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Dark Canyon Wilderness, a vast and impressive canyon system, is located in Southeastern Utah on the western slope of the Abajo Mountains and Elk Ridge. It is isolated, rugged and for canyon country, unique in its diversity of beauty and life zones. Many scenic and cultural sites are protected through designation as Dark Canyon Primitive Area (managed by the Bureau of Land Management) and the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area (managed by the U.S. Forest Service).
This trip is jointly conducted by CFI and Buckhorn Llamas, licensed outfitter based in Durango, CO and Bluff, UT.
Our trip begins with an evening trip orientation at 7 p.m. at Recapture Lodge in Bluff with lodging and breakfast the next day included. We are transported to the trailhead on Elk Ridge early the next morning (about two hours drive). Our 5 day hike follows with our route covering approximately 40 miles. We begin at the head of Woodenshoe Canyon at nearly 8,000 feet in elevation, hike down to the main stem of Dark Canyon and up and out again at The Notch on Elk Ridge. Our lowest elevation is about 5500 feet at the confluence of Woodenshoe and Dark.
We end our trip mid-afternoon on the last day and return to Bluff by 5 p.m. Lodging the last night is on your own.
Llamas are surprisingly calm, demure hiking companions and easy to handle. On our hikes each day, we each carry lunch, extra clothing, rain gear, camera and so forth and let the llamas carry the rest, though our total gear will be limited to stay within weight limits for our four-footed friends doing the work!
Some days we will hike separate from the pack string and some days, travel together; those who want to learn llama packing and handling can do so but it is not required.
Read the Fine Print:
Important Program Policies
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Hiking in Dark Canyon is fast and easy, either on an established trail in the forest and meadow sections or cairned routes along the stream bottoms. Descents and ascents are gradual except for one short steep stretch out the last day. We average about 8 miles/day with rest and naturalist stops along the way.
Special features of this trip include a chance to see a great diversity of flowers, shrubs and trees typical of the Colorado Plateau, from spruce-aspen forest to desert woodlands. The Cedar Mesa Sandstone Formation, with its rainbow stripes and intriguing spires and arches, makes stunning backdrop for graceful Ponderosa Pines and the Abajo Mountain peaks. We'll see several prehistoric Indian sites and well-kept cowboy cabins, corrals that date from the turn of the century. The remoteness of Dark Canyon makes it a great place for wildlife - we'll see raptors and may catch glimpses of coyote, deer, black bear or bobcat or just see signs.
There is water most of the way from springs and potholes though we are prepared for one dry camp if need be. That is the advantage of llamas as packstock -- of the camel family, they can go far on little water.
Lodging the last night is on your own. Minimum 6 participants, Maximum 12. Please inquire about running the trip with fewer participants.
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Dark Canyon Wilderness, Hiking with Llamas
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