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Author:
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charlesklahm
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Activity:
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Not Specified
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State:
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Arizona (AZ)
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Distance:
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18.6 mi
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Difficulty:
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5 / 10
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Rating:
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Unrated
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This is a great North Rim hike with a good mix of on and off trail segments. We did this in 3.5 days and 3 nights. Saddle Canyon is an amazing slot going through the Redwall. Stina Canyon is a great place to camp on night one. Don't miss Tapeats Cave.
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Datum: |
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Location: 36.389080°, -112.508202°
Chris gives it a try - notice the wind on his hat
Location: 36.389080°, -112.508202°
Base of the falls - the wind speed prevents you from walking up to the falls!
Location: 36.389080°, -112.508202°
The falls emerge from the Tapeats Sandstone slot canyon
Location: 36.388569°, -112.509201°
I forgot my reel but I still caught a trout hand throwing a line
Location: 36.388569°, -112.509201°
running the small rapid - he's paddling up stream
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
Another upstream view
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
Looking downstream
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
lots of river runners today
Location: 36.389080°, -112.508202°
Deer Creek Falls crashes 100 feet to the Colorado River
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
Dale hiking down to the beach
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
you can fill water bottles on a ledge behind Dutton Falls - expect to get wet
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
another view of Dutton Spring
Location: 36.405300°, -112.473297°
Ascending the Redwall up to the Esplanade at dusk - note the moon
Location: 36.408699°, -112.468102°
Lazy dogs! It's already 6am - note feat to hang these hammocks in the rocks
Location: 36.405300°, -112.473297°
great shot to the East from the Esplanade rim on the Thunder River trail
Location: 36.388569°, -112.509201°
A view of the Falls from the beach
Location: 36.388569°, -112.509201°
The bigger raft hits the rapid - it's a supply raft
Location: 36.391609°, -112.507698°
Ancient indian hand prints on the cliff wall - they used reeds to blow paint
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
The king is in
Location: 36.391609°, -112.507698°
Dale and Chris hiking the ledge above the Deer Creek slot
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
The Throne Room - note chairs made out of rock slabs - this under a huge ledge
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
View of Dutton spring descending down to Deer Creek valley
Location: 36.399940°, -112.502502°
A better view of Dutton Spring errupting from the rock wall
Location: 36.392010°, -112.506699°
Chris wading up stream to the water fall
Location: 36.392010°, -112.506699°
Great view of the famous Deer Creek "Patio" area
Location: 36.395199°, -112.462097°
A look across Surprise Valley after topping out from Thunder River
Location: 36.395100°, -112.459999°
Rich and Chris with the falls in the background
Location: 36.398720°, -112.481697°
Our pack stash in Surprise Valley - we day hiked to Deer Creek
Location: 36.400589°, -112.501503°
The trail hugs a ledge here with Deer Creek's lush green in the Valley below
Location: 36.398220°, -112.489998°
Heading out of Surprise Valley toward Deer Creek
Location: 36.391232°, -112.507797°
More river runners - If you have never rapelled into this slot it's just incredible
Location: 36.391232°, -112.507797°
Looking into the slot at some river runners that rapelled in
Location: 36.391232°, -112.507797°
view through the narrows to the main canyon with the Colorado far below
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
Looking up stream in Granite Narrows towards Tapeats Canyon
Location: 36.389671°, -112.508904°
Colorado from above is emerald green today-Water visibility is the best I've seen
Location: 36.392078°, -112.506401°
walking from the "shower" waterfall toward the patio
Location: 36.392010°, -112.506699°
Rich fresh from a shower
Location: 36.392078°, -112.506401°
Another patio view
Location: 36.391232°, -112.507797°
Hiking in the Tapeats slot toward the Colorado River
Location: 36.392078°, -112.506401°
A river runner is testing a rope rapel into the Deer Creek slot
Location: 36.349880°, -112.367401°
Setting a rapel anchor - we found a way around but it's a good place to practice
Location: 36.347809°, -112.363998°
The thick brush finally lets up in front of Fire Point
Location: 36.349880°, -112.367401°
Since I set the anchor I have to go first - it's about a 15 to 20' rapel
Location: 36.349880°, -112.367401°
Dale's turn - it's tricky when the wall disappears part way down
Location: 36.349880°, -112.367401°
Hey, that anchor really was bomb proof! Whew
Location: 36.335800°, -112.349297°
View off Swamp Point looking down Saddle Canyon
Location: 36.335800°, -112.349297°
View of Steamboat Mountain - also note Monument Pt and Bridgers Knoll in dist
Location: 36.333778°, -112.354202°
Dale and Chris - almost down to Muav Saddle from Swamp Point
Location: 36.337440°, -112.357300°
Found a Swiss Army watch after stepping over a log - still ticking!
