Surprise Canyon Route
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Flash flood risk is real in any narrow canyon in the Waterpocket Fold — check weather forecasts for the entire upstream drainage, not just the sky above you, and avoid entering if rain is anywhere in the forecast.
The pouroff at the end is a vertical drop with no barrier — keep children well back from the edge and watch your footing on the slickrock, which can be deceptively slippery when dusty.
Trail Details
- 1
Access is off Notom-Bullfrog Road south of Highway 24 — the turnoff is unmarked and easy to miss, so download offline maps and mark the GPS coordinates before you lose cell signal.
- 2
Visit in mid-morning or early afternoon when the sun is high enough to light the canyon interior but the walls still throw dramatic shadows on the pouroff at the end.
- 3
This pairs perfectly with other Waterpocket Fold stops like Headquarters Canyon or the Halls Creek Narrows trailhead — stack two or three short canyon explorations into a single drive down Notom-Bullfrog Road.
