Backpacking Rainbow Bridge, South Trail from Rainbow Lodge - Trail Guide - Lake Powell, Utah
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2018
- Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell, Utah
Hope you find this video guide for Rainbow Bridge, UT, by land helpful. Rainbow Bridge is an incredible and fun hike, although I would classify it as very challenging.
Website: navajonationparks.org/permits/
Phone number for permits: (928)698-2808
Turn East onto AZ 98 here; 36°53'42.82"N, 111°29'23.55"W
Turn North onto Route 16 here; 36°34'50.34"N, 110°47'42.99"W
Turn Left onto dirt road here; 36°56'50.61"N, 110°47'47.99"W
Take immediate right.
Our route to Rainbow Lodge:
Turn right: 36°58'38.22"N, 110°52'54.31"W
Turn left: 36°58'50.55"N, 110°52'52.86"W
Trailhead/Rainbow Lodge Parking: 36°59'39.40"N, 110°53'37.61"W
Yabbut Pass (approximate): 37° 1'36.98"N, 110°55'29.20"W
First Water & Campgrounds: 37° 2'33.82"N, 110°57'17.80"W
Redbud Pass: 37° 2'51.29"N, 110°57'44.93"W
Echo Camp: 37° 4'29.17"N, 110°57'20.94"W
Rainbow Bridge: 37° 4'38.57"N, 110°57'50.73"W
Our trip stats:
Total Distance: 28.14 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,210 ft
Elevation Loss: 5,275 ft
Any questions, feel free to ask. Enjoy!
Music - Crashing Waves - Daxten
Ganja - Ooyy
Did this backpacking in 1966 as a 13 year old scout. Hiked all the way to Rainbow Bridge in one day. Still have vivid memories of Rose Bud pass all these years later!
I need to go back. My wife Tina refuses and still says Yabbut Pass was one of her hardest hikes out there. I may go out solo one of these days. Maybe take the north route in. Not sure, but I'll definitely be back.
Around 1980, we (two) hiked the two-day "Rainbow Bridge Trail," scantily marked with horseshoes set in cement, which starts on the Southwest side of Navajo Mountain and crosses three canyon heads, with scrambles up boulder-filled crevices impossible for horses or donkeys. One "Echo Canyon" has 3 seconds of reverberation! Easy to get temporarily lost, only up untill you reach the "trail's end" standing atop a cliff that would become a waterfall when raining. I remember ancient stairs cut ibto the Bridge's south end, and nearby to the Southeast, a small overhang with a water source produced a tiny microclimate with its own isolated ecosystem.
At that time, rangers said the boat dock just below the bridge marked the fill-limit for Lake Powell levels, set to protect Rainbow Bridge.
Never saw those two metal plaques.
Out of drinking water, we hitchiked back on a tour boat.
The toughest, most remote hike I ever took.
Sounds like quite an adventure. This place was beautiful, remote and, like you said, extremely difficult. I want to go back. Tina refuses.
Loved your video! Great description, thorough and hilarious! I hope you got your Milky Way shot from someone. (Awesome wife there)!
Thanks. I've been wanting to go back ever since. Tina, not so much.
@@JerryArizona 🤣🤣
WOW -- just beautiful!! Great job on the video!! I went to Rainbow Bridge twice, when I lived in Salt Lake City for 17 years, but went by boat from Wahweap Marina. Still, it was incredible when we rounded the bend & RB came into view! But what a beautiful hike, you two did great!!
It's been a few years, but I really want to go back. This was a special place and an amazing hike. And you're right. When that bridge comes into view.....nothing like it.
Epic video! Thanks for sharing - so helpful. Hope to get out there, but much more than I originally anticipated.
It was one of the toughest hikes we've ever done. Part was because it was first hike of the year after sitting around for the holidays....but it's also just brutal to begin with. Had a lot of extra weight for warm weather gear and extra water to stash at Yabbut Pass. I'd probably go spring or fall next time. Definitely worth it though.
This was extremely informative!!
Good job you both...
...enough for me to be absolutely sure I wont be hiking this one myself...no sir.
But it was amazing enjoying you conquering it!
Congrats!
I want to go back and do it again now that I can film and edit better....Can't convince Tina to go back though. She still remembers how much we hated that climb to Yabbut Pass. I tend to forget these things shortly after getting home....