Location: 36.337440°, -112.357300°
Man, it's bushwacking getting through here
Location: 36.361599°, -112.380798°
made it down and packs back on - to the next obsticle
Location: 36.361599°, -112.380798°
View down stream in the narrows from the down climb spot
Location: 36.364079°, -112.382103°
cool place where the Redwall has been eroded
Location: 36.368031°, -112.383598°
Location: 36.366570°, -112.383003°
More acrobatics to get around another pour off
Location: 36.353001°, -112.370300°
Saddle Canyon has a number of pour offs to navigate early on
Location: 36.349880°, -112.367401°
Chris's turn - not bad for a Brit :)
Location: 36.355240°, -112.372704°
first sign of water - it's not very inviting so we'll wait for Stina Canyon
Location: 36.361599°, -112.380798°
Pretty narrow huh - If Dale gains any weight he'd get stuck!
Location: 36.361599°, -112.380798°
Entering the Redwall narrows - down climb and then rope the packs down
Location: 36.419209°, -112.459503°
another shot of the Esplanade rock foundation
Location: 36.419209°, -112.459503°
cool rock formation on the Esplanade - we have camped around here several times
Location: 36.426659°, -112.455002°
Here is where we get on the Bill Hall trail to exit Monument Point
Location: 36.433231°, -112.446701°
This is skull face across the Canyon on the side of Great Thumb Mesa
Location: 36.433231°, -112.446701°
View looking back to an Esplanade rock formation on the ascent out
Location: 36.408699°, -112.468102°
Anchor on the other side is around a huge boulder
Location: 36.408699°, -112.468102°
on the first try this boluder moved! So we anchored this boulder to a larger boulder
Location: 36.408699°, -112.468102°
keeping the webbing from slipping over the big boulder
Location: 36.413422°, -112.460098°
Infamous "Spider Cave" - we camped here one night and found tons of spiders
Location: 36.408699°, -112.468102°
nice view from camp on the Esplanade
Location: 36.333950°, -112.356102°
Teddy Rosevelt's cabin just off Muav Saddle - safe shelter in a storm
Location: 36.434441°, -112.429199°
Having the celebratory Fosters at the end - about 30 miles total over 3.5 days
Location: 36.333950°, -112.356102°
Plaque explaining Teddy's connection to the cabin - this is a rebulid after a fire
Location: 36.335800°, -112.349297°
View from Swamp Point across to Powell Plateau - note that a faint trail is visable
Location: 36.333950°, -112.356102°
Dale standing beside the cabin - note - NPS folks carried the ladder down!
Location: 36.426559°, -112.440903°
Ok - the last push to top out - I'm leading for now but Dale and Chris beat me out
Location: 36.426559°, -112.440903°
Group photo with about 600 feet to go to top out on Monument point
Location: 36.430462°, -112.440300°
This is the top of Monument Point
Location: 36.434441°, -112.429199°
Sign at the parking lot
Location: 36.430462°, -112.440300°
A view back to Swamp Point where we started 3.5 days earlier
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
Someone setup a cairn in the cave at the first branch - we went our own way
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
Night vision shot of Chris - this cave is pitch black here
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
first sign of cave "life"
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
Wow - I found this large column
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
The further you go back the better the formations - very cool
Location: 36.402729°, -112.428101°
Nice shot at the head of the canyon - notice the waterfall that must pour during rain
Location: 36.400490°, -112.428596°
Never far from your food supply - they'll tear your pack open to get your food!
Location: 36.405640°, -112.429298°
The final scree ascent up to the cave entrance
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
Inside the cave we found a nice clear water pool - camera is on night vision
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
This is Tapeats Cave - we think water comes out of the mouth out the cave at times
Location: 36.375671°, -112.381798°
The moon rises over the canyon wall at Stina Canyon camp
Location: 36.375671°, -112.381798°
We have the hammocks up and we're all enjoying a "warm" beer
Location: 36.375130°, -112.383598°
At the bottom of the scree pile we found the Big Horn head we found previously
Location: 36.374668°, -112.384201°
A view of the pour off from the left side downstream - note trickle of water
Location: 36.374668°, -112.384201°
you descend down a very steep scree slope once around the 90' pour off
Location: 36.406670°, -112.430000°
Chris takes a very cold shower
Location: 36.406311°, -112.428802°
notice that the cave is getting wetter the further you are going back too
Location: 36.406670°, -112.430000°
It's my turn - and yes it was very cold!
