Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Monument Basin

Utah > Southeast Utah > Island In The Sky
Warning Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas such as CAT WALL and RESERVOIR WALL in Indian Creek DetailsDrop down

Description

Monument Basin is a truly fantastic place to enjoy, whether you are a climber or not. Home to the mega classic Standing rock, but many other towers as well. It is located on the SE side of Island in the Sky, and involves quite a lengthy approach via 4wd, but is well worth a visit.

Getting There

From Moab take 191 north to the left hand turn onto 313 which is signed for Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands NP. Follow this to the entrance station which is about 32 miles(40min). Immediately after passing through the entrance station, take a left turn onto the Shafer Trail and follow this for about 30 miles(3 hours) to Monument Basin. The White Rim road is a 4wd only road, and requires either a day permit(free online) or if staying overnight a backcountry camping permit(needed months in advance). 

Alternatively, you can hike from Island in the Sky via the not well known Government Trail. From the Grand View Point overlook trail, hike along the tourist trail for about 10-15 min. Leave the trail to the left and find a 3rd class chimney which leads to some cairns and a 4th/5th class downclimb through the cliff bands. (this is not signed or maintained by the park). After reaching the talus below, continue down towards the basin and navigate the smaller cliffband below, either through finding a 5th class downclimb or traversing hard right(south) towards the drainage. This should take you to the White rim road.

Once you've reached Monument basin on the White rim Rd, access down into the basin proper is done in one of three standard ways.

1. The most common is the single rappel approach on the west side of the basin, which is fastest for Standing rock. See Standing rock page for more details.

2. There is a 4th class entrance on the north side of the basin, which is useful if accessing towers closer to that end(Staggering rock)

3. There is a 3rd class gully entrance on the south end of the basin, which could be useful for towers like Pixie stick.

All these approaches require sniffing around and looking for cairns/previous passage.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Google Earth of APPROXIMATE locations of entrances into monument basin
[Hide Photo] Google Earth of APPROXIMATE locations of entrances into monument basin