I Found Lake Powell's Secret Path from 1776

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]In 1776, two Spanish priests, Dominguez and Escalan, came through this part of Glen Canyon. But there was no lake, no marina, no boat ramp, no easy way across, just sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and a river they could barely reach. Today, I'm following their route from Waweep towards Navajo Canyon. But I'm going to hit the same problem they did. The land looks open from a distance, then it starts closing in.

[00:00:44]Welcome back everybody. We're following the footsteps of the Spanish from 1776, Dominguez and Escalan, when they tked across Analopee Island. We're out here in Walweet Bay and you can see the ramp behind me there looking a little high and dry, but let's go. Dominguez and Escalante were moving through here with 10 others. Along with them, they had horses and pack animals. They were low on food. They needed water and they were