Out And Back · Stillwater Canyon
Upheaval Canyon Hike
A long, exposed approach up Upheaval Canyon from the Green River toward the eroded crater of Upheaval Dome — a full day's objective, not a leg-stretch.
Also known as: Upheaval Bottom Hike, Upheaval Dome Approach
From the mouth of Upheaval Canyon on river left in Stillwater Canyon, this route follows the open wash inland toward Upheaval Dome — the eroded crater-and-syncline that sits high in the Island in the Sky country. It is a long, exposed approach with a sustained climb toward the dome viewpoints, not a quick leg-stretch from camp; budget the better part of a day and carry water, because the wash gives no shade and no reliable source. Upheaval Dome itself is one of the Colorado Plateau's notable geologic puzzles, its origin long argued between salt-dome collapse and an ancient meteorite impact.