Sandstone Canyon

Sandstone Canyon is one of many tributaries that drain into Fish Creek Wash and Fish Creek Wash, in turn, drains much of this area which is known as the Carrizo Badlands.  As you drive up Sandstone Canyon for the first mile or so, it looks like many of the other canyons in this area but, as you get further up the canyon, it becomes deep and narrow and different from the others.

Many of the other canyons here, such as Canyon Sin Nombre and Olla Wash, are cut through a mudstone material.  Mudstone is softer and less stable than sandstone and creates a very different looking terrain and landscape.  As it erodes, it creates more intricate shapes and patterns and has a rough surface.  Terrains and canyons cut through sandstone are smoother and more stable and are typical in areas such as Southern Utah.

Interesting features to look for along the road are patches of oddly eroded sandstone.  This feature occurs where drainages come to meet Fish Creek and then drops abruptly over an edge.  If you missed it in Sandstone Canyon, it also occurs on the road along Fish Creek Wash near the mouth of Sandstone Canyon.

NEWS FLASH!  Since 2017, a major rock slide has blocked access into Sandstone Canyon.  The slide is about halfway up the canyon, so the last mile is only accessible to well-abled 4WD vehicles with skilled drivers.  One can walk over rock slide and hike the remaining length of the canyon.

You will need a high clearance, 4WD vehicle for this trip.  Because this canyon is a side trip, see the appropriate directions below:  

From Split Mountain:  After turning off the pavement of Split Mountain Road, reset your odometer and continue on the road in Fish Creek Wash (through Split Mountain) for 12.7 miles.  Look for the large canyon opening on the left and a small brown sign labeling Sandstone Canyon.  Continue reading at the * below.

From Fish Creek Area: After negotiating the Diablo Drop-off, it is another 0.6 mile (1 km) to Fish Creek Wash.  Turn left at this junction and go 2.8 miles to the junction with Sandstone Canyon.  Look for the large canyon opening on the left and a small brown sign labeling Sandstone Canyon.  Continue reading at the * below.

*From the junction of Sandstone Canyon and Fish Creek Wash, the driving distance up Sandstone Canyon is about 2.3 miles.

NEWS FLASH!  Since 2017, a major rock slide has blocked access into Sandstone Canyon.  The slide is about halfway up the canyon, so the last mile is only accessible to well-abled 4WD vehicles with skilled drivers.  One can walk over rock slide and hike the remaining length of the canyon.

At the end of the road, there is barely enough room to turn around so please find a place to park your vehicle so that it doesn’t block anybody else that may drive up the canyon after you.  Then, hike up the canyon past the few posts and signs marking the end of the road.

There are two canyons to explore.  The main canyon is easy to follow and bears left.  After hiking through these narrows for about a third of a mile, the canyon suddenly fizzles out and you are in a wide open wash.

The smaller canyon is accessed by bearing right at the junction.  This is a similar canyon that is slightly narrower and also ends after a short distance.