USA Slickrock Expanse

Hundreds of acres of very colorful sandstone. The access via the wash at “Dip #5” is also very photogenic. The wash is called “Pink Canyon” or “Pastel Canyon”. I usually follow the wash for about 1/4 mile and turn around. I also like to climb out of the wash (anywhere along the wash) and explore the area on both sides of the wash. The slickrock includes every color in the rainbow. You can also get to the Fire Wave area (very popular) from the wash. It will be on your left about 10-15 minute hike from where you parked. It's a LOT easier to get to Fire Wave from this direction than from the marked trailhead at parking lot 3. Obviously, it would be much easier to spot Fire Wave from ABOVE the wash but the route from parking lot 3 is much longer and includes a slog through VERY deep sand. When the shallow canyon begins to open up a bit it’s an easy to scramble up the left side where you can spot Fire Wave. If you’re unsure where it is, just look for where there are lots of people scrambling around. The spot in the photo was taken about 75 yards west of “Fire Wave”.

Early morning or late afternoon works best.

From the visitor center, take the scenic drive (Mouse Tank Rd) north. There are five dips (at washes) along that road, each marked with a narrow stake and labeled 1,2,3,4 or 5. The stakes are faded, so you have to look carefully to spot them. The park staff tolerate parking at the dips only if there's room to park on the concrete and completely off the road. If there's not room to park on concrete, don't park! Also, if there’s any sign of potentially heavy rain, don’t park there. All the dips/washes are prone to flooding in heavy rain. Park on the concrete at Dip No. 5. It's fairly easy to spot the first 4 dips but it's easy to overshoot number 5 because it's literally just a few yards past dip number 4. If you get to parking area 3, you've gone too far. From dip number 5, walk down into the wash on the right.