These two canyons are located in Kodachrome Basin SE of Bryce National Park. Bull Valley Gorge is reached by car on a dirt road which crosses the gorge on a dirt bridge, about 30 feet thick at a point where the canyon is about 90-100’ deep. There is a pickup stuck in the canyon at this point, from about the 1940s or 1950s. The bridge used to be a bit narrower. The truck apparently had brake failure (or too much alcohol for a clutch on a steep slope with a narrow bridge), and rolled backward into the canyon. The truck fell 30’ before the canyon walls narrowed and the force of the fall crushed the truck, killing the 3 occupants. The pickup is now the base for a slightly widened bridge. The trip described was in June 2000.
|
|
I walked upstream a bit from the dirt bridge until I the canyon was shallow enough I could just step in. Several dry falls had to be negotiated, one about 16' high was new according to a local I ran into at the canyon. I continued downstream past the bridge for about 1/4 mile, then climbed out a steep defile on the left side. Bull Valley Gorge (left) was an impressive, short, but challenging slot canyon hike.
Later that day, I parked where the dirt road crosses the top of Willis Canyon (right) and hiked part way down it. Willis was much easier, but not nearly as spectacular as Bull Valley Gorge. Whereas Bull Valley is one continuous, deep, narrow canyon, Willis has sections of narrows interspersed with sections which are much wider and shallower.
The day before exploring Bull Valley and Willis, I arrived in the area in late
afternoon and contemplated exploring Round Valley Draw (below). However, call me
a wimp, the entrance was so narrow that I decided I just didn't feel comfortable
going in by myself, so after negotiating one small drop-off, I back-out and decided
to save this one for another day (but its day will come).