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Morocco Canyon

North Wash beta posted by ratagonia
  • The Hype

    Biggest Bang for the Buck in North Wash - and No Squeezing!

    A great little Wingate canyon in the heart of Navajo country. Morocco gives a respite from the squeezing found elsewhere, with many short rappels and downclimbs, and sometimes a swim or two. The approach is short, the canyon is sweet and pretty. Six rappels to 45 feet are from natural anchors, some requiring a little bit of work to get. The canyon is quite popular.

    Our thanks to Dave Pimental for discovering this little gem.

    Getting There

    Starts on Route 95, 1.0 mile north of the Hog Springs picnic area. Park on the east side of the highway, on the north side of a trough UDOT cut for a watershed, on slickrock. The trough is Casablanca Canyon. Use the road to get to the south side of the road, and spy out the route from there.

    The route climbs the low-angle face to the east, starting at left-bottom, to reach a ledge at right-top that allows non-technical access around the corner to the right into Morocco Canyon. Climb onto the face where some rocks allow an easy climb onto the face. Up, then right to access the traverse ledge. Follow the ledge out to the nose, then pick up a social trail on the bench above the canyon. Follow back to a slickrock bowl at the top of the canyon.

    The Canyon - Rating: 3A II   Longest Rap: 45'   # of Raps: 6

    The canyon starts with a low-angle rap off a cairn down into a hole, then a downclimb into a pool, which varies from ankle-deep to a full swim. Follow the canyon with several rappels and downclimbs, and often a swim or two.

    The Exit

    From the bottom of the last rappel, traverse right to gain the bench on the side of the highway. Walk back to your car (5 minutes).

    Red Tape

    No Red Tape in North Wash.
  • Starts on Route 95, 1.0 mile north of the Hog Springs picnic area. Park on the east side of the highway, on the north side of a trough UDOT cut for a watershed, on slickrock. The trough is Casablanca Canyon. Use the road to get to the south side of the road, and spy out the route from there.

    The route climbs the low-angle face to the east, starting at left-bottom, to reach a ledge at right-top that allows non-technical access around the corner to the right into Morocco Canyon. Climb onto the face where some rocks allow an easy climb onto the face. Up, then right to access the traverse ledge. Follow the ledge out to the nose, then pick up a social trail on the bench above the canyon. Follow back to a slickrock bowl at the top of the canyon.
  • The canyon starts with a low-angle rap off a cairn down into a hole, then a downclimb into a pool, which varies from ankle-deep to a full swim. Follow the canyon with several rappels and downclimbs, and often a swim or two.
  • From the bottom of the last rappel, traverse right to gain the bench on the side of the highway. Walk back to your car (5 minutes).
  • No Red Tape in North Wash.
Patrick Kane likes this.

Condition Reports for Morocco Canyon

  1. Zach T
    September 05, 2018
    Zach T

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Dry/avoidable

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    2 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 1.5 hours


    Water was avoidable, some awkward starts on a few of the rappels for LMAR (or everybody if you don't courtesy rig). Fun canyon.

    Posted Sep 17, 2018
  2. Austin Farnworth
    August 04, 2018
    Austin Farnworth

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Shallow (calf deep)

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    5 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 2 hours


    Water is currently knee deep and extremely nasty! It can avoided with creative stemming and a jump.

    Posted Aug 6, 2018
  3. Doug Smith
    April 22, 2016
    Doug Smith

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Dry/avoidable

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    3 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 3 hours


    Almost no water in the canyon. We were easily able to go over the few pools in the lower canyon. Very fun Canyon for a 1/2 rest day after a much longer canyon the day before.

    Posted Apr 25, 2016
  4. Patrick Kane
    October 03, 2015
    Patrick Kane

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Dry/avoidable

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    2 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 3 hours


    The canyon was dry, although the pool at the bottom of the 2nd rap/down climb (next to the natural arch) was still full. The cairn rap was washed away by a recent flood and the landing was muddy, but all other water/mud was avoidable.

    Posted Oct 6, 2015
  5. Aquaman
    May 10, 2015
    Aquaman

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Dry/avoidable

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    3 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 3 hours


    Extremely dry conditions despite the rain in the area. This little canyon apparently avoided much precipitation as of 5/10.

    Posted May 16, 2015
  6. Jeremy Freeman
    May 02, 2015
    Jeremy Freeman

    Difficulty:

    Easy

    Skill Level:

    Beginner

    Water:

    Deep (waist to chest)

    Thermal:

    None

    Group Size:

    8 people

    Total Time:

    1 hour 3.5 hours


    Typical conditions for the canyon, water is lower than I've seen it. All water was avoidable with some stemming/bridging minus the last pool which was waist deep.

    Posted May 6, 2015
  7. Doug Murray
    May 18, 2014
    Doug Murray

    Difficulty:

    NA

    Skill Level:

    NA

    Water:

    NA

    Thermal:

    NA

    Group Size:

    NA

    Total Time:

    NA


    Did Morocco Friday evening, 16 May. Lots of water. We were able to avoid it up high, but had to wade through the water at the bottom of the 3rd rap. Waded through several spots, never more than calf deep. It was getting dark, so we decided to go up LDC and skip the last few obstacles and numerous water holes. Still a fun time.

    Posted May 18, 2014
  8. lawrencebaker
    Feb 18, 2014
    lawrencebaker

    Difficulty:

    NA

    Skill Level:

    NA

    Water:

    NA

    Thermal:

    NA

    Group Size:

    NA

    Total Time:

    NA


    02/15/2014 - Fun approach-climb. The deadman anchor at the first rappel looked new with some nice shiny red webbing. The construction looked a little odd, but was solid enough. Pool at the second downclimb/rappel was full and really cold - you either have to get in and swim to the edge or jump it from the 5ft high ledge to the right. Two other pools that we had to get in were either calf-deep or waist deep. Wetsuits weren't really needed since the air temp was in the 60s that weekend and the time you're in the water is minimal, but I could see the advantage of stuffing some dry clothes in a drybag, just in case. Rest of the anchors looked ok. Definitely a fun canyon!

    Posted Feb 18, 2014
  9. Steven Christensen
    Oct 22, 2013
    Steven Christensen

    Difficulty:

    NA

    Skill Level:

    NA

    Water:

    NA

    Thermal:

    NA

    Group Size:

    NA

    Total Time:

    NA


    It was my first anchor - and it showed!

    Posted Oct 22, 2013
  10. Cristina
    Oct 15, 2013
    Cristina

    Difficulty:

    NA

    Skill Level:

    NA

    Water:

    NA

    Thermal:

    NA

    Group Size:

    NA

    Total Time:

    NA


    mhh i like the Huge pile of rocks,
    act as anchor and cairn!!!!!
    i saw canyoneers that rap worse than a Tacoma shock load!!!!!!

    Posted Oct 15, 2013
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