canyon

Rappel 4

Length: 100 ft

Type of Rappel: Two-Stage

Coordinates: 38.275580,-111.190926

Rappel 4 AnchorAnchor Icon

This rappel is anchored with webbing from a solution pocket high on the canyon wall.


Overview

The first stage is easy going and then the second stage is a fun free-hang.

Tips

This can be a tricky anchor to inspect. To reach the anchor, you will have to climb up using a stemming technique. There are some decent handholds on the right as you go up.



Wonderland Canyon Trip Reports

May 1, 2021

This might be the best canyon in Capitol Reef National Park! Wonderland Canyon does not boast many rappels, but it does boast a beautiful 200 ft. two-stage rappel and a handful of fun downclimbs. It was 80 degrees when we did this canyon. Most of our group wore wetsuits, but they weren't necessarily required. Most all of the water was/is avoidable if your stemming skills are above average. There was one swimmer and one or two chest-deep pools if you decided to take the water head-on. The semi-keeper was completely empty, so we used a partner assist to get out. All webbing was fairly new and in good condition. There was one spot of the webbing on the 200 ft. rappel that was a little frayed, but had been isolated with an alpine butterfly knot. Make sure the last person down extends the webbing all the way on the 200 ft. rappel or else you will have a difficult pull. This is a fantastic canyon for those that would be considered intermediate canyoneers.

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