Exploring Ding and Dang Canyons - The Lost Longboarder

After longboarding the awesome trail through Moab, we continued our travels through Utah. We found an area of interest called San Rafael Swell that looked like it would be a lot of fun to explore! San Rafael Swell is a designated BLM Recreation Area, near Goblin Valley State Park, that showcases geologic upheaval as well as deep canyons and beautiful badlands. We found a dispersed camp spot and then chose a canyon adventure to check out – Ding and Dang Canyons. Ding and Dang Canyon is an adventurous nine mile lollipop that enters one narrow canyon before exiting and following the next canyon back to the same turn off. We couldn’t wait to see the geology, narrow slot sections and obstacles this trail had to offer!

Quick Info: Ding and Dang Canyons

Distance: 9 mile roundtrip lollipop

Difficulty: Moderate with fun, challenging obstacles!

Directions: From Green River, take I-70 W to exit 149 for UT-24 W. Turn left onto UT-24 W for 24.2 miles before turning right onto Temple Mt Road. Follow Temple Mt Road for 5.2 miles and then turn left onto Goblin Valley Road. After 6.1 miles turn right onto Wild Horse Road and continue for 6.7 miles. The parking for Ding and Dang Canyons will be on the right.

Our Experience Hiking Ding and Dang Canyons

Already, the whole San Rafael Swell area is geologically impressive! The rock formations and surrounding features look like so much fun to explore. As we approached the trailhead for Ding and Dang Canyons we were glad that we had a truck. The last section of the drive is a little rough. As an alternate, you can park at the Little Horse Canyon Trail parking area and then walk the rest of the way to the start of Ding and Dang Canyons. The two trailheads weren’t that far away. Once you’ve reached the parking area, pick up the wash and let the adventure begin!

The 9 mile loop through Ding and Dang Canyons begins by walking over a mile through a wash. Luckily there are beautiful, colorful rocks on either side of you to enjoy along the way. Then you will reach a fork in the trail. Based on other hikers recommendations, we chose to begin the loop by turning right here. You could do this hike twice and have a totally different experience by starting the opposite way.

After the fork, the trail begins to venture into the canyon and the trail becomes more rocky and slightly more challenging.

Then the excitement begins as the canyon starts to narrow and you get to scramble a bit.

When we did the hike in October, there were a few puddles to get across. Shane spider-manned above this puddle in the narrow section. I took my boots off and walked ankle deep through it. I probably wasn’t as healed up as I should have been from my wipeout in Moab three days previous to be doing such a technical nine mile hike… but I couldn’t resist! You can read about my wipeout on the Moab Trail here.

Hiking through Ding and Dang Canyons was exactly the kind of adventure we were looking for – some climbing, sliding, ducking, and problem solving.

After a few miles of this you exit the canyon. The trail opens up, revealing more cool geology and then leads to the entrance of the other canyon. We stopped here for lunch – thinking about the fun we’ve had so far and anticipating the adventure ahead!

Now, time to enter the second canyon!

Immediately, this canyon was rocky, fun and full of opportunities to climb around!

Next, we reached a spot that had a rope set up to lower yourself down. After some of the descents we’d already made it didn’t seem super necessary. But it added a new experience to the adventure. This area was like a giant playground! I caught this picture of Shane mid-air as he jumped from rock to rock over the canyon below.

From here, the canyon starts to narrow a bit more and some of the descents get higher and more challenging.

The next drop offs we encountered while hiking Ding and Dang Canyons were in narrow areas of the canyon – allowing for some spider man like opportunities. Then, we came to a steep drop off over waist deep brown water. There was a rope to help you slide down the wall closer to the water. Shane started using spiderman and planking maneuvers over the water. I got in position with my back against one wall and my feet against the other.

To avoid the water, we stayed suspended between the walls as we scooted about 15 yards to the other side of the water. To me, it felt like quite an accomplishment to make it down and across, dry and safe because that is not a move that I get to do often. So exhilarating!

The other option would have been to lower yourself down with the rope and just walk through the water, which some people did. It seemed like the safest and most direct route and I definitely considered it!

Right after this challenge, you instantly come up on a similar obstacle but the drop is not as high, the distance you have to scoot is not as far, and the water was only ankle deep. After that, the trail is pretty easy, just a little rocky, until you exit the canyon. Then follow the wash back to the fork where all the fun began about eight miles earlier. From here, follow the wash back to the parking area with a satisfying sense of adventure and accomplishment!

Thanks for Reading!

We had a blast hiking Ding and Dang Canyons and we would recommend this hike to anyone looking for a fun canyon adventure! Check out the link below to see some of our other canyon adventures:

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