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
The hike up Stina Canyon has a lot of pleasant surprises - like this cave with H2O
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
Location: 36.384232°, -112.414299°
Now he's starting to rattle and move into a defensive position
Location: 36.384232°, -112.414299°
Walking down Tapeats Canyon and we spotted a Western Diamond Back rattler
Location: 36.384232°, -112.414299°
Now he's pretty pissed because he's cornered. We are actually far back on zoom
Location: 36.391258°, -112.426903°
Nice pools along the way
Location: 36.391258°, -112.426903°
We hit running water about 1 mile from Tapeats creek
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
Stina is incrediblly lush - we have always found water here when we hike up Cyn
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
A look up Stina Canyon beyond the water fall grotto
Location: 36.374889°, -112.380798°
This is the end of the line without climbing gear - a pretty water fall grotto
Location: 36.395550°, -112.429901°
Next we ran into a striped racer - this thing bolted and moved incrediblly fast
Location: 36.395550°, -112.429901°
We encountered a bug Chuck a Whala lizard - look closely under the big rock
Location: 36.395550°, -112.429901°
This creek is moving - you must be very careful fording it or you're going swimming
Location: 36.396839°, -112.429398°
Dale is pointing out trout in the water to Chris - amazing how they got up the falls
Location: 36.396839°, -112.429398°
Some tough terrain up to Tapeats Cave
Location: 36.392639°, -112.431602°
This is camp for the night - some good trees for hammocks
Location: 36.391258°, -112.426903°
This one is deep enough to swim in
Location: 36.392639°, -112.431602°
YEAH - we still have beer - the 25oz Fosters - we will sleep good tonight
Location: 36.394779°, -112.430000°
Beautiful rugged cascades all the way down this canyon for around 1 mile
Location: 36.394779°, -112.430000°
Tapeats Creek starts up this canyon and has quite a head of water
Location: 36.392609°, -112.450500°
Incredible - the ram went right over this cliff out of view - these things can climb!
Location: 36.392609°, -112.450500°
Dale spotted this nice ram across the Canyon for our position
Location: 36.392330°, -112.451103°
This is Thunder River intersecting Tapeats Creek
Location: 36.393501°, -112.454399°
Beginning the climb up to Thunder River - the Worlds shortest river at 1/2 mile
Location: 36.393501°, -112.454399°
Nice lizard enjoying the sun
Location: 36.392960°, -112.438103°
we've gone as far as you can - it's time to get wet
Location: 36.393391°, -112.434998°
rare flat ground! heading into the Tapeats slot
Location: 36.393360°, -112.441803°
At times you walk a hundred yards through water
Location: 36.392960°, -112.445297°
You get an idea of how swift Tapeats Creek is here
Location: 36.392960°, -112.445297°
this creek gets deep in places so fording gets tricky when you run out of trail
Location: 36.395981°, -112.458504°
A shot of the upper cascade just before the first big plunge
Location: 36.395981°, -112.458504°
An amazing amount of water shoots out of solid rock to form Thunder River Falls
Location: 36.395981°, -112.458504°
Dale taking a shower
Location: 36.395100°, -112.459999°
looking back at Thunder River Falls
Location: 36.395100°, -112.459999°
Dale and Chris ascending up to Surprise Valley
Location: 36.393749°, -112.457001°
zoom up canyon to see the first part ofthe falls
Location: 36.393139°, -112.456200°
Nice view up Thunder River Canyon before the falls become visible
Location: 36.393749°, -112.457001°
here's a shot of the upper falls
Location: 36.393749°, -112.457001°
zooming back out gives a view of just how small Dale and Chris really are here
Location: 36.393749°, -112.457001°
Dale and Chris are on the shelf that enters the Falls area - 10x zoom from 1/3 mile
Location: 36.373291°, -112.383698°
A recent flash flood has coated the edge with fine power - we get wet instead
Location: 36.373291°, -112.383698°
Chris is wading through - it's not deep but you sink in the mud on the bottom
Location: 36.373291°, -112.383698°
Dale tries to edge around - he's made this before
Location: 36.373291°, -112.383698°
Chris shows how it's done to stay dry
Location: 36.373291°, -112.383698°
chris does more maneuvering - Dale is at the beginning of the "slicky slide"
Location: 36.374668°, -112.384201°
Dale and Chris ledging around the 90' poor off
Location: 36.374668°, -112.384201°
A view off to the bottom of the pour off
Location: 36.374279°, -112.383202°
A great view of Crazy Jug Point (10x zooom) standing on top of the 90' pour off
Location: 36.374279°, -112.383202°
We take a quick break before the 90' pour off - you must ledge it to the left
Location: 36.374279°, -112.383202°
Heading up to the left to ledge around the 90' pour off
Location: 36.402760°, -112.427696°
Unbelievable! We found two rafts and oars all the way up here near the cave
Location: 36.368031°, -112.383598°
Location: 36.402760°, -112.427696°
Or...they were thinking they could raft down the creek (suicidal)
Location: 36.402760°, -112.427696°
People must have planned to raft in the cave and found it dry
Location: 36.369770°, -112.383904°
looks like he made it. Note Chris's mud foot print
Location: 36.370762°, -112.383499°
Constant down climbing as Saddle Canyon cuts through the Redwall
Location: 36.371861°, -112.383499°
What a beautiful place - we saw lots of water in big pools
Location: 36.369770°, -112.383904°
That mud at the bottom of this pour off looks deep - Dale tries to avoid it
Water 1
Location: 36.384941°, -112.385803°
usually water here - even one July 4!
