Dark Canyon Bench Camp

Also known as: Dark Canyon Camp

Dark Canyon Bench Camp occupies a terrace on the right bank at mile 182.8, near the confluence of Dark Canyon with the Colorado River. Dark Canyon is one of the most significant side canyons in this stretch — draining the Bears Ears landscape from the east, it carries a seasonal stream and supports a remarkable riparian corridor in its lower miles that contrasts sharply with the arid canyon walls above. The camp is positioned on a bench elevated above the river, with direct line-of-sight into the Dark Canyon drainage mouth. From here, hiking up Dark Canyon is a serious undertaking — the lower canyon is a boulder scramble with multiple water crossings and increasing technical difficulty. But even the first mile yields outstanding desert varnish panels and the sound of running water, which is a rare thing in this stretch of the Colorado. At this point in the float, the canyon has begun to open slightly as the reservoir influence grows. The camp represents the last wilderness character before the flatwater pushes toward Lake Powell.