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Lomatium Canyon

By Shawna Long

Getting Started

GUIDE SERVICE The canyon is unmapped with no trails or cairns; a guide is recommended. We went with Desert Highlights in Moab, deserthighlights.com.

PERMITS A permit is required to enter the Fiery Furnace, obtained at the Arches Visitor's Center.

PLEASE Avoid stepping on or damaging the cryptobiotic soil. It's possible to enter Lomatium Canyon year round, with spring and fall the optimal months.

MORE INFORMATION A ranger-led trip through the Fiery Furnace is a good alternative for those who want to experience the area without the technical adventure. Contact Arches National Park at (435) 719-2299.

"Wow, that was the most amazing rappel I've ever done!" We both said it. We were four hours into our adventure, having just descended 120 feet into a beautiful red rock canyon called Lomatium Canyon in Arches National Park.

After hearing about Lomatium Canyon, a labyrinth within the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park, we decided the best way to explore this exciting place was to join a guided trip with Desert Highlights, the only company authorized to take clients into this hidden wonderland. After the meet-and-greet, we gathered at the Arches Visitors Center to learn more about the delicate nature of the area we were going to enter.

Lomatium Canyon gets its name from Lomatium Latilobum (desert slickrock parsley), the small shrub-like plant that lives only in and around this particular canyon. This plant, along with the crytobionic soil, the life-sustaining crust that thrives along the narrow pathways of the canyon, are the main reasons to tread lightly within this delicate ecosystem. The well-established condition of the "crypto"that we observed was a true testament to the dedication of the guides, clients, and other hikers to preserve and respect this fragile landscape.

Soon after entering at the Fiery Furnace trail head, we veered off the ranger-led path to file through the zig-zag maze of rock, small arches and sandy washes. Occasionally using a hand line to ascend an exposed area, or stopping to lower packs before chimneying down a slick section, we moved efficiently through the towering Entrada sandstone fins and towers until we reached the upper section, where we were greeted by the views of Arches National Park and the snow dusted La Sal mountains.

After more scrambling and weaving through narrow passageways and slickrock, (reinforcing the decision to go with a guide, as the route finding was very tricky) we came to the long rappel. Using only webbing and an ingenious rope-retrieval method devised and perfected by the guides, we used "Abbey's Arch" as our anchor for the rappel. I was pleased to note the absence of a drilled rappel anchor station at this point, so as not to spoil the natural beauty of the area.

One by one we rappeled over the edge on a single rope into the deep, chocolate-colored walls of Lomatium Canyon. Once at the bottom, while taking photos of other canyoneers, I was immediately struck by the silence of the place. The others seemed to sense it as well, as we walked out enjoying the peaceful quiet without the need for conversation. One more rappel, this one quite a bit shorter, brought us back toward the trailhead, but not before passing Skull Arch, an ominous but very aesthetic arch lurking by the trail. We began to see more greenery as we headed toward the canyon exit.

Lomatium Canyon is a dry canyon but the recent rain had brought out the first brightly colored cactus blooms and spring green foliage. For those with more time and stamina, the day trip doesn't have to end there. Hikers can continue through Krill Canyon, which links up to Lomatium. Krill Canyon contains more Class IV and V rock climbing and scrambling with three exciting rappels. Combining Lomatium and Krill canyons takes 10 hours on average to complete. Krill Canyon is a bit shadier, making it a good choice during the hot summer months.

Even if you have visited Arches in the past, you may want to revisit the park to explore one of its beautiful, secret passageways, Lomatium Canyon.

Info Box: Getting Started

GUIDE SERVICE The canyon is unmapped with no trails or cairns; a guide is recommended. We went with Desert Highlights in Moab, deserthighlights.com.

PERMITS A permit is required to enter the Fiery Furnace, obtained at the Arches Visitor's Center.

PLEASE Avoid stepping on or damaging the cryptobiotic soil. It's possible to enter Lomatium Canyon year round, with spring and fall the optimal months.

MORE INFORMATION A ranger-led trip through the Fiery Furnace is a good alternative for those who want to experience the area without the technical adventure. Contact Arches National Park at (435) 719-2299.

Shawna Long is a Durango, Colo.-writer who explores the Southwest with her favorite explorer, son Jake.