Fry Canyon, Utah

​Fry Canyon definitely is an amazing place to do some serious canyoneering! This destination is located in a very remote region of southeast Utah and it truly is a no man's land. Fry Canyon runs west from Cedar Mesa to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and it is surrounded by several National Monuments and National Parks, which include, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands and Bears Ears. With a lineup of neighboring majestic places like this, it is easy to imagine that Fry Canyon must be one of the most picturesque places on earth and it truly is!

The Fry Canyon region is composed of red rock mesas, towering outcrops and a labyrinth of narrow canyons that run through ancient layers of sandstone on the valley floor. There are several famous landmarks in this area that are worth checking out, which include the Cheese Box and Jacob's Chair. The main attraction is the narrow ravine canyons on the valley floor that run west toward the Colorado River. The main canyon is fairly easy to follow because of its size, but there are many challenging narrow sections and the branching arms are endless. Even though these canyons are less than 100 feet deep in most places, they are not easy to access because most of the walls are a sheer vertical drop. Once a climber scales down to the depths, the horizons totally disappear and navigation is like being inside of a maze.

As experienced canyoneers already know, navigation is the key to success, especially in Fry Canyon. For those who are interested in exploring Fry Canyon, there is very little research material available about this remote area, so the best bet is to browse related material in regional climbing or canyoneering clubs. This is a very unforgiving remote area, so careful planning and reliable equipment is required for making the excursion a successful venture.

Not everybody is into taking on a perilous outdoor adventure and Fry Canyon offers plenty to experience without having to explore the maze of narrow ravines. There are many ancient native heritage sites in Fry Canyon, just like in the neighboring Bears Ears. The Fry Canyon Ruins is the easiest to access and it is just a short drive down a dirt side road. Landscape artists will find endless subject matter in this vast high desert wilderness area and the views certainly are what dreams are made of.

Fry Canyon is never crowded because the location is very remote. The closest fueling stations are quite a long distance away in Hite or Blanding, so it is best to top off the tank before setting sail. There are several BLM 4x4 trails to be found in this area and one actually goes toward Jacob's Chair. Needless to say, 4x4 adventurists must take care when planning a venture too, because any chance of rescue might as well be a million miles away. No matter whether you go to Fry Canyon just to take pictures or to do some hard core canyoneering, the memories of this majestic place are guaranteed to last a lifetime!