Moonshine Wash

The Hype
Moonshine Wash is located near the Robber's Roost area and has short but very sweet non-technical slot section. This slot always seems to have an amazing glow and a few climbs in the 6-8' range that make it slightly more spicy than near by Little Wild Horse Canyon. If you have 4wd and high clearance make sure to take advantage of this sneak route so you can avoid miles of sand slogging.

Access Road: Moonshine wash is found along the San Rafael Desert Loop. I prefer driving south from the Green River airport road because this section of the road always seems to be in the best shape. After and during storms all roads in this area may be impassable.

Travel south from Green River along the airport road and turn south here. Approximately 5.5 miles south of the San Rafael River crossing there will be a very faint 4x4 track leading west. I highly suggest marking this on the GPS because its very easy to miss. The worst part of the side road is this large wash, the west side is fairly loose and seems like a fantastic place to get stuck. I have done this a few times without putting my vehicle in 4wd but clearance is a must so if you're driving a car above this wash this will be your trailhead. Just after the deep wash the road forks, go south for Moonshine or continue west to a small campsite. Once you cross a few slick rock sections you will end up at makeshift roundabout that is the trail head.

From the Trailhead: From the trailhead hike down the sandy dry wash until you reach a climbable 20' dry fall at the confluence of Moonshine. Stay up top and follow the hikers path to the north that provides simple access to the slot.

Canyon
Head down canyon and you will encounter a half dozen 6-8' down climbs that are all pretty simple as long as the slot if free of mud. As you work your way down canyon keep looking up and eventually you will see an old sheep bridge spanning the gap above. Shortly after the bridge the slot ends.

Exit
After passing the sheep bridge the canyon opens up and you can return the same way you came in or continue down canyon 3/4 of a mile. Watch for this exit route on the west side, this route involves a bit of scrambling and route finding to locate the old moonshine stills located here. If you love hiking in sand you should return by staying high on the west rim above the Moonshine slot back towards the beginning of the slot. Don't forget to stop by the sheep bridge on your way back but don't cross it.

BLM Land: Moonshine Wash is located on BLM land, and currently there are no regulations or access issues. You can camp at large anywhere in the general vicinity, no permit required.

Most slot canyons are found on public lands managed by the US Government, although a few can be found on private lands. The US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service manage these lands. Each area tends to have unique management issues. As a result, there is not a uniform set of rules governing our use of these lands. For current issues related to canyoneering access, please visit www.americancanyoneers.org.