For many years now I had been hoping to hike into Upper Fall Canyon. During the times I have hiked Lower Fall Canyon, the groups I was with weren't really interested in hiking beyond the narrows above the 1st dry fall. And that's understandable, because the hike through Lower Fall Canyon into the narrows is pretty much a family friendly hike, with the exception of the bypass of the 1st dry fall. In thinking about finally reaching the upper canyon, I decided that I didn't want to hike 4 miles through Fall Canyon once again just to reach the starting point for my hike, which would be at the end of the narrows. So I decided to look into alternatives for reaching the upper canyon. Finally, a route caught my attention as I researched on Google Earth which would start on Titus Canyon Road, head by foot into Upper Titus Canyon, cross over at the Fall-Titus Divide (where we would have a good view of Mount Palmer), drop into a side canyon, and finally end up in Upper Fall Canyon. Once we were in Fall Canyon, we would only have to hike 3/4 of a mile to reach the 2nd and 3rd dry falls, which would be the targeted destination for the hike. We ended up stopping just beyond the 3rd dry fall, when we had rounded a bend and could see an incredible view of Wahguyhe Peak off in the distance. As mentioned, our goal for the hike was to check out the 2nd and 3rd dry falls. Prior to the hike, I had heard that the 2nd dry fall needed to be bypassed on the right side by going up high on a bypass trail. However, we decided to just go ahead and climb the 2nd dry fall on the left side, which we didn't find to be too difficult. But the 3rd dry fall was a different story. I had read online that the 3rd dry fall was actually a formidable barrier which had stopped some hiking and backpacking groups from progressing further up Fall Canyon. Upon inspecting it for myself, I can now understand why. The 3rd dry fall is actually a boulder blockade section that has three options-- the left, the middle, and the right. The left option is for expert climbers only, as there is pretty much no way that a regular hiker could boost himself up or get around the boulders that are stacked there. The middle option is for climbers with basic abilities. There is a small passage you go through before finding yourself stuck below a chockstone in a tight section. Wedging yourself between rocks and working your way up from that point is a bit awkward and tricky, and there is some exposure. But it can be done. Finally, the right option is the one that most hikers will probably carefully consider or attempt. It is kind of like a steep bypass with loose crumbly rock and steep sections. It is very intimidating and not at all easy. After personally checking it out, I can see why some groups have turned around rather than attempt it. It is because of this three-option 3rd dry fall that I am listing this hike under the category of Extreme Danger. Because if somebody were to slip while attempting any one of the three options, they could get seriously injured. On our hike, myself and my friend Tobin both went up the middle option while hiking up canyon. Coming back down, Tobin came down the middle option and I came down the right option. But all things considered, we enjoyed this hike immensely. There were outstanding views of both Mount Palmer and Wahguyhe Peak. And the side canyon connecting the Fall-Titus Divide with Fall Canyon was very pretty, with some narrow sections, lots of small dry falls, and two major dry falls which required bypasses. It was definitely a very creative way to reach Upper Fall Canyon. (Note: Click on the Google Earth route map below to enlarge it for more detail).
Parking along the Titus Canyon Road (3,750 feet in elevation) at the spot where the road connects with Lower Titus Canyon:
Heading up a small wash from the parking area:
This volcano shaped peak stood in front of us right from the start:
We stayed to the left as the wash soon split into several different directions:
Fairly easy walking for the first two miles:
Hiking through a polished rock floor in the wash:
Very colorful peaks off to the right:
As we headed towards the divide, we ascended the ridge above the wash:
Looking back down at the side canyon we had been following up:
The next two pictures show more of the fantastic colors which can be found in this area:
Arriving at the saddle and looking back towards Red Pass far in the distance:
Looking over the other side towards the high walls of Fall Canyon:
Steve standing on the Fall-Titus Divide (4,750 feet in elevation and 2 miles from the start) overlooking Fall Canyon. There is also a nice view of Mount Palmer from this spot, we just forgot to take a picture of it. I guess you'll have to come here yourself to see it:
We immediately dropped into a small wash which began descending to the left:
There were a few small obstacles in the upper part of the wash, such as this rock shelf we had to go around:
The first of a series of easy to medium difficulty dry falls we would come across:
The red rocks of the side canyon perfectly frame the wall of Fall Canyon in the distance:
We would be hitting some narrows with light pink rock. Notice the small dry fall topped by a chockstone:
