Sheep Creek and Swamp Canyon Connector Trail Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park

August 16, 2016

The Sheep Creek, Swamp Canyon Connector Trail loop, which also uses the Under the Rim Trail, is a moderate 4.5 mile hike with about 700 feet of elevation gain/loss. Below is my trip report:

I got to Bryce Canyon National Park from the town of Hurricane, Utah by going north on I15 until I got to Cedar City. Once there, I took Hwy 14 East for about 40 miles until it ends at Hwy 89. I went North (left) on Hwy 89 for about 20 miles until a sign indicated a turn off for Bryce Canyon on Hwy 12. I took Hwy 12 East (right) for about 13 miles until I came to Hwy 63. Hwy 63 heads south through the town of Bryce Canyon before reaching the National Park in just a few miles.

I arrived at the Swamp Canyon parking area which is about at mile 6 in Bryce Canyon at about 10:15am.

The Swamp Canyon parking area. The Trailhead is to the left of this picture.

There were quite a few cars in the area with most of the people enjoying the view from the view point. The trailhead is located at the south end of the parking area and, after getting my gear together, I got started about 10:30. The trailhead is well marked by two signs and the trail is very well defined to start.

The Trailhead

 The trail starts by descending gradually for the first .2 of a mile until it gets to the first trail junction.

The Sheep Creek/Swamp Canyon connector trail junction. 

One of the signs at the junction. The National Park service is sponsoring a challenge to help promote exercise. The gold circular disk is placed along certain points of the trail. If you take your picture by it and show the picture to a ranger at the Visitor's Center, you receive a small prize. 

The other sign at the junction.

As you can see from the pictures above the Sheep Creek trail veers off to the right and the Swamp Canyon trail heads off to the left. You can go either way and you'll return via the oppostie trail, since the trail is a loop. I opted to complete the hike by going clockwise, that is taking the Sheep Creek trail first and returning via the Swamp Canyon trail. I would recommend going that way as the elevation gain is more gradual returning up the Swamp Canyon trail.

For the first .8 of a mile, the Sheep Creek trail parallels the road, which can be seen to the left.

The trail winds through the pine trees while, if you look closely, you can see a red car on the road off in the distance to the left

After about .82 miles from the trailhead, the trail turns right and heads East. It is at this point that it turns from a single trail to a 4-wheel drive track until it starts descending. While descending, after about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, a small sign indicates that you are in Bryce Canyon Wilderness.

The descent is at a mild grade and toward the bottom of the descent, the trail cris-crosses a small dry wash multiple times where it is slightly difficult at times to spot.

The trail as it crosses a dry wash. In this picture the trail is off to the left of the wash.

Once past the wash, the trail widens and passes through scrub oak, pine trees, and sage brush until it comes to a sign indicating the direction to the Sheep Creek back country camp site. Don't follow this trail, as it just takes you to the camp site.

The sign indicating the trail to the back country Sheep Creek camp site. It was closed when I did this hike due to bear activity.

Very near to the camp site sign and 2.4 miles from the trailhead is a sign indicating the Under the Rim trail junction with the Sheep Canyon trail.

Here is a good picture looking at the junction of the Under the Rim trail. Here you'll take a right where the rocks help highlight the Under the Rim trail. 

Follow the Under the Rim trail to the right and soon it starts a gradual ascent to reach a small pass which runs between the Sheep Creek and Swamp Canyon trails. As it is ascending, the trail has a short sandy section. Typically it is much harder for me to hike in sand than on a hard packed trail, but the sand wasn't too deep and the hiking, not too difficult.

The sandy portion of the Under the Rim trail.

A look at the pass between the Sheep Creek trail and the Swamp Canyon trail.

Once ontop of the small pass, the trail descends again until it comes to a tree fall that is blocking the way.

The trail is blocked by a tree fall.

It is easily bypassed by just walking right up to the intersections of the trees and climbing over them, where the main trail will once again be visible. I mention this because there is also another "trail" which goes off to the left. I took this trail for about 20 yards until it fizzled out into sage brush. So I backtracked and got right up to where the trail used to go before the tree fall and saw the main trail. Soon you come to a sign for another back country camp site - the Right Fork Swamp Canyon camp site. If you continue on the mail trail just a little farther, you'll come to the sign indicating the Swamp Canyon connector trail.

The junction of the Under the Rim and Swamp Canyon connector trail.

After being on the Under the Rim trail for 1.1 miles (3.5 miles from the trailhead), head straight up the trail past the sign marking the junction of the Under the Rim and the Swamp Canyon connector trails.

A look at the Swamp Canyon Trail as it ascends back up to the trailhead.

The trail continues to ascend gradually for the next mile until it reaches the junction of the Sheep Creek trail which I saw at the beginning of the hike.

My GPS indicated that the hike was 4.55 miles, though I read that it was supposed to be 4.3 miles. It took me 1 hour and 50 minutes, hiking at a leisurely pace.

Here are some more pictures from the hike:

The Sheep Creek trail as it turned east and temporarily changed into a 4-wheel drive track. 

A look at the scenery while descending on the Sheep Creek trail.

This is the disk found at the junction of the Sheep Creek and Under the Rim trails that you get a small prize for taking your picture with it and showing it to a ranger at the Visitor's Center.

A look at a portion of the Under the Rim trail and a spectacular view as it gradually ascends.

Another look at the Under the Rim trail.

A small alcove along the Under the Rim trail that was used at one point by a bobcat as evidenced by the scat and tracks inside.

Clouds started rolling in towards the end of my hike. The forecast called for rain at 1:00 and right at 1:00 the heavens opened and it started to pour!

Scenery along the Swamp Canyon trail.