@@JerryArizona 😄
about 15 years ago, several friends and I hiked to Rainbow Bridge. We first dropped one vehicle that we could all squeeze into at the trail head on the north side of Navajo Mountain. Then went around to the old Rainbow Lodge. We spent the night there and got up early, had breakfast and hit the trail. It seemed like a never ending series of canyons to hike into and up out the other side. Red Bud Pass was very hard. After finally getting to Rainbow Bridge, we spent the afternoon and night there. Next morning we backtracked to where the north trail splits off. We followed that back to where we had left a vehicle. We all squeezed in and bumped back around to the old lodge. People then got in to their vehicles and we all drove back to southern California. The whole trip took several days. Mostly long, hard days, hiking with full backpacks. The trip and the whole area was incredibly beautiful and I was glad to have gotten to see everything. That said, it was grueling and I never had the desire to do it again.
Ha! That sounds awesome. I've been asking Tina to go back for years and she flat out refuses. But I'll get back there some day. I guess I didn't learn my lesson. We still bring up Yabbut Pass when talking about our hardest hike.
@@JerryArizona At my age now, I'm sure I'll never hike it again. But if I did, I'd go in and out on the north trail. The north trail wasn't as grueling as the south trail.
Nice!!!
Just recently found your channel so am going back through the older vids. This hike has been on our list for a long time. There was lots of good beta--which I know some has likely changed 2 years on, but a good start. Did not know the hike was quite so rugged. Looks do-able if you take your time, though. Water is the big issue--don't relish the thought of hauling water. Side note: went to Rainbow bridge twice when I was a kid. At that time Lake Powell was high enough we floated the boat right under the bridge. It was a few years ago.... Thanks so much for all your hard work.
I want to go back here so badly. Tina refuses. She suffered so much on this hike. The last 3/4 mile to Yabbot Pass remains the longest 3/4 mile I've ever walked to this day. We were supposed to camp there on the third night, but Tina was so fed up with it that she rage hiked all the way through back to the car. I think I'll have to do this one solo if I ever get back.....
I wonder what year they allowed water levels high enough to boat under the National Monument?
@@markplimsoll 1980-ish. I was about 14.
Wonderful images and useful info. You may want to edit- Interstate 98 runs from Bellingham Washington to Grand Portage Minnesota. It’s the most northern west - east interstate. Northern travelers know this road as U.S. 2. Navajo nation is the “ Four Corners” area. I drive tractor trailer through Shiprock New Mexico a lot. Beautiful country with native Americans who have been abused and lied to by the Feds for generations. It’s a sad and depressing place. Beautiful nature juxtaposed with the dark evil hearts of Americans.
I've been meaning to get back there for a while to revist this incredible place and update the video. Such an incredible hike. And I completely agree on the sentiment on the people who live there and how they've been treated. I'm just happy they allow us to visit their lands.
@@JerryArizona hope you get back to the bridge. Climate change has changed the area. Someone posted they floated under the bridge. Hope you are well and happy. Thanks for the videos. They are way cool.
@@JerryArizona in 1835 the American government promised the Cherokee Nation a seat in congress- still hasn’t happened.
Great video
I really need to go back and do this one again. Unfortunately, my wife refuses. Just saying "Yabbut Pass" makes her take a swing at me....
@@JerryArizona 😂 My son did this hike with his scout troop a few years ago. They went the same trail you did but had boats waiting past Rainbow Bridge to take them across the lake instead of the hike back. Growing up we went to Lake Powell every year for a week, back in the 80s, and we could almost drive the boat up to Rainbow Bridge. Thanks again for a great video 👍🏻
Baba booey
You answered my question lol
Just found this! Great video 👍🏼 Obviously a challenging hike for sure. Do you feel this hike is possible in July? I note your discussion regarding the availability of water, etc.
It would be brutally (possibly deadly) hot in July. And there is a lot of sun exposure on this one. We were actually just up in that area and I'd say in a couple weeks, it'll be too hot to do something like this. I'd aim for October~April. Not sure on water, but I think first water has water year round. Definitely do more research into that if you plan on doing this hike. It's been several years since I researched it.
@@JerryArizona Many thanks, Jerry. Your excellent video made it clear the hike would be challenging. The heat and water related issues would compound things further, especially in the summer months. I'll do some research as suggested and see what I can find out. Perhaps I can get away with an attempt in early May next year. This would work well with Buckskin, the Narrows and Angel's Landing. All subject to permits of course! Thanks again for the intel. I hope all is well 👍🏼
Great video. Have you done the northern route? I'm planning on doing it in April, hopefully.
