Moonshine Wash Redemption - A Successful 2nd Slot Canyon Attempt - San Rafael Desert, Utah

Moonshine Wash is one of the best non-technical slot canyons I've experienced in the Southwest. I returned in March for a 2nd, successful attempt, after I bailed during my first attempt in January due to conditions and needing a rest day.

The canyon is South of Green River Utah, and is doable by most parties. I passed two parents and their maybe 5 year old son doing it (they were belaying him down the downclimbs).

There are a couple downclimbs, but if you're comfortable with bridging and stemming a bit you'll be golden (or bring a short rope and do a handline down).

This time I made it past the chockstone downclimb that felt sketchy with muddy boots in January. The desired destination near the end of the slot section is an old sheep bridge built across the top at the deepest portion of the slot.

Shortly thereafter, the slot widens out into a wash that gets deeper. It's a beautiful, if sandy walk down the canyon. At this point you have three options:
1. Continue to the junction with the West Fork and go up the West Fork of Moonshine before climbing out.
2. Climb out before the junction on Canyon left. The climb is really a steep scramble. It's class three, though a wrong move at a couple spots could lead to a long, hard fall/slide back down. From the top, walk along the canyon edge before descending back into Moonshine Wash close to the dryfall where you entered.
3.Return back up the canyon the way you came - This would be the route I choose if I go back (if I don't do the east fork). While the rim walk allowed me to see the sheep bridge up close, it was a sunny day, there was no shade, and the rim walk was a bunch of trudging through sand.

Getting there: You can make it most of the way in just about any car. Both trips I parked in a small parking area ~.75 miles before the trailhead, as there's one hill with ruts that my car didn't want to go up. It's not a bad warm up walk from there. If you've a higher clearance rig, or better traction, the trailhead drive would be worth it to avoid the uphill road walk at the end of your excursion.

Special thanks to:
- ‪@KarlDeckerPresents‬ for his video that inspired and informed my visits.
- ‪@ajroadtrips‬ for the great beta and write up (as well as the comments with recent conditions): https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/uta....
Shout out to the family from Chicago I met the next day who went and did the canyon after we chatted. Props to you and your kiddos!

Gear used:
Scarpa Rapid Mid GTX boots (first hike in them. They did great)
Insta360 X4
Garmin inReach
Gregory Backpack
DJI Mini 4 Pro drone
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Peak Design tripod

Have you done Moonshine? Have another favorite non-technical canyon? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you'll join me for more adventures!

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0:00 - Hike Trailer
0:13 - Drone views of campsite and area
0:56 - Plan for the day + coffee
1:28 - Road Conditions to trailhead
2:30 - Trailhead and side wash walk to Moonshine Wash
3:14 - Dryfall to get into Moonshine Wash proper
4:05 - Start of the slot
4:18 - Descending into the slot
5:34 - First two downclimbs
6:28 - Canyon from downclimbs to sheep bridge
10:36 - Sheet bridge from below
11:23 - Slot opens up
12:18 - Drone views
13:45 - Continue to climb out
14:21 - Getting to climb out
14:45 - The climb out
15:45 - A wrong turn
16:11 - Back on track
17:08 - Hiking along the rim
17:46 - The sheep bridge from above + rim walk landmarks
18:33 - Route back down to the wash
20:13 - Exiting Moonshine back up the dryfall
21:20 - Trailhead back to car
22:35 - Road out and drive to Green River

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