A Lord of the Rings Adventure: A Guide to Maple Box Canyon
Me in front of the Spot you need to climb the Rope in Maple Box Canyon Moroni Utah
For your nature fix today, I have a journey into a place that feels like something out of Middle-earth: Maple Box Canyon. This canyon is carved from a unique conglomerate rock, made of medium-sized stones naturally cemented together. It’s a rare geological wonder that is also a crazy tall slot canyon, home to an arch, a waterfall, and a playground for rock climbers. The slot canyon itself is dark and daunting at times, with the sounds of crows echoing strangely off the walls. It's a perfect metaphor for those dark and dreary places we sometimes find ourselves in life, and a powerful reminder that if you keep moving forward, you'll always find the light. This is my guide to this fun, creepy, and beautiful adventure.
The Golden Nugget 🌟
CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING: The waterfall at the end of the canyon has a rope, and many people are tempted to climb it. **DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS** unless you are an experienced climber with proper gear. The rocks are slippery, and many people have been severely hurt here, including my brother-in-law. There is no cell service to call for help. Please be safe and smart, and enjoy the waterfall from the bottom.
TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO THIS MYTHICAL CANYON
Grab your VR headset and get ready for a fun and creepy adventure! Transport yourself into the dark, echoing slot canyon, navigate the fun boulder obstacles, and emerge at the beautiful waterfall at the end. It's a fantastic Nature Therapy session to help boost your mood and help you feel happier. Enjoy some "Me Time" today!
"The slot canyon feels like you have been transported to somewhere in Lord of the Rings. It is dark and has weird noises from the animal sounds echoing, and you never know what is around that next corner."
Adventure at a Glance
- 🏞️ Location: Near Moroni, Utah (in Maple Canyon)
- 🚶♀️ Activity: Slot Canyon Hiking, Bouldering
- ⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)
- ☀️ Best For: A fun, technical adventure; unique geology; feeling like an explorer.
- ⏳ Recommended Time: 1.5 - 2.5 hours for the 1.2-mile round trip hike.
- 🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: The conglomerate slot canyon, the bouldering obstacles, the final waterfall.
My Maple Box Canyon Story
The hike into Maple Box Canyon is a fantastic challenge. It's a 1.2-mile journey with a moderate difficulty rating due to the fun, technical obstacles along the way. There are at least three spots where you have to do some bouldering to get around huge boulders wedged in the slot canyon. Some you climb around, some you go under, and one has a rope to help you get past. I never felt like any of these spots were dangerous, just a fun challenge that makes you feel accomplished. It’s a great reminder of how life works: sometimes there are multiple paths through a difficult situation, and if you stop for a moment to look around and listen to your inner spirit, you can find the best path forward.
A Cinematic Preview
Here's a fun trailer I put together that captures the adventurous feeling of this unique VR Getaway.
Your Trail Guide: Helpful Hints
- ♦️ Getting There: The canyon is about 1.5 hours south of SLC, near Moroni. Google Maps will take you right there if you download directions before you lose service. The turnoff is on the right side about 1 mile before the main Maple Canyon campground parking lot.
- ♦️ Private Property: This amazing area is on private property. Please be respectful and bring a few dollars for the donation box at the trailhead to help ensure this place stays open for everyone to enjoy.
- ♦️ It's a Moderate Hike: Due to the bouldering, I'd rate this for ages 10 and up who are comfortable with some scrambling.
- ♦️ Don't Climb the Waterfall!: I cannot stress this enough. People are severely injured here every year. Enjoy the beautiful waterfall from the bottom and stay safe.
Don't Miss the Rest of Maple Canyon!
While you're here, you should check out the highlights of the main Maple Canyon area, which is famous for its rock climbing. The loop trail is fantastic, and you don't want to miss the arch and the cave!
Check out my complete guide to the Maple Canyon Loop Trail here.
Information About Maple Box Canyon
- Maple Box Canyon is located near Moroni Utah and is about 1.45 hours south of SLC. To get to Maple Box Canyon take I-15 to Nephi Exit 225 Turn left on UT-132, then right on 400 S, then follow signs to Maple Box Canyon. It is on the right hand side about 1 mile before parking lot before the campgrounds. Google Maps will take you right there if you download directions BEFORE you loose service.
- Maple Box Canyon is a Slot Canyon with a Waterfall at the end. I would not suggest climbing the waterfall, for MANY people have gotten hurt climbing up the waterfall for it is slippery. My brother-in-law has been working on recovering from a fall here for over a year, broken back, cracked skull are just a few, and getting out and getting help with no service is a beast of a job.
- The slot canyon feels like you have been transported to somewhere in Lord of the Rings. It is dark and has weird noises from the animal sounds echoing, and you never know what is around that next corner. Totally fun in a creepy sort of way.
- It has at least 3 spots where it takes some bouldering work to get around a big boulder in the slot canyon. Some you can climb around, some you climb under, some have a rope to help you get around them, but it does make this canyon have a fun technical aspect to it. I never felt like any of the bouldering spots where dangerous, just a fun challenge. Like most hikes, there are multiply paths through difficult situations, and part of the challenge is picking the one best for your ability and the challenge you want. That is so similar to life, sometimes we make bad choices that lead our life to be much harder than it needs to be. If in both situations you stop and give yourself a moment to look around and listen to the spirit within you, it will help so you can be on the easiest path to where you want to go.
- I would call this a moderate level trail for ages 10 and up.
- Trail is 1.2 miles.
- Great spot to take the easy route, but then if you want to build bouldering skills, to try the harder route also and see if you can tackle it.
- Bring a few dollars for the donation box, for this area is private property, and it would be so sad if access to this area got taken away.
- While you are here, you should at least check out the highlights in Maple Canyon even if you can't do the whole loop. Favorites are Arch up Middle Fork, and up Left fork the stairs and ladder areas, but make sure you take a quick detour off the main trail and find the Cave area with rope climbers. Check out my link on this area for more information.
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One of the many Boulder Challenges in Maple Box Canyon360 Video Going Under the Rock 1 AboveMake sure you move it around so you can see it all. The best way to watch this is grabbing your VRHeadset, and watching it on YouTubeVR on my ShaunasAdventures channel.
Maple Box Canyon Waterfall360 Video of Walk Up to WaterfallMake sure you move it around so you can see it all. The best way to watch this is grabbing your VRHeadset, and watching it on YouTubeVR on my ShaunasAdventures channel.
2D Version of Video walking up to Waterfall
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Conclusion
Maple Box Canyon is a truly unique Utah adventure. It’s a fun, challenging, and slightly creepy journey that makes you feel like you've stepped into another world. It's a powerful place that reminds us that even when we're in a dark and daunting spot, there is always light ahead if we just keep moving forward. I hope you get a chance to explore this incredible canyon and enjoy its wonderfully weird magic.
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna from VRGetaways
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