Water 2
Location: 36.388771°, -112.386902°
Usually water here - even one July 4!
Day 1
Distance: 4.01 mi
Off Swamp point down a decent trail to Muav Saddle. Stop and see Teddy's Cabin. It's off trail from here to Stina canyon for camp on night one - distance is about 6 miles. Bring a rapel rope for safety. Great slot canyon through the Redwall.
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.335548°, -112.349998° |
Then go 0.30 mi |
| 0.30 mi |
WPT1 |
36.333771°, -112.355003° |
Then go 0.38 mi |
| 0.69 mi |
WPT2 |
36.338779°, -112.358002° |
Then go 0.44 mi |
| 1.13 mi |
WPT3 |
36.344791°, -112.360802° |
Then go 0.63 mi |
| 1.76 mi |
WPT4 |
36.351501°, -112.368401° |
Then go 0.31 mi |
| 2.07 mi |
WPT5 |
36.354950°, -112.371902° |
Then go 0.30 mi |
| 2.37 mi |
WPT6 |
36.357578°, -112.376099° |
Then go 0.08 mi |
| 2.45 mi |
WPT7 |
36.357471°, -112.377602° |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 2.61 mi |
WPT8 |
36.359638°, -112.378601° |
Then go 0.49 mi |
| 3.10 mi |
WPT9 |
36.365990°, -112.382401° |
Then go 0.55 mi |
| 3.64 mi |
WPT10 |
36.373878°, -112.383102° |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 3.76 mi |
WPT11 |
36.375198°, -112.384499° |
Then go 0.05 mi |
| 3.81 mi |
WPT12 |
36.375408°, -112.383698° |
Then go 0.07 mi |
| 3.88 mi |
WPT13 |
36.376369°, -112.383400° |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 4.01 mi |
WPT14 |
36.375408°, -112.381500° |
|
day 3
Distance: 3.03 mi
Wade down Tapeats Creek to the Thunder River junction then hit the trail up to Thunder River. Take a break then head up to Surprise Valley and stash packs. Day hike to Deer Creek. Back to packs and camp on the esplanade for night 3.
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.393101°, -112.433701° |
Then go 0.27 mi |
| 0.27 mi |
WPT1 |
36.393501°, -112.438499° |
Then go 0.27 mi |
| 0.54 mi |
WPT2 |
36.394630°, -112.443199° |
Then go 0.24 mi |
| 0.78 mi |
WPT3 |
36.392960°, -112.446899° |
Then go 0.14 mi |
| 0.92 mi |
WPT4 |
36.394489°, -112.448601° |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 1.13 mi |
WPT5 |
36.392540°, -112.451401° |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 1.33 mi |
WPT6 |
36.393749°, -112.454803° |
Then go 0.07 mi |
| 1.41 mi |
WPT7 |
36.392960°, -112.455704° |
Then go 0.24 mi |
| 1.64 mi |
WPT8 |
36.395378°, -112.458702° |
Then go 0.07 mi |
| 1.72 mi |
WPT9 |
36.394669°, -112.459702° |
Then go 0.11 mi |
| 1.83 mi |
WPT10 |
36.395802°, -112.461098° |
Then go 0.06 mi |
| 1.89 mi |
WPT11 |
36.395020°, -112.461601° |
Then go 1.14 mi |
| 3.03 mi |
WPT12 |
36.398109°, -112.481697° |
|
Tapeats Cave
Distance: 0.96 mi
Day hike up to Tapeats Cave. The Cave goes back over 6,000 feet. We have only been back around 1,000 ft or so. One of these times we'll come prepared to go all the way.
