Gypsum Canyon Hike
A short side-canyon hike at Gypsum Rapid — gypsum-bearing Permian formations and a cool narrow corridor below Cataract's lower rapids.
Gypsum Canyon enters the Colorado River at mile 197.4, immediately downstream of Gypsum Rapid — one of the larger Class II features in lower Cataract Canyon. The hike into the lower Gypsum Canyon drainage offers a short but geologically distinctive excursion: the canyon walls here contain gypsum-bearing formations — white and cream-colored evaporite minerals deposited during Permian-era inland seas. The canyon is narrow and cool in the lower section, with the characteristic smooth walls and seasonal water pockets common to side canyon hikes in this part of the Colorado Plateau. The hike is typically 1–3 miles depending on group energy, turning around when the terrain becomes technical. It is a complementary hike for groups camping at Fiddlehead Camp downstream.