CRACK,  DING, and DANG CANYONS

Crack Canyon and Ding-Dang Canyons are located just west of Goblin Valley State Park.  Crack Canyon is non-technical, through there are a couple of large chokestones that have to be ledge-climbed around.  The colors in the canyon, and a somewhat unusual tunnel under a narrow roof-slot, along with some nice narrows, make this a highly recommended photo hike.  The waterpocket-walls have few rivals.  One can do a loop with lower Chute Canyon, but Crack is the more impressive of the two. Hike down to the bottom of Crack, have a leisurely lunch, then turn around and hike back out.  You will experience its interesting features in different lighting.

The Ding - Dang loop is another excellent semi-technical loop.  No ropes are required, but some down-climbing and wading (which can be avoided by extensive chimneying) are needed to get through Dang.  Someone in the group should be a strong down-climber who can spot others doing the ten foot drops, or take a 20m rope, to be set up as a hand line.  One large somewhat dicey climb down a steep horseshoe shaped cliff (see photographs) can be avoided by traversing a narrow ledge on the right when going down Dang.   This canyon is not advised for acrophobics.  It is much more difficult, especially solo, to climb up Dang, than to come down, so the Ding-Dang loop should normally be up Ding and down Dang.  However you do it, this is one of the nicer day hikes in the area.  There are marvelous strings of potholes in Ding that you can climb around, some narrows that may have to be waded, and good canyon scenery including the "Matterhorn of Utah" at the top of the loop.   Highly recommended any time of day (or year).  I did this once in March when the potholes were frozen pretty solid and you could walk across, rather than trying to avoid them.  Be careful though, sometimes the surface freezes and then the water underneath slowly leeches out, leaving a perilous thin crust.

Refs.  Kelsey, "Hiking and Exploring Utah's San Rafael Swell,"  3rd Edition, 1999.

Disclaimer:  The goal of these trip notes is to suggest good photographic locations and what I consider pretty neat hikes.  These paragraphs should not be used as a canyoneering guide.  Seek out good maps and detailed information, and get properly prepared before entering any slot canyon.