San Rafael Swell Slot Canyon (CrackCanyon) - VR 360 Nature Vacation

San Rafael Swell Slot Canyon Utah 
2D Trailer Video for Oculus TV 

San Rafael Swell Slot Canyon VR Adventure

Cracky Canyon San Rafael Swell 

Virtual VR 360 Version for VR Headsets to Transport you Here

Remember this is a 360 Video, so make sure you rotate it around.  The best way to view is in a VR Headset.



Information about Crack_ Canyon
  • 5 hours South of SLC - 1 hour min South of Bryce Canyon
  • Great for ages 9 and above.
  • Favorite Slot Canyon because of its uniqueness.   
  • This can be a long 14 mile trail, but I have never gotten past a drop off where it is filled with water.  I always turn around there (about 3 miles). 
  • About 700 feet elevation
  • Easy Hike - Level 2

CrackCanyon in the San Rafael Swell is such a fun diverse slot canyon.  It is so worth the drive down to Southern Utah to see it, but let me give you some hints to have a successful trip.

2D Version of CrackCanyon with Sunrise.

STEPS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO CRACK_CANYON

First, while you are at home, search for Crack_Canyon Trailhead.  Then at the top left click on the 3 lines and go to offline maps.  Retype in Crack Canyon San Rafael Swell if it doesn't come up and download the map.  Do this for ANY and ALL areas you want to hike in the San Rafael, for when you get there you will not have any service, but if you have a downloaded map your mapping software will still work.  San Rafael is about 30 minutes southwest of Green River West of Goblin Valley State Park.  It is BLM land so there are lots of places to camp, there are some bathrooms in a few spots, and the roads while dirt are not bad dirt roads. 

Second, After you get to the trailhead make sure you save your parking spot.  The trail is super easy to follow and difficult to get lost while you are in the Slot Canyon, but from the Parking area to the start of the slot there are a few roads going different ways, so saving your parking area will help you get back that last little bit.

Third Purchase an EXTERNAL GPS, and GAIA GPS App for your phone.  They are worth it when you are in the back country.

FOURTH  There are a few spots where they are a little tricky getting down.  Don't go down unless you can get back up.  There was a couple that got to one of the spots with the 2 logs and decided they could not get down or up that easily, but there was actually 2 other spots in that area that were easier to get down and up.  If you want to make it to the end of the trail, you might want to take a quick class on using a rope to get up and down a long 10-15 foot drops so you can get into the last 1/8 of the hike.   
 FIFTH - of course take plenty of water!
If you have little ones and want a Scavenger Hunt to help them out, here is a link to a SCAVENGER HUNT, although this trail is so interesting you don't need much to keep kids entertained.
LINK TO SCAVENGER HUNT

Crack Canyon San Rafael Swell Utah Trail head
Here is what it looks like at the trail head.


The fist part of the trail here is almost this honeycomb look to the  bottom part of these enormous cliff walls. They can be large enough to lay in like a catacomb, and often the small ones connect together behind with the one next to it.  

AMP Web Story for  VIrtual  VR 360 Crack_Canyon

Crack_Canyon Web Story

360 Trail at CrackCanyon 




  
If you are big on GPS location, here is a great website with GPS location markers. 

Video of Crack_Canyon



Above is a VIDEO of a section with a HUGE cliff wall that is just unbelievable, and those overhangs you see in the above picture!

360 Trail of Above Area in Crack_Canyon






Then you get into these Fabulous Slot Canyons.  You can see all the bumpy surfaces make if to a unique slot canyon.

Crack_Canyon San Rafael Swell Utah


Video of the canyon getting Narrower


One of these slots has this great photo op with the crazy unique shape of the slot.  It was super windy this day, and my hair is a total mess, but it still is a super fun picture.

You can see that you go from a bumpy slot to one with more strips and blackish greenish strips.

CrackCanyon San Rafael Swell Utah

The following spots there are a few drop off spots that are a little tough, but the important thing to remember is there is often an easier route down and up than the obvious harder one.  Look around.  In one spot there is a cave that you can climb through to get up a tough climb.  


Here is another great website on this canyon.
American Southwest's post on Crack canyon

360 Degree Trail in Slot Canyon 





Crack Canyon San Rafael Swell Utah
This spot is one that freaks out most people for they think they have to go down those logs, but there is an easier route on the other side of that large boulder.  

This is a section that you think you need to go down and then try and get back out, but it is much easier if you just shimmy around the edge on the left side there.

I have done this canyon twice and can't wait to go back and do it again, but there is this spot below where the drop is a longer drop, and there is no easy way to get back out.  It is also almost always filled with water.  So if you want to go past this spot, you need to make sure you bring rope to get out, and are prepared to get wet, for it is usually waist high water. 
Crack Canyon San Rafael Swell Utah- Where I stopped.




One of my favorite sections is this one with the big black Vertical Strips going down.  It just connects with me somehow that I just think it is cool.  

On the way out there is a spot that is a little trick to climb out of, but Todd found this cool Cave you can get through this spot if you want.  

Here is a VIDEO of Todd Climbing through the Cave top get out of Crack Canyon. 





If you liked this area, just go to G Maps, and type in Crack Canyon, Utah, and then check out lots more of my 360 images with the tunnels there. 

Here are links to a SCAVENGER HUNT for Crack Canyon if you would like.  No need to take a pencil, just rip into the square when you find the item!  Good Luck!

Link to Scavenger Hunt For Crack Canyon


Here is a video of dealing with some of the hard Canyoneering parts in Crack Canyon. 


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If you liked this hike, you will also LOVE'
WILLIS CREEK SLOT CANYON

and
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KANNARAVILLE FALLS SLOT CANYON

and
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RED REEF TRAIL









2D Trailer for Immersive Nature Experience at Periodic Springs and Snake River


Palisades, Periodic Springs, and Snake River are a beautiful combo if you are thinking about heading to Wyoming for the cooler weather. So many other events you can add to it, like horseback riding, or Jackson hole, or the Tetons.  

If you don't have a VR Headset, they are so much fun.  I have enjoyed mine often to excercise when I can't hit a trail outdoors, and to virtually travel the world. It is so wonderful for my physical and mental health.  Here are links to some great VR Headsets.  Definitely worth it! 
  

For the Virtual Reality Experience, I love to open a bottle of Cypress, get a nice breeze blowing on me, curl up in a comfy chair, and transport myself here or any of the other fun Nature Experience in my Oculus Portfolio.  It is a wonderful postive boost from Nature Therapy that helps fight depression and help you feel happier. Try it out. 


Comments

  1. Thanks for all of the information. My boyfriend and I were inspired by your post and are heading down there soon. Can we bring a water purifier or should we just pack in water? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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