The narrows begin to take shape.

When we first arrived at this place, at least thirty people from a river trip were spread all about, relaxing as though this were a typical chlorinated public swimming pool. It was rather bizarre, after seeing only two other backpackers all day.

so long, river people

upstream and east

Deer Creek takes its final plunge to the river – Deer Creek Falls.

Turning around at the river, we headed back up toward camp for the night. The trail above the proper Deer Creek Narrows is on the left side of this photo.

the narrows

I found what I believed to be the way into the narrows, but I didn’t like the looks of the slippery, slick downclimb from above.

After setting up camp, I explored alone upstream along Deer Creek, looking for ruins and petroglyphs. I didn’t find anything, and the canyon upstream seemed to go on forever. Before long, I ran out of daylight and turned around. Hundreds of bats swirled above our camp as darkness fell.