TRIP REPORT/Video: Lathrop Canyon Lollipop
LENGTH: Overnight
HIKE: 9 in, 10 out
ELEVATION: 2,700ft
PADDLE: 6 miles
CLASS: Class I
SEASON: Anytime
WATER: Filter
PERMITS: Canyonlands National Park
WASTE MANAGEMENT: wag bag
DRONE: Not Allowed
DOGS: Not Allowed
This was my first attempt at developing a new route, and it was incredibly fun from start to finish! This sweet overnight trip from the Island in the Sky side of Canyonlands heads down through the White Rim, and makes a loop using the river on Lathrop Canyon. As always, beta for this side canyon was non-existent, with a brief “it goes” in a single guidebook and couple “it should go” from the rangers. So my very generous friend Ezster and I spent a day doing a 20 mile loop down to the bottom of this side quest canyon and climbed all the way out the other side to the White Rim to scout!
Day 1: Rim to River via Little Bridge Canyon
Day 1 began at the Lathrop Trailhead, perched on the eastern edge of Island in the Sky, just past the Visitor’s Center. The first few miles wander gently across a broad, sun-washed plateau that was once used for grazing cattle by the Lathrop brothers. It’s an easy warm-up, with big-sky views as we head to the rim. What begins as subtle contouring soon becomes a dramatic pivot: starting from the east, the trail swings decisively west, hugging the rim before plunging below it. We drop below the Wingate Sandstone, its towering red walls signaling that you’re leaving the mesa top for good.
We eventually reached the Lathrop Canyon Overlook—a natural balcony offering a sweeping look into the drainage you’re about to commit to. From here, the trail becomes unmistakably “Island in the Sky”: find the rockfall, and the rockfall goes- Lathrop Canyon is no exception. A steep, rubble-filled slide funnels you downward, straight to the White Rim. You can save some time here and follow the wash to the bottom when you see the obvious entrance on the left about halfway down.
From White Rim road, we cruised a couple more miles over to the edge of our Sidequest Canyon. Thankfully we knew exactly where to go since Eszter and I had scouted only days previously, because there is quite literally only ONE spot in the White Rim on this side of the canyon that gives entry to the river below. There are a couple spots on the north side of the canyon, but honestly they all suck to go down over this southern entrance.
In true Canyonlands fashion, straight down the rock fall we went! The huge boulders were incredibly stable, and it was fairly easy to weave through the brush with minimal snags. If we were ever unsure of where to go, following the sheep prints was a pretty good option. There are two large dryfalls on this route, one is bypassed on the right, and the other falls you go straight down like a staircase. Another 1/2 mile or so, and you’re down to the canyon floor.
The mouth of Little Bridge Canyon is like another world - lush, wet, thriving. Despite the freezing temperatures, there were still a few wildflowers blooming in the last patches of sunshine.
Low water meant a muddy launch, but the sun was shining and we found an excellent shelf to inflate boats and stop for lunch. We had about 6 miles on the Colorado to Lathrop Canyon and the sun was on us the entire way. This section of river passes MANY sidequests, which makes it such a great trip:
Lockhart Canyon
Ruins (directly across from Lathrop)
Pictographs (directly across from Lathrop)
Finally got to check out a Supai Adventure Gear Packraft in the flesh!
Day 2: Lower Lathrop Canyon to Rim
Day 2 started chilly! The cold settled hard overnight—well below freezing—so there was no rush to break camp. We lingered, enjoying coffee and letting the sun slowly creep across the canyon walls while our tents and paddling gear thawed and dried. By the time we cooked breakfast, the first rays of sun had finally found camp, warming fingers, gear, and morale in equal measure. CARRY YOUR WATER UP LATHROP. There is no reliable source from the river to the rim via Lathrop Canyon Trail.
The trail up Lathrop was a gentle climb about 600 vert back to the White Rim. From there, we crossed the White Rim Road again and headed back up the steep rockfall and out of Lathrop. The perfect overnight trip. If I were to do it again, I would make it 3 days, sleep at the canyon bottom day 1, spend all day 2 meandering down the river and on sidequests, and hike out day 3! You could do that with 2 packrafting river permits.
NOTE:
It’s against packrafting permit regulations to camp directly at the end of Lathrop Canyon. There are several river campsites on river right just before the canyon with great sites and easy water access and camping just up the canyon from the “bottom”. There are some picnic tables and a lovely new pit vault toilet around the parking area at the end of the canyon.
