Leprechaun Canyon Adventure

Let’s go for a hike to a little known canyon in the Irish Canyon area along UT-95 in Utah. No, I’m not kidding. Leprechaun Canyon is part of the Irish Canyon area 28 miles south of Hanksville. You must carefully count the miles because there are no signs and the unpaved parking area is easy to miss. Ooops, have to back up, I just missed it. Luckily there are no cars on UT-95 as far as the eye can see in either direction. Ahh, wilderness.

Although this area is known for full-geared climbing and rappelling, only walking and a tiny bit of scrambling is needed to explore Leprechaun Canyon. Just my kind of “challenge”, so let’s go!

Luckily the trail is obvious and even if there is a fork, both trails end in the same place, so no worries about getting lost. However, every set of directions I found had quite different routes to enter the canyon. Rock falls are continually possible, so what could have been the entrance last year through a particular slot canyon could now be blocked. This will be interesting.

I’ve been following a young climbing guide with five students. That fella knows where he is going, but they left me here to head up the steep hill for their own adventure. There is a slot entrance to my left. Let’s see if this is the canyon entrance.

The couple resting nearby said there’s a larger rock fall beyond this impossible climb for me. They also shared that Leprechaun Canyon’s entrance is further up the trail. Back I go . . .

As I started up the trail, another couple approached and we chatted a bit. They had been in the area before but did not know exactly how to find the canyon entrance either. We decided to explore together, and since the trail only continued to the left, chances are we’re on the right track. 😉

Heading into the slot with my new friends, we soon find this route blocked. Back outside there is only one option. Climb up a steep but manageable rock hill. For me it would be tough. It is one of those knee-half-way-to-your-nose climbs. Thank goodness for new friends. They pulled me up and helped on the way down the other side. Suddenly success!

We had two choices at the end of this slot, deciding to try the right-hand path.

Guess we’ll go back and head left . . .

Ever hopeful . . .

This is gorgeous. Let’s keep going.

As I’m snapping pics of this fella–see him?–to give perspective of the vast canyon, he stopped. He put his hands on his hips, then grabbed is camera and starting taking pics of us. We all started laughing. You meet such great folks out in the wilderness.

Heading back I can’t get over the beauty of the sun-lit walls.

Well, we have to go over that hill my friends helped me up, but getting up this side was easier, making it on my own. Getting down the steeper side was super easy. It is called sitting down and sliding down on our butt! OK, I admit, not the first time I’ve done this. A high-end climbing/scrambling strategy. 🤣

Heading back and enjoying the beauty of the hills along the way. Back at the parking area we have walked a little over two miles on this adventure. The really fun fact is my new friends are from Helena, Montana, not too far from where I hope to move this fall. After a visit to Capitol Reef National Park they will be heading home. It is a small world. Speaking of that, the fella with his hands on hips snapping pics of us in the canyon? He and I crossed paths at two different Visitor Centers and four phenomenal locations over the next couple days. We laughed about who’s-following-who around southeast Utah.

Later that day when I took my trail runner hiking shoes off I had about a 1/2 cup of sand in each shoe and at least that much inside each sock! Now that is super fine sand. Always new things to experience on adventures!

Until next time, remember there are wonderful people to meet everywhere you go. May the natural beauty of places near you bring smiles to your face and peace to your heart. That’s half the fun of travel my friend.