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Grand Canyon > Jackass Creek
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The Grand Canyon begins at Lees Ferry and deepens steadily as the Colorado river flows south, bisecting the sandy plains between the colorful
opposing escarpments of Echo and Vermilion Cliffs. The gorge (known here as Marble Canyon) is always narrow, and due to the
flatness of the land it is easily visible only around the US 89 road bridge - the last crossing of the river until US 93 and the
Hoover Dam, 290 miles drive away. The Colorado can still be reached though, by hiking along one of the many side canyons of increasing length that cross
the generally roadless land to the south; one of the northernmost is Jackass Creek, a rugged, rock-strewn gorge with
many colorful sandstone strata, smooth water-carved channels, pools and narrow passages. |
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Location: (see note about directions) The canyon has two main
forks that join 2/3 of the way between road and river, together with several more shallow tributaries, so a logical round
trip is to descend one branch and return by the other. The directions below assume the hike begins down the north fork -
this is easily located from the road, and there is a parking area just beyond the bridge where US 89 crosses the canyon.
The creek itself flows only after rainfall; the streambed is dry for most of the year.
Permit: The creek crosses land of the Navajo Reservation and extends into the
Grand Canyon National Park. A park fee is technically required,
but there will be no-one to collect it; of more importance is the Navajo hiking permit, obtainable from the ranger station
at Cameron, although the likelihood of anyone checking is low.
Photographs: 10 views of Jackass Creek.
Description: Near US 89, the canyon is V-shaped and shallow. Downstream, the land at either
side soon rises, and the streamway deepens slowly but steadily. The cliffs are composed of many flat layers; variously
white, brownish and stained black, with rocks that look especially old and weathered. Patches of mineralization run
through the strata, with veins and nodules, and in places the rocks look more metamorphic than sedimentary. The
streambed is covered in multi-colored pebbles - shades of purple, green, red and grey, with frequent larger boulders -
all very interesting. The canyon floor is usually quite flat, but with regular short vertical drops of a few feet as
the creek flows over successively deeper rock layers.
After 40 minutes walking, a small side canyon merges from one side and the main south fork joins from the other, as the
main gorge deepens more abruptly, with larger fallen boulders that sometimes block the streamway. A short distance further
there is a short narrow section preceded by a 30 foot drop with a pool below. Climbing down unaided is just possible,
but usually there will be several ropes, left by the Navajo who regularly travel this route to fish in the Colorado.
The canyon continues with a pretty section of smooth channels and shallow pools, enclosed by whitish multi-layered rocks.
The remainder of the way to the river is filled with many fallen boulders and huge sandstone blocks of varying colours and
forms - the rock walls above seem particularly unstable and crumbling. The creek deepens quickly, and much scrambling is
necessary, over or under rocks and around the edge of muddy pools. Often possible routes have been marked with arrows by the
Navajo as the best way ahead is not always obvious.
After a total walk of 2.5 miles, the canyon opens out into a large sandy area with many cacti, shortly before the confluence
with the Colorado, where a sign announces 'Welcome to the Grand Canyon National Park'. Another notice warns against approaching
California condors, which fly here for water from their nesting grounds in the nearby Vermilion Cliffs. The river at this point
flows over the Badger Creek rapids, one of the most extensive of such obstacles for rafters journeying south from Lees Ferry,
and is quite impressive after recent rains, with very fast-flowing, surging, muddy water.
For about half a mile above the north fork junction, the south branch of Jackass Creek has a most beautiful and impressive
series of circular pools, narrow channels, stepped and curved rocks, worn smooth by countless years of flood waters.
Following recent rainfall, some pools are several meters deep, although most can be avoided by walking along ledges
above. There are several drops of 5-20 feet but only one significant obstacle - a deepish pool beneath a massive fallen
rock, with a steep slope just beyond. This can be climbed, or alternatively bypassed using a rope that may be left nearby.
The final stretch of the canyon opens out and branches several times when near to the main road. The starting point for the
hike may be reached again after a half mile walk across the plateau above.
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