Bluejohn Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluejohn Canyon |
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Main Fork Bluejohn Canyon, October 2011
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 Bluejohn Canyon
Location in Utah
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| Floor elevation | 4,839 ft (1,475 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Canyonlands National Park Wayne County, Utah United States |
Bluejohn Canyon is a special type of narrow canyon found in eastern Wayne County, Utah, United States. It's often called a "slot canyon" because it's very deep and narrow, like a slot in the ground. This canyon is located on land managed by the BLM, just outside the Canyonlands National Park.
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Exploring Bluejohn Canyon
What is Bluejohn Canyon?
Bluejohn Canyon is a famous slot canyon in Utah. It's known for its beautiful, winding passages. A slot canyon is a very narrow canyon, often formed by water flowing through rock over many years. These canyons can be very deep and have smooth, sculpted walls.
Where is Bluejohn Canyon Located?
Even though many people think Bluejohn Canyon is inside Canyonlands National Park, it's actually on land managed by the BLM. This land is southwest of the Horseshoe Canyon Unit of the park. The canyon is about 42 miles (68 km) south of a town called Green River.
The main part of Bluejohn Canyon stretches for about 11 miles (18 km). It flows north-northeast from an area known as the Robbers Roost Flats. Bluejohn Canyon is a smaller stream, or "tributary," that flows into Horseshoe Canyon. The main canyon also has several smaller canyons that branch off from it.
Who was "Blue John"?
The canyon likely got its name from a person named John Griffith. He was an outlaw in the 1800s. Stories say he used to hide stolen horses in this area. People called him "Blue John" because he had one blue eye and one brown eye.
Canyoneering in Bluejohn Canyon
Exploring the entire length of Bluejohn Canyon is an exciting adventure. However, it requires special skills and gear. This activity is called "canyoneering." Canyoneering involves hiking, climbing, and sometimes rappelling (using ropes to go down cliffs) through canyons. It's a challenging but rewarding way to see these unique natural wonders.
A Famous Story of Survival
Bluejohn Canyon became very well-known in 2003 because of an amazing story of survival. An outdoorsman named Aron Ralston was exploring the canyon when a large boulder fell and trapped his arm. He was stuck for five days. To survive, he had to make a very difficult decision to free himself.
His incredible story was told in his book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place. It was also made into a movie in 2010 called 127 Hours. This event showed the dangers and challenges that can come with exploring remote wilderness areas. It also highlighted the amazing strength of the human spirit.
