29) Upper Sandy Draw (map disabled)

Please read the Introduction

There is an interesting canyon at the end of Sandy Draw. The walk to get there is a bit dull though it offers a look at some grazed desert and the east facing slope of the Waterpocket Fold. Once in the canyon the plants change, the geology changes, the whole feel of the trip changes to that of a small, rugged, almost personal, canyon

From the Notom Road walk west. In less than 100 yards there is a major wash to cross. There is a wall on the far bank that is up to 30 feet high but at the south (left) end, as it slopes down, there is a break where a tributary wash enters. (An even smaller one enters just south of that.) Walk west up the larger tributary wash until it ends in a meadow.

Look right (northwest) and find the lightest colored expanse of sandstone low on the Waterpocket Fold. In the foreground there is a steep faced red hill. Cross the meadow headed toward the light sandstone and the slight saddle immediately right (north) of the steep faced hill ahead.

The main bush in the meadow is Fourwinged Saltbush and the main grass is Cheatgrass. After the smooth meadow ends and the terrain becomes rolling the main bush is Big Sage, the state flower of Nevada.

At the saddle, marked by white or light gray rock, find the cattle trail that goes through it and continues west. Follow it west and after crossing a couple minor washes follow it to the top of another ridge. From there the view is into Sandy Draw and the canyon to explore is just visible to the left (south).

Walk down into the main valley following cattle trails west and somewhat left (south) until getting to the main wash (W). During that walk part of the Waterpocket fold is on display to the west and to the northwest the rugged Navajo Sandstone section called "The Backbone".

At the main wash turn left (southwest) and go upstream, in or beside the wash, always taking the main fork at junctions. Along the way notice the sloping Navajo Sandstone immediately north of that canyon at the head of Sandy Draw. A good place to explore.

At the first questionable wash junction (fifteen minutes up Sandy Draw) go right (north) toward the light brown cliffs.

Much later, at the next questionable junction, the right fork heads directly into the inviting Navajo Sandstone area but the main canyon is up the left (south) fork.

Just before the narrow section of the canyon there is a huge old log spanning the wash. Where would it have spent its' growing years?

In the bowl, just below the pour-over at the entrance to the canyon, the largest tree is a Box Elder. To get into the canyon climb up the north (right) side to the top of the pour-over and step into the wash.

At that point, the first shrub on the right is a Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany. The next bush upstream is a Skunkbush. Still on the right, the next woody plant is a small tree; Singleleaf Ash. On the left side of the wash the first shrub is Serviceberry which has reddish bark on mature limbs.

The wash is narrow and a bit of a challenge (fun) to walk for a while. The last and most difficult place can be circumvented on the right (north) side.

Not long after the wash smooths out there will be some red barked Manzanita shrubs.

The canyon winds and twists with alluring side canyons going off to both sides. The tan colored Navajo Sandstone will give way to the red brown Kayenta Formation followed quickly by the slightly more orange Wingate Sandstone. Toward the head of the canyon there is a large patch of tall (seven feet or more) grass looking plants which are Common Reed. There are other smaller patches of Reeds on up the canyon, particularly in the wet north fork of the wash where the hike ends (E).

The last geologic formation seen in the canyon, the Chinle, is below the Wingate and fills the upper part of the canyon.

23June2017 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.	Email: