Arizona · Hiking

Cathedral Wash

Cathedral WashPhoto: Nate Loper • #ArizonaGuide ️, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.1 mi
round trip
932 ft
climb
3,436 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–May, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Cathedral Wash open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It doesn't name Cathedral Wash, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: NPS · Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cathedral Wash is an easy out-and-back hike in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in northern Arizona, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 932 feet, and it reaches a high point of 3,436 feet. The trail starts at an elevation of about 3,434 feet, so the climb is roughly balanced between the two halves of the trip. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Lees Ferry weather station show April highs around 75°F and October highs around 76°F, while July averages climb to about 102°F. A fee is charged for the visit. Plan on about 1.5 hours for the hike. Secret Beach Trail is about 2.5 miles away, and the Northern Arizona climbing area is about 2.6 miles off. Lees Ferry Paria Trail and Spencer Trail are both within about 4 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Cathedral Wash

    Best months: February–May and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      48° / 30°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      55° / 34°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      66° / 42°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      75° / 49°

      3 wet

    5. May

      85° / 58°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      98° / 68°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      102° / 76°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      99° / 73°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      89° / 63°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      76° / 51°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      60° / 39°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      48° / 31°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lees Ferry, AZ, 3 mi away at 3,210 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Secret Beach TrailPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Secret Beach Trail

~4 min drive

1.3-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 636 ft elevation gain

Spencer TrailPhoto: Capt' Gorgeous, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spencer Trail

~6 min drive

3.92-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 1,513 ft elevation gain.

Historic District River TrailPhoto: Capt' Gorgeous, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Historic District River Trail

~6 min drive

Throughout the 1800 and 1900s, Lees Ferry was backdrop to a mix of Westward expansion dreams and failed schemes. Because of its strategic location along the Colorado River, unlikely groups overlapped on these shores. Miners, traders, U.S. government scientist, Church elders,…

Jackass Canyon RoutePhoto: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Jackass Canyon Route

~10 min drive

4.82-mile out-and-back in Arizona with 1,542 ft gain/loss

Lees Ferry Paria TrailPhoto: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lees Ferry Paria Trail

~6 min drive

1.48-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 89 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Rimview Trail

~20 min drive

10-mile loop trail in Arizona with 278 ft elevation gain.

Spencer TrailPhoto: Capt' Gorgeous, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spencer Trail

~7 min drive

Rough mule trail for hauling Charles G. Spencer’s gold mining supplies. Built 1910 Spencer’s mining machinery needed fuel. As the rest of the miners hauled equipment to Lees Ferry, two men spend the fall of 1910 building a trail up this sheer cliff to a coalmine at Warm Cree…

Vermilion View TrailPhoto: itia4u, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Vermilion View Trail

~13 min drive

4.5-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 612 ft elevation gain.

Upper Ferry TrailPhoto: Capt' Gorgeous, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Ferry Trail

~7 min drive

0.84-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 239 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River

~13 min drive

A social media darling, Horseshoe Bend has become one of the most recognized and visited places in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The parking lot and trailhead is located off US Highway 89, approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. Changes a…

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