Kanarra Creek Falls

Travel by Ladders

At the beginning of the trail we were greeted by an attendant at a wooden kiosk who validated our day use permits before we were permitted to start the hike. Once on the trail, we followed an old access road as it wandered up into the Hurricane Cliffs and entered into the lower sections for the canyon. Hiking up the lower section of the canyon, we alternated between banks crossing the creek numerous times. Continuing on we found ourselves spending more and more time hiking in the creek bed. Soon enough the wall of the slot rose up around us and the banks fell away. 

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The day before our scheduled hike, the trail conditions warned of high water levels so we weren’t entirely sure what to expect as this point. Later we would also discover that hikers that entered the canyon just behind us were told that the ladders were closed for the remainder of the day due to dangerously high water levels. Luckily for us we made it through before this pronouncement and our level of daring tends to be a bit above the norm.

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15-Foot High Rock-Jam Waterfall

Kanarraville Falls

Over the next half mile we hiked up the creek surrounded by towering walls growing orange and red in the afternoon sun. We spent far too much time taking photos of the lower section of slot only to discover that the scenery continued to improve around each corner. Soon we reached the first waterfall adorned with a leaning log ladder comprised of metal rungs and a make shift rope anchored along the rock face. The waterfall was absolutely stunning and was one of the highlights of our journey.

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Second Falls

Just above the waterfall we encountered our second obstacle. A prominent boulder stood ahead will rapidly flowing water pouring down both side. With my family still navigating the ladder, I found a piece of rope flailing in the waterfall to the right of the boulder. With single minded determination, I scrambled up the falls before my family could dissuade me from continuing up the creek. When my husband and mom appeared below the boulder, I was serenely perched atop the rock patiently awaiting their ascent. Above the falls, the canyon opened up briefly and we found an area to enjoy lunch alongside the creek.

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From here the canyon narrowed again and we entered a short, but beautiful section of the slot. The water was a bit deeper here and we wadded waist-deep up to the upper falls.

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Unfortunately when we reached the falls, the final log ladder was complete obscured by water. After eyeing the impossible short piece of rope above, we admitted defeat and saved the last part of the hike for another day.