Fay Canyon Trail Preview

Should you hike Fay Canyon? What the film settles

An easy canyon, one rough wash, and an arch the film does not climb to.

The main trail is easy all the way. From the dirt lot on Boynton Pass Road the trail is wide and sandy into the canyon mouth, and the only rough footing early on is a rocky dry wash at 3:36. After that it is flat walking between red walls and into shaded forest at 10:08, which is why Fay stays cooler than the exposed trails nearby. More on the shade and the heat.

The arch turnoff is easy to miss. At 8:30, rocks lining the trail mark where an unsigned spur to Fay Canyon Arch leaves on the right. The film stays on the main trail and does not climb to the arch. The guide describes the turnoff and the cairn-marked spur and the short, rocky scramble to the arch platform.

The only climb is at the end. The trail steepens briefly over slabs and boulders from 16:40 and ends under the canyon head at 18:18. It is a dry canyon, so bring your own water.

The main trail suits young children; the arch scramble and its drop-off do not. Fay Canyon for kids

What the full film shows, chapter by chapter

Timestamps read from the full 19:51 film. Owners can jump straight to any chapter.

1. 0:00 Fay Canyon trailhead The dirt lot on Boynton Pass Road and the first flat trail; about 4,570 ft.
2. 1:58 The canyon mouth Wide, sandy trail with the walls ahead (0.1–0.2 mi).
3. 3:36 Wash crossing A rocky dry wash — the only rough footing in the first mile (0.2 mi).
4. 5:14 Red walls on both sides The canyon closes in; still flat and easy (0.3 mi).
5. 8:30 The arch turnoff Rocks lining the trail at about 0.5 mi mark where the unsigned spur to Fay Canyon Arch leaves on the right. The film stays on the main trail; the spur is the Moderate scramble the guide describes.
6. 10:08 Shaded forest floor Oaks and junipers; the coolest part of the walk (0.6 mi).
7. 13:24 Deeper canyon Soft trail with little gain (0.7 mi, about 4,650 ft).
8. 16:40 Rock steps and the first real climb The trail steepens briefly over slabs and boulders (0.9–1.0 mi).
9. 18:18 End of the maintained trail 1.1 mi and about 4,780 ft under the canyon head. The film ends here; the return walk is not shown.

Not in the film: the arch spur and the arch, and the walk back to the trailhead.

Planning the real hike? Read the full Fay Canyon trail guide for difficulty, parking, permits and route-finding details.