Leprechaun Canyon Hike
A non-technical bottom-up walk into the lower narrows of Leprechaun Canyon, North Wash — the roped descent's walking counterpart.
The non-technical way into Leprechaun Canyon — a bottom-up walk up the lower narrows of one of North Wash's prettiest slots, no ropes or rappels required. You follow trails-of-use and slickrock past the 'Chess-man' pinnacle into a tightening Subway section and a pronounced slot, poking into the East Fork's inscription chamber and, if you're comfortable in tight space, sideways-shuffling up the Belfast Boulevard side slot. It's the walking counterpart to the technical descent: the same spectacular rock, reached from below instead of rappelled from above.
Quick stats
- Distance
- 1.8 mi round trip
- Time
- 1–3 hrs
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Getting there & parking
From Hanksville, drive south on Highway 95 into North Wash. The pullout is roughly 2.0 miles east of the Highway 95 / Utah-276 junction; a short dirt road on the east side of the canyon mouth reaches the parking. A standard vehicle is fine to the solid-ground parking near the highway. There is no cell service and no water — bring plenty.
BLM public land; no fee for general non-commercial recreation.
Know before you go
BLM public land in North Wash; travel and camp responsibly.
No hiking permit required.
The route
Short out-and-back; most parties spend 1–3 hours depending on how far up the forks and Belfast Boulevard they explore.
- 0 mi · Highway 95 pullout / canyon mouth — Park near the highway; follow trails-of-use or slickrock toward the mouth.
- 0.25 mi · 'Chess-man' pinnacle — Distinctive pinnacle where the canyon begins to widen, then tighten.
- — · Subway section & slot — The passage tightens into the Subway and a pronounced slot.
- — · East Fork inscription chamber — Historic names scratched into the walls.
- — · Belfast Boulevard — Optional very tight side slot — sideways shuffling, headlamp required.
When to go
Best in spring, fall, or winter; summers can be hot. Monsoon season (roughly July–September) is the highest flash-flood risk — a narrow slot on a live drainage. Do not enter with rain in the forecast.
Highway 95 stays open year-round; the slot can be cold and hold ice/pooled water in winter.
Safety & hazards
A narrow North Wash slot on a live drainage — flash-flood-prone. Monsoon season (roughly July–September) is the highest risk. Do not enter with rain in the forecast.
Belfast Boulevard requires sideways shuffling through a very tight slot; a headlamp is essentially required for its upper sections. Test your comfort with constricted space before committing.
Remote, with no water, no services, and no cell coverage. Bring plenty of water and self-rescue capability.
History
Part of North Wash's 'Irish Canyons' — Leprechaun, Blarney, Shillelagh, and neighbors.
The East Fork inscription chamber holds names scratched into the sandstone over decades.