West Fork of Butler Canyon & Death Canyon | Saturday & Sunday, December 13-14, 2025
This weekend I returned to North Wash so I could continue hiking all of the side canyons in the area, which is a project that I began back in 2022 when I realized that I don’t often get down this way. I wasn’t able to make it out to North Wash last year like I had hoped to, so I wanted to make sure that I got out there at least once before this year was over. This time I didn’t leave home until bright and early on Saturday morning, made my way through Green River and Hanksville, and then continued on past the Henry Mountains to Three Forks so I could start the day with a hike up the West Fork of Butler Canyon. I had hiked to an overlook of the West Fork back when I was exploring the Sandthrax Slickrock area and I was looking forward to getting a closer look down in the canyon this morning.
I was driving just east of the Henry Mountains at sunrise, so of course I stopped for a few photos.
Mount Ellen & Mount Ellen Peak
South Summit & Bartons Peak
Mount Pennell
After reaching the Three Forks Trailhead in North Wash I started hiking up Butler Canyon. Although the temperature had fluctuated between the low 20’s and teens during the drive, it was a comfortable 30 degrees out when I left the trailhead.
The canyon opened up a bit after I started hiking up the West Fork. There was a quite a bit of water and quicksand throughout the canyon, which normally doesn’t bother me too much, but I was being extra cautious this time with the recent incident in Courthouse Wash on my mind.
West Fork of Butler Canyon
I went up the very lower end of No Kidding Canyon a short distance for this view.
When I reached another major junction in the West Fork I went up the Right Fork until I reached a big pourover at the end of Foolin’ Around Canyon.
Then I returned to the junction and went up the Left Fork to Monkey Business Canyon and Shenanigans Canyon.
The Left Fork
After exploring the forks as far as I could go I headed back down the West Fork of Butler Canyon. By the time I reached Three Forks I had hiked about 12 miles.
After scrambling around the exit of Merry Piglet Canyon and then checking out an inaccessible alcove with what looked to be Fremont pictographs painted in the back, I decided to revisit Leprechaun Canyon since I hadn’t been there since 2018 with Diane.
Leprechaun Canyon
Leprechaun Canyon Narrows
Glowing Wall
Little Slot Curves
Although my legs were pretty tired by this point, I still went on one final hike up Death Canyon.
The wash was a bit sandier than I would have liked, but the surrounding sandstone was nice.
Death Canyon Dome
The light and shadows caught my attention here.
I really liked this colorful stripe in the canyon wall.
I turned around at this impassible pourover.
Death Canyon Alcove
Striped Hills
Turkey Knob Hills
After returning to my vehicle I continued on to Hanksville and had dinner at Stan’s. Then I headed up into the foothills of the Henry Mountains and found a campsite on the Blue Valley Benches after dark. I stayed up late and saw quite a few bright meteors this evening from the Geminid Meteor Shower, including one very bright green Fireball Meteor. I had hoped to spend Sunday morning visiting a few rock art sites, but I started to not feel well overnight and headed home very early on Sunday instead.