WLG001
Location: 37.3247489929199, -111.02286529541
There's room for four or five cars at this trailhead. It's pretty remote and not visible from Hole-in-the-Rock Road, so there's wisdom in leaving a gallon or two of water in your car in case you need to hang a day if you get back and the jalopy won't start. From the trailhead register, the sandy path immediately begins dropping into Willow Gulch. Pass a splendid and solitary balanced rock on your left, then several more formations as the trail zigzags down.
WLG002
Location: 37.3252983093262, -111.020416259766
Turn right when the trail hits the bottom of the wash. Left leads out to Carcass Wash and the road. Shortly, you'll pass through a narrows that feels like an ancient hallway in some medieval castle. The walls open again for a moment, then you have a choice of clambering up to the right over sandstone ledges (the easy way) or descending left into a 10-foot deep slot that tightens to shoulder-width or less for about 100 feet. The slot is great fun (see photos) unless you're carrying a big pack, in which case you'll almost certainly get stuck. In a flash flood, this is a death zone.
WLG003
Location: 37.3222351074219, -111.010215759277
Stay left; in the main canyon, this spot is where the trail is flat and a large side canyon comes in from the right. Soon, you'll climb up the left bank and onto a bench above the canyon to skirt thick brush and rocks plugging the creek bottom. Watch for evidence of a path in the desert grass.
WLG004
Location: 37.3269653320312, -111.001251220703
Coming around a sharp bend in the canyon, you get your first views of Broken Bow Arch here. It's the second-largest freestanding natural arch in North America, and it dominates a wide section of Willow--almost valley-like--before the gulch closes to a width of 200 or less feet for the rest of the distance to the reservoir.
WLG005
Location: 37.3276176452637, -110.999313354492
This immense alcove is one of several excellent places to pitch a tent (there's room for a half-dozen) near Broken Bow. The overhanging wall shelters you from rain and sun, but beware of falling rock the farther back you go: a 6-foot-by-6- foot slab fell within 20 feet of one of our tents.
WLG006
Location: 37.3329010009766, -110.99169921875
The gulch narrows several times, including here, to a width of only 20 feet or so. At this spot, there are also great, shallow tubs that the water has carved in the sandstone bed of the stream.
WLG007
Location: 37.333683013916, -110.991714477539
Confluence with Fortymile Gulch. Just judging from the narrows and hanging fern gardens in the first half-mile of this canyon, it's a sweet slot canyon that's less grand, but more intimate and possibly more fun than Willow.
WLG008
Location: 37.3359489440918, -110.98657989502
This point marks the highest point that Lake Powell reached before the drought that started 6 years ago starting dropping the water line. Note the distinct chalky-white scum on the walls. This is calcium carbonate, also known as the bathtub ring, left behind by the lake. In some places, you'll see desert varnish, or the dark red streaks of iron that leach out of the rock, starting to stream over the white ring.
WLG009
Location: 37.3355331420898, -110.977867126465
This restored 12-foot-high waterfall is a magnificent example of the natural wonders that have been hidden under Lake Powell for 50 years. The easiest spot to downclimb is to the left of the main channel of water. Note the Dali-esque curves in the sandstone.
WLG010
Location: 37.3367004394531, -110.965553283691
Just before we reached the current water level of Lake Powell, we walked through a graveyard of cottonwoods. These blackened stumps are a stark illustration of the destruction caused when these canyons were flooded, of the original depth of the canyons, and of the promise for new growth. Shoots of green coming up all around the dead trees and cottonwoods elsewhere in this area are already 30 feet tall.
WLG011
Location: 37.3381652832031, -110.960296630859
The current level of the reservoir (August 2005) is marked with trash and a fuel slick from the houseboats and jet skis that are often audible just around the bend.
Willow Gulch Video
Location: 37.3346214294434, -110.995422363281
A montage of shots from the lush environs of Willow Gulch and Willow Creek. ©Christopher Peterson and Andrew Matranga
Table Rock
Location: 37.3242492675781, -111.023132324219
Table Rock ©Jon Dorn
Table Rock
Location: 37.3241653442383, -111.022155761719
Table Rock ©Jon Dorn
Willow Gulch Slots
Location: 37.3245735168457, -111.019958496094
My daughter slips easily through the narrow, convoluted passage with its sculptured sandstone walls. ©Jon Dorn
Slot Canyon Self-Portrait
Location: 37.3238410949707, -111.020362854004
My wife and I have to edge sideways to squeeze through. Shooting this self-portrait took five minutes because of the tight confines. ©Jon Dorn
Above the Gulch
Location: 37.3216400146484, -111.010177612305
Hadley, Abby, and Austin hike the bench above Willow, about to descend to the streambed under the varnish-stained waills ahead. ©Jon Dorn
Broken Bow Arch
Location: 37.326286315918, -111.00089263916
The first full view of Broken Bow comes as you crest a small, sandy hill leading into this wider section of the canyon. At sunrise and sunset, the entire valley is suffused with warm, orange light. ©Jon Dorn
Broken Bow Arch from below
Location: 37.3253898620606, -111.0009765625
This shot was taken from stream level directly below the arch. ©Jon Dorn
Broken Bow Arch Reflection
Location: 37.3262023925781, -111.002113342285
I got this fun reflection photo almost by accident. As we turned the corner , I noticed an alcove behind us. The next morning, I scrambled up just after dawn to get the sunlight streaming over the wall onto the arch. ©Jon Dorn
Moonflowers of Willow Gulch
Location: 37.3261222839356, -111.000160217285
The lush banks of this restored canyon. Here, moonflowers (aka datura), which get their name because they bloom in moonlight, pop up among willow and young cottonwood. In fact, datura shield young cottonwood saplings from the harsh desert light. ©Jon Dorn
Tubs in the sandstone stream
Location: 37.3322334289551, -110.991600036621
During our visit, the water in the canyon bottom was never more than knee-deep, and small crawdads swam in most of the pools. ©Jon Dorn
Views of the waterfalls
Location: 37.3350028991699, -110.977996826172
Lazy day relaxation along the falls in Willow Gulch ©Jon Dorn
Views of the waterfalls
Location: 37.3342704772949, -110.978157043457
Waterfall ©Jon Dorn
Views of the waterfalls
Location: 37.3341064453125, -110.979141235352
Water tumbles through this narrow slot. ©Jon Dorn
Waterfall
Location: 37.3349227905273, -110.976936340332
The source of erosion in Glen Canyon. Slot-forming in progress. ©Jon Dorn
Cottonwood Graveyard
Location: 37.3360633850098, -110.965774536133
New growth greens up a cottonwood graveyard. ©Jon Dorn
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