I have not. I've heard it's just as brutal as the route we took, though. Lots of up and down, up and down. Still worth it though. Just expect to go slower than you think you should.
Thanks for the info about this section and especially the permit routine. Wondering if there are other ways to access some of those canyons besides the Rainbow Trailhead? Thanks!
I know there is a north route for this hike, but I haven't researched it at all. You can also take a boat from Lake Powell and get dropped off about a mile downstream of the bridge. That's how most people do it. Not sure if any of this is open right now due to COVID though.
@@JerryArizona Thanks. The North Trail looks nice and may be the best way to access the canyons along the way.
I saw it in the 70s by boat.
Much easier way to see it, for sure.
I'm doing a school project for rainbow Bridge
It's a really interesting formation. You can take a boat ride there. Or at least you used to be able to. The lake is really low right now.
Over 50 years ago tried to get there in a canoe going up Lake Powell. Never made it. Ended up spending a night in the Page jail. It's a long stupid teenager story.
haha! Sounds like an adventure. We hiked this out in the dark, went to Page starving. Ordered about everything off their menu and proceeded to get pulled over. We never stopped eating during the entire exchange with the cop. It was like "if you're gonna take us in that's fine as long as we can take our food with us"
I am thinking of doing this this weekend as Navajo Nation is open and permits are available. My car isn't high clearance 4wd, are there parking areas a couple miles out where the road turns rough? Was just planning on walking the extra couple miles each way
I'd recommend calling the Cameron chapter of the Navajo Nation and ask. I believe it was about 1 mile or so where it got rough. Not horrible, but rough. The issue is more about private property. There are definitely homes out there and lots of no trespassing signs, so you want to confirm where you can park if you can't make it to the lodge. Enjoy the hike. I loved this one and want to get back there. It's really tough, but beautiful, challenging and absolutely no crowds.
@@JerryArizona I did this yesterday. I just parked on the main dirt road (before you turn right) which added about 1.5 miles each way to the hike. It was a hard day hike for sure! Luckily my car was still there when I got back! Your video was helpful just to see what to expect
@@HikingEngineer Wow! You day hiked the whole thing? You're an animal. It is beautiful though. I want to go back. Tina, not so much. But I would definitely do 1 or 2 nights.
@@JerryArizona yeah I do a lot of hard long day hikes haha. Even though less mileage I would say it was arguably harder than doing R2R2R or Cactus to Clouds or the Timberline Trail (or other similarly well known hard day hikes in the US). I don't think the heat helped, and there wasn't a ton of water in the canyons. I did a pretty cool hike Friday which I can't find any evidence of anyone ever doing when Googling or looking on youtube. When I finally start my youtube channel (hopefully soon) you'll see it or if I ever meet you I'll tell you about it -- it's a very popular spot that you are familiar with
As this dialog helped us s lot for planning our trip back in April 22 I want to share our experience & confirm the parking spot at the junction roughly 1.5 miles before the trailhead. After that it gets rough. We reached it without any problems following the route instructions in our camper van. No high clearance. But you don‘t want to get caught out in there in the mood in rainy conditions. We put our permit at the dashboard. When we came back, there where new footprints approaching our car. So i think a local (?) checked our car & permit (?), but granted it
Great tour btw. Didn‘t meet a human soul out there
Since the hike can take 3+ days, can you leave your car at the trailhead that long? What if it takes 4 to 5 days to complete? Is there a time limit before it gets towed?
When you get the permit from Navajo Nation (I think the Cameron Chapter, but they may be available online), you mark and pay for however many days you want. Then just put that permit on your dashboard. We didn't have any issues. We were out there 3 days, 2 nights, but had permits for one more day just in case. Great but difficult hike.
@@JerryArizona... I actually did think about placing the permit on my dashboard against the windshield, so the police and/or Indians can see it.... Now I'm worried about the violent Dems & Libs breaking into my car.
1983. 25 minute hike from the boat.
Yeah, but where's the fun in that? (Actually, it was so rough hiking in, I got reception at one point and thought about trying to get a boat going out.)
Looks harder than I thought 🤔
Alejandro’s Adventures we kept coming back to the word ‘relentless ‘. It was absolutely brutal. Beautiful, but not easy by any stretch of the imagination.
Jerry Ackerman I’m going to prepare and do more research on this hike before I make it out there thank you so much for all the information you shared I added your video to my bucket list playlist and I took a bunch of screenshots I hope you don’t mind
@@AlejandrosAdventures no problem, man. It's a rough one, but really cool.
Do I need a permit to hike to the bridge?