Crack Canyon: A Hidden Gem in the San Rafael Swell

Hiking Crack Canyon in Utah’s San Rafael Swell is a trek through a rugged and beautiful desert landscape shaped by time and the elements. The towering sandstone walls, streaked with shades of orange, pink, and gold, create a winding path that narrows into slot sections where you must maneuver carefully to pass through. Light filters in from above, casting warm glows on the canyon floor and highlighting the textures in the rock. The trail offers a mix of easy walking and a few small scrambles, keeping things interesting without being technical. It’s a quiet, striking place that feels remote and wild, perfect for anyone, including families, looking to explore the raw beauty of the Utah backcountry.

Trailhead elevation 5,490

Water none

Hiking Crack Canyon

Last evening, I found myself once again standing before the weathered images of the Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel — ancient symbols brushed onto stone, still clinging to the desert after millennia of wind and sun. After a quiet moment with the past, I drove into the wilderness and found myself a free campsite along Behind the Reef Road in the heart of Muddy Creek Wilderness. The night was still, the stars bold and close, and sleep came easy beneath the vast Utah sky.

At first light, I packed up and headed out to Crack Canyon — one of the last few slot canyons in the area I hadn’t yet explored. When I arrive at the well-signed trailhead, I'm the only one there. Just me, the rocks, and the promise of silence. I set off.

The first 1.2 miles follow an uneventful 4x4 road, drifting between patches of sunlight and shade. The walk is easy, and I scan the canyon walls half-heartedly for rock art. Nothing reveals itself.

But the canyon has a rhythm. Around the 1.2-mile mark, things begin to shift. The walls pull closer, and I ease myself down three small drops as the canyon begins to tighten.

Then, just as suddenly, the walls open up again. Sunlight floods the space, and the sandstone ignites with soft hues of gold and pink. It’s breathtaking in that quiet, reverent way the desert does best.

But it doesn’t last long. The walls press in once more, and the real fun begins. Near 1.9 miles, I come to another small drop, this one assisted by a wooden pole, maybe three inches thick, propped there for those willing to trust it. I do.

From there, the canyon becomes a shifting puzzle — narrow then wide, easy then more challenging. For the next quarter mile, I duck, scramble, and wedge my way forward, grinning at the variety of obstacles it offers.

Finally, about 2.25 miles in, the canyon lays down its final card: a vertical ten-foot drop. A rope dangles from a boulder above — weathered, but seemingly solid. Tempting. But I’m alone. No Garmin, no cell signal, and I haven’t seen another person in two days. I pause. The smart choice is to turn back. And I do — but not without a mental bookmark to return, better prepared, for what’s surely the most exciting stretch of the canyon.

I retrace my path through the sculpted stone, return to the trailhead, and hop into my truck. Zion National Park is five hours away, where Dave and Brent are waiting to hike out to The Subway tomorrow. A fun morning in the Swell comes to an end, but I'll be back soon enough.