West Fork

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 38.39460°N / 110.2601°W
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking, Trad Climbing, Bouldering, Scrambling, Canyoneering
Seasons Season: Spring, Fall
Additional Information Time Required: Half a day
Additional Information Difficulty: Class 3 or 5.6, depending on variation
Additional Information Rock Difficulty: 5.6 (YDS)
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

This fork can be used to enter or exit the Bluejohn complex. The route is around 5.5 or 5.6, but there is a bypass around this section that is only 3rd class. The canyon has a short section of narrows. The West Fork may be the best route to access Lower Bluejohn to Horseshoe Canyon since coming down the Main or East Forks makes for a very long day. It is also commonly used as an exit route after completing the Main Fork from the bottom down.

Climbing OutWest Fork Bluejohn Canyon.


Getting There

Make sure to stock up with plenty of fuel and supplies when headed to the area. The nearest gas stations are in Green River and Hanksville and make sure to have a completely full tank of gas before leaving either town.

Getting There from the North, East, or West and via Hans Flat Road

From I-70 11 miles west of Green River or from I-70 west of Highway 24, take exit 149 on Highway 24 southbound. Follow the highway south to the Hans Flat Road on the east side of the Highway, which is between mile markers 135 and 136. This is just south of the Goblin Valley State Park turnoff (west side of the highway).

Pull out the map and have it handy from here on. Follow the main gravel road (several forks are passed; stay on the main one) for 24 miles or so to a major junction (which will be referred to as “Horseshoe Junction” for clarity. Let’s stop here.

West Fork Trailhead

Turn right at Horseshoe Junction. Drive the road for about 6.9 miles to a small sandy 4wd track on the left (east). [This is just before a major junction in the main road, so if you hit the major junction, turn around and backtrack for about 0.2 miles]. Park here.

Getting There from South via Hans Flat Road

From the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 124 in Hanksville, drive north on Highway 124 for approximately 18 miles to the Hans Flat Road on the east side of the Highway, which is between mile markers 135 and 136. If you reach the Goblin Valley State Park turnoff, you have gone too far and need to backtrack a short distance. From the Hans Flat Road between mile markers 135 and 136, follow the roads to the trailhead as described above.

From the South, you can also get to the trailhead via Hite and the Maze, but the route is complicated, slow, and rough (4wd always required), though very scenic. Don’t even ask me to describe that route in detail. Buy a map.

Getting There From the North, East, or West and via Green River Road

This route is shorter than the one via the Hans Flat Road, but takes a bit longer because the road is gravel for a much longer distance. From Green River at Center and Main, turn south and follow the road signed for the airport. Stay on the roads signed for the airport until you get to a gravel road on the left with a sign for San Rafael Desert and Horseshoe Canyon.

Turn onto this road. This is known as the Green River Road. Follow the Green River Road south (crossing the San Rafael River at just over 19 miles) for about 39-40 miles to the turnoff for Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead (see above). Continue along the main road for 5.1 miles to Horseshoe junction where the trailhead is reached via the route described above.

Sandpipes above West ForkSand pipe near the trailhead.


Bluejohn Canyon MapClick for full size.

Route Description

Pull out the map and compass and have it handy at all times. From the trailhead, walk or drive the sandy 4wd track north. After less than a mile, you will cross a fairly defined drainage (that drains into the West Fork).

Follow the canyon down. It will become deeper and more impressive as you follow it down. Near the head of the slot is a dryfass. You can climb down (or up) the dryfall at about 5.6. Set up a belay if needed and be careful not to fall. Otherwise, you can rappel the drop, but please don’t leave slings or bolts behind.

Alternately, there is a bypass on the right side around the fall. It is rated class 3, but sometimes gets covered with sand.

The rest of the canyon is easy.

Once down in, you will for sure want to make the hike up the Main Fork. You can also go all the way down Lower Bluejohn.

The West Fork route is also a common way to exit all the following routes: Little Bluejohn, Main Fork, East Fork, and . In that case, just reverse the route above.

The route also makes a nice short loop with the West E/E Route.

I would recommend half to all day including a visit to the Main Fork.

West Fork, Bluejohn CanyonWest Fork Bluejohn Canyon.

Essential Gear

The canyon can be free-soloed easily, but for some it might be prudent to take a 50 foot rope for belay use just in case. If the West Fork is used to exist any of the technical forks of Bluejohn, see the respective route pages for infomation on the equipment needed.

Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.