Dropping in elevation quickly as the side canyon continues in the next two pictures:
A very pretty polished dry fall in the midst of the side canyon narrows:
The falls were no harder than medium difficulty and fun to down climb:
Beautiful rock sitting in the wash with an interesting shape and design to it:
Looking back up as we continued through this narrow section:
Lots of rocks through here had pretty patterns like this one:
The Fall Canyon wall continues to get larger which means we must be getting closer. This side canyon actually went on for 1 1/2 miles:
More narrows featuring colors of pink, red, and orange in the next two pictures:
This is the first of two major dry falls in the side canyon connecting the Fall-Titus Divide and Fall Canyon:
Backtracking briefly and heading up a bypass route that we tried out:
Looking over the other side. It looks like we can make it back down to the wash from here:
Steve pausing along the bypass route to review the next portion:
After we dropped into the wash, we retraced our steps back up to the major dry fall:
More dry falls and narrows in the next four pictures. This was a fun but challenging area for sure:
And then we arrived on the edge of a second major dry fall in the side canyon. This one would need to be bypassed as well:
Hiking up the bypass, where we got our first view of Lower Fall Canyon:
This was taken looking back into the final portion of the side canyon that we came down. Notice how steep and intimidating it looks:
A little clearer view into Lower Fall Canyon:
A panoramic from our bypass ridge showing the junction we arrived at in Fall Canyon (click to enlarge):
On the way back, we made our bypass route a little bit easier by climbing up the polished stone slabs you see:
On the floor of Fall Canyon finally. A great start to the upper canyon:
A small colorful corridor to walk through:
Upper Fall Canyon has some serious height to it, with walls towering 1,000+ feet above you:
The next five pictures show some of the scenery between our junction and the 2nd dry fall of Fall Canyon, which was our targeted destination:
This view actually shows the bypass route to get around the 2nd dry fall of Fall Canyon:
The canyon starts narrowing down significantly:
And we finally arrived at the 2nd dry fall of Fall Canyon. This spot was a little bit under 5 miles from where our hike first started:
The top of the 2nd dry fall with more of the upper canyon in the distance:
Steve spots a potential climbing route to the left of the 2nd dry fall and tries to pull himself up:
Using a lot of arm strength, he makes it up the first portion and looks back:
A short time later, Steve is standing at the top of the 2nd dry fall of Fall Canyon. It was one of those rare times when I was able to make it up a major dry fall without having to use a bypass:
Looking back down from the top of the 2nd dry fall. Keep in mind that this is the 2nd dry fall, because the 1st dry fall is further down the canyon (and we didn't pass it today):
An alternate angle of the 2nd dry fall and its polished rim:
Up ahead was the much harder 3rd dry fall of Fall Canyon. Back to back falls makes this place really cool:
Taking a closer look at the left, middle, and right routes up the 3rd dry fall, which is more like a boulder blockade:
This is the left option, which is for advanced climbers only:
This is the middle option, which is for those with basic to medium climbing skills:
And this is the right option, which is for hikers not afraid of somewhat exposed bypasses with loose rock:
Taking a closer look at the left option. No way to get up this, that's for sure:
So I moved over to the middle option and could see that Tobin had already made it up:
I decided to give it a try, but found it to be more difficult than he did. But I eventually made it up:
Looking back down from the middle option of the 3rd dry fall:
This would be the way that a hiker would come down after making it up the much higher right option:
Looking down from above the left option at the wash below:
This is another angle, which shows the tops of both the 3rd and 2nd dry falls in a single picture:
Now that we have gotten the hard (and fun) stuff out of the way, it's time to head further up Fall Canyon:
The canyon remained narrow above the two dry falls:
The rock walls continued to be interesting here in the far reaches of the upper canyon:
These majestic cliffs of Upper Fall Canyon are amazing to behold in person:
We continued hiking until we rounded a bend and got this spectacular view of Wahguyhe Peak:
Zooming in on the cone shaped summit of Wahguyhe Peak. This is where we turned around for the day:
This is a true perspective view of the right option (the hikers bypass option) for the 3rd dry fall of Fall Canyon. As you can see, I look very small at the top as I am trying to analyze the safest route back down. This was really intimidating and I can understand why some groups have turned around rather than attempt to climb up this:
On the way back up the side canyon, I snapped this picture of the colorful narrows. I couldn't take this picture earlier because the sun had been shining in here:
I found this wind blown rock in the wash which dropped back down from the Fall-Titus Divide and headed for Upper Titus Canyon: