Phipps Arch

Overview

Phipps Arch sits hidden from view on top of a side canyon wall near Escalante River in southern Utah. No established trail goes to Phipps Arch but the last part of the hike up the wall of the canyon is cairned. The shortest way to reach Phipps Arch is to start at the Route 12 bridge on Escalante River and hike along the river 2 miles downstream then enter Phipps Canyon. As an alternative, I will describe below a longer and more scenic route that starts on Route 12 several miles west of Escalante River. This route will take you down beautiful slick-rock country past a number of dry waterfalls to the sandy bottom of Phipps Canyon. You will then enter the tight and lush part of Phipps Canyon before reaching the cairned wall.

Getting There

The starting point is a nonspecific spot on Route 12 roughly 11 miles east of the town of Escalante. Please see the map below to identify this spot. You will not see any signs. There is enough room on the north (west bound) side of the road for one or two cars to park.
GPS coordinates are: 37 deg 45.025 minute North, 111 deg 26.73 minute West.

Route

Place	Elevation	Distance
Route 12	5700 ft	zero miles
Phipps Wash	5300 ft	2.30 miles
Side Canyon	5200 ft	1.70 miles
Phipps Arch	5500 ft	0.50 miles
Total	-	4.50 miles

There is no trail. If you chose to hike here, you should be able to find your own way down slick-rock washes and retrace it back to Route 12.

View from Route 12 at the place I parked.



Head southeast down the slick-rock slopes.



You will soon reach a dry waterfall. I bypassed this obstacle on the right. Looking back at the dry waterfall.



Continue down the slick-rock wash. In some places, the bottom of the wash is covered by sand.

You will then reach the edge of a big dry waterfall roughly 150 ft high. Water may be seen in a pool at the base of the fall in the canyon below.



You can see the canyon continuing beyond the fall.



I went on the right side of the fall continuing on the rim of the canyon a short distance until I reached this steep slope. Went down the slope to reach the bottom of the canyon where there was a big pine tree.



Looking back at the dry fall from the bottom of the canyon.



Continue down the canyon until you reach the junction with Phipps Canyon. Turn left and hike the sandy bottom of the canyon at the base of a big wall.

Phipps Canyon

Phipps Canyon

Continue hiking down the broad sandy bottom of the canyon.

The canyon narrows. A lush growth of bushes and trees appear.

After some bushwhacking, the canyon opens up a little.

Look on the right to find the small side canyon that leads you to Phipps Arch. Turn right into this canyon. Pay close attention to find the cairns taking you up the northern slick-rock wall of the canyon (on the left).



The cairns were few and far in between. I lost the path a few times. As you go up the slope, you will reach two places where you have to climb walls 5-6 feet high. A pile of rocks and a tree trunk placed at the bottom of the walls make the climb much easier.

Phipps Arch can now be seen.



Views from Phipps Arch.

Red Tape & Guidebook

Guidebook: “Wow Guides, Utah Canyon Country”, Kathy & Craig Copeland.

No fees or permits for day hike. For all rules and regulations contact Escalante Interagency Visitor Center.

Images

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