RUSSELL GULCH to WILDCAT CANYON TRAVERSE

A Random Idea for a Remote Hike:

After doing the Russell Gulch approach to Das Boot several times and after exploring down Wildcat Canyon, I was intrigued with the possibility of connecting the two areas in a single hike, and fortunately you can! The Russell Gulch to Wildcat Canyon Traverse is a hiking route along the shelves above the Left Fork of North Creek that allows you to see all of this great remote scenery as a long lollipop route.

WARNING: This is a strenuous route in some very remote territory and is not recommended for casual hikers with no wilderness route-finding experience.

Rating: Strenuous off-trail hiking route

Access: Start and end at Wildcat Canyon Trailhead (15.5 miles up the Kolob Terrace Road from the town of Virgin)

Time Required: 6-9 hours

Length: Roughly 12.8 miles total

Elevation Change: 1000-ft descent down to Wildcat Canyon and back up with numerous smaller ups and downs

Technical Challenges: Route finding in difficult and remote terrain

Equipment Needed: Navigation aids: offline map, GPS, etc.

Seasons: Late spring through fall

Wildcat Canyon Traverse Map

Driving to the Trailhead:

The Wildcat Canyon Trailhead is an easy to spot parking area located 15.5 miles up the Kolob Terrace Road, roughly .8 miles beyond a sharp U-turn in the road that heads up a steep hill to the upper plateau. The trailhead has an official NPS marker and display case with information on hikes in the area, including the popular Subway "Top-Down" route which also starts at this trailhead.

The Approach Hike:

This route starts out following the traditional Das Boot/Subway approach route. From the Wildcat Trailhead, hike along the well-defined Wildcat Canyon Trail (an old 4x4 road) as it meanders through mostly level terrain of a beautiful pinion forest scattered with open fields. After roughly a mile, the trail intersects with the Connector Trail to Hop Valley. Turn left (east) and continue along the Wildcat Canyon Trail towards Lava Point.

After only another .2 miles, turn right (south) onto the Northgate Peaks Trail proper. After only another .2 miles, you will see a signpost that marks the Subway Top-Down Route down into Russell Gulch. Now it's time for some fun.

Hiking the Russell Gulch to Wildcat Traverse:

Start hiking the standard Subway approach, but keep an eye on the bench system under the White Cliffs in the distance to the east; that's where we want to get up to. To get up on the bench early, leave the standard Subway route only half a mile down Russell Gulch and hike east crosscountry to cross the watercourse. (If you encounter a short slot section blocking the way, hike north a bit up canyon to reach an easy crossing. Once up on the bench, follow any reasonable line that stays parallel to the base of the White Cliffs.

An alternate way up the bench can be found right after the standard Subway route crosses the Russell Gulch watercourse. Leave the trail and hike up a ramp that heads southeast up to the top of the bench. (This alternative is easier to find, but perhaps it's a bit less scenic.)

Continue hiking the bench as it rounds the corner and starts heading east using any convenient line that stays reasonably level and close to the White Cliffs. The first notable obstacle will be a minor north-south drainage. Explore a bit to the north or south to find a break in the cliff that offers a reasonable way down and out the other side.

As you keep hiking east on the open sloped slickrock, the beautiful sandstone formations on the south side of the Left Fork will come into better view, most notably Ram's Peak, the closest prominent peak along the hike. Soon enough you will get shelved out at a massive dome-shaped shoulder ridge that overlooks Wildcat Canyon. Now head northwest up the ramp staying reasonably close to the edge. If you ever get shelved, backtrack a bit more west and head higher.

You will eventually reach a narrow slickrock bench populated by small trees and bushes. Hike this north for only about 10 minutes and then you will see a welcoming ramp sprinkled with manzanita bushes that heads down southeast into the valley below. As you make your way down, the territory will feel friendlier and you will also see the large arch alcove formation that is underneath the dome-shaped shoulder ridge.

Escaping Wildcat Canyon:

Once in the bottom of the wide open valley of Wildcat Canyon, there is no one correct route as the whole area is easily hikable. You can explore near the Left Fork watercourse, but take great care as it's mostly sketchy cliffs above the slot sections. When you're ready to head out, hike north through the rolling hills of the open valley.

Roughly a mile north of the Left Fork as Wildcat Canyon narrows considerably, stay to the west (left) and follow the trail-of-use through the forested slopes above the watercourse. The easy going doesn't last forever and eventually will be hiking in and along the streambed of upper Wildcat Canyon. This is the part of the hike where you have to pay the piper; it's a lot of irritating bushwhacking to make your way through the top mile of the canyon.

Eventually you will reach a large flow of black lava rocks coming down the west side of the canyon. Hike/scramble up the lava rocks as a shortcut to escape the bushwhacking. (Note: Make sure all of your items are secure; if you drop your keys or phone in the cracks of the lava rocks, you are not going to get them back.)

The lava flow leads you up to the Wildcat Canyon Trail and the hard part of the hike is over! If you need water, Wildcat Spring is moments away. Follow the trail southwest and less than 3 miles of easy hiking later, you are back at the Wildcat Trailhead.

Joe's Spin:

While I personally enjoyed doing this route and think much of the scenery along the way is spectacular, I don't think I would recommend it to others unless you're obsessed hiking and route finding through rugged remote territory. The first half of the route is fun, but a lot of time is spent bushwhacking up the irritating overgrown upper sections of Wildcat Canyon... a high price to pay, but it might be worth it to some.