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Slickhorn Gulch - Backpacking, rafting, and biking trips to Colorado Plateau destinations

Slickhorn Gulch Backpack

Leader: Don Keller and Ann Weiler Walka
Dates*: October 13–18 (6 days / 5 nights)
Cost: $885 Members/$945 Nonmembers
Difficulty: Moderate

Cost includes transportation, meals, permits, and group gear.

Slickhorn Gulch has been called the most elegant of the canyons running across Cedar Mesa to the San Juan River of southeastern Utah. Twisting through the same pillowed and cross-bedded Paleozoic sandstones, Slickhorn offers a fresh and interesting counterpoint to the better-known Grand Gulch. With its own intriguing character, Slickhorn Gulch was long home to Ancestral Pueblo groups and their traces still overlook the meandering, pool-studded canyon bottom oasis. Sites include arrays of 2000-year-old Basketmaker petroglyphs, obscure storage locations, and hauntingly intact cliff dwellings with later Pueblo living and ceremonial sites. Sweeping canyon walls tower above terraced bottoms where the old ones grew their crops, drank from the cool springs, and carefully followed the changing sky and turning seasons.

This 20-mile loop hike into remote country will offer many opportunities for off-trail exploration and interpretation with naturalist Ann Walka and archaeologist Don Keller. We’ll camp out under the full moon. Although the wilderness setting, varying trail conditions, and elevation changes warrant a solid moderate rating, this unforgettable hike can be enjoyed by both experienced and strong beginning backpackers.

Pre-Trip Information Packet (PDF Downloads)

» Medical/Waiver [32 KB]

Don Keller and An Weiler Walka Don Keller strives to help participants understand the landscapes, the resources they contain, and how these resources have been used over time to create human settlement... Read more…

A writer, naturalist, and stubborn generalist, Ann Weiler Walka is intrigued by a landscape’s weave of geologic processes, natural histories, ecological relationships — the patterns and surprises that make up the world. Read more…

“Don and Ann are why your trips are so outstanding and worthwhile…the curry [dinner] was outstanding…[Ventures trips] are like getting a college class to boot.” —M.S.

“Trip was well-planned and visits to sites were very interesting. Don adds much to the enjoyment of the trip…I thoroughly enjoyed it.” —J.S.