Frying Pan
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The ridgetop is fully exposed with no shade or shelter — on summer afternoons, surface temperatures on the slickrock can exceed air temperature by thirty degrees. Start early or save this one for spring and fall.
Trail cairns can be hard to spot on the slickrock sections, especially in flat light. If you lose the route, backtrack to the last cairn rather than improvising across unmarked rock.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Run this as a one-way shuttle hike: start at Cohab Canyon trailhead near the campground, cross Frying Pan, and descend via Cassidy Arch to the Grand Wash parking area — about 5.5 miles total with far more variety than an out-and-back.
There is zero water and zero shade on the ridgetop section. Carry at least two liters per person and wear a hat with a brim — the reflected heat off the slickrock adds intensity the temperature alone won't warn you about.
The best photography happens where the trail first crests the ridge and the Waterpocket Fold unfolds to the south. Late afternoon light turns the sandstone layers into a textbook cross-section of geologic time.