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.393002°, -112.430099° |
Then go 0.19 mi |
| 0.19 mi |
WPT1 |
36.395729°, -112.429398° |
Then go 0.03 mi |
| 0.22 mi |
WPT2 |
36.396091°, -112.429703° |
Then go 0.22 mi |
| 0.44 mi |
WPT3 |
36.399212°, -112.429298° |
Then go 0.02 mi |
| 0.46 mi |
WPT4 |
36.399319°, -112.428902° |
Then go 0.14 mi |
| 0.60 mi |
WPT5 |
36.401272°, -112.428596° |
Then go 0.07 mi |
| 0.67 mi |
WPT6 |
36.402302°, -112.428398° |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 0.79 mi |
WPT7 |
36.404011°, -112.428802° |
Then go 0.17 mi |
| 0.96 mi |
WPT8 |
36.406460°, -112.429199° |
|
Day 3 - Esplanade
Distance: 1.24 mi
Last leg of the trip today from Surprise Vgalley, up the Redwall, to the Esplanade to camp.
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.398659°, -112.480598° |
Then go 0.30 mi |
| 0.30 mi |
WPT1 |
36.401249°, -112.476196° |
Then go 0.22 mi |
| 0.52 mi |
WPT2 |
36.403702°, -112.473701° |
Then go 0.33 mi |
| 0.86 mi |
WPT3 |
36.408421°, -112.474899° |
Then go 0.38 mi |
| 1.24 mi |
WPT4 |
36.408031°, -112.468002° |
|
Deer Creek
Distance: 2.36 mi
We stashed our packs and did a day hike from Surprise Valley into Deer Creek. Deer Creek is a gorgeous part of the Canyon.
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.397690°, -112.482803° |
Then go 0.58 mi |
| 0.58 mi |
WPT1 |
36.398960°, -112.493103° |
Then go 0.48 mi |
| 1.06 mi |
WPT2 |
36.400280°, -112.501503° |
Then go 0.10 mi |
| 1.16 mi |
WPT3 |
36.401379°, -112.502701° |
Then go 0.08 mi |
| 1.23 mi |
WPT4 |
36.400280°, -112.502800° |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 1.44 mi |
WPT5 |
36.399460°, -112.506401° |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 1.60 mi |
WPT6 |
36.397369°, -112.505302° |
Then go 0.34 mi |
| 1.94 mi |
WPT7 |
36.392609°, -112.506599° |
Then go 0.23 mi |
| 2.17 mi |
WPT8 |
36.389671°, -112.508499° |
Then go 0.09 mi |
| 2.25 mi |
WPT9 |
36.389992°, -112.510002° |
Then go 0.10 mi |
| 2.36 mi |
WPT10 |
36.388851°, -112.508797° |
|
Day 2
Distance: 2.90 mi
Leave Stina Canyon and hike down the remainder of Saddle Canyon to the Crazy Jug - Tapeats Canyon Junction. Travel down Tapeats Canyon to camp at the intersection with Tapeats Creek at the point you would turn to ascend up to Tapeats Cave
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.377129°, -112.384499° |
Then go 0.36 mi |
| 0.36 mi |
WPT1 |
36.381321°, -112.388397° |
Then go 1.32 mi |
| 1.68 mi |
WPT2 |
36.384159°, -112.411797° |
Then go 0.76 mi |
| 2.44 mi |
WPT3 |
36.389771°, -112.423500° |
Then go 0.47 mi |
| 2.90 mi |
WPT4 |
36.392609°, -112.431099° |
|
Day 4
Distance: 4.11 mi
It's about 5 miles from here (Esplanade) to the Monument Point parking lot with about 1800' vertical
| 0.00 mi |
WPT0 |
36.408031°, -112.465797° |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 0.16 mi |
WPT1 |
36.408489°, -112.462997° |
Then go 0.75 mi |
| 0.91 mi |
WPT2 |
36.419312°, -112.461700° |
Then go 0.23 mi |
| 1.14 mi |
WPT3 |
36.418461°, -112.457703° |
Then go 0.46 mi |
| 1.60 mi |
WPT4 |
36.424179°, -112.453598° |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 1.80 mi |
WPT5 |
36.426731°, -112.455498° |
Then go 0.74 mi |
| 2.54 mi |
WPT6 |
36.433651°, -112.445396° |
Then go 0.55 mi |
| 3.10 mi |
WPT7 |
36.426338°, -112.441299° |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 3.22 mi |
WPT8 |
36.428051°, -112.441299° |
Then go 0.06 mi |
| 3.27 mi |
WPT9 |
36.427341°, -112.440697° |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 3.48 mi |
WPT10 |
36.430279°, -112.439903° |
Then go 0.62 mi |
| 4.11 mi |
WPT11 |
36.434219°, -112.429802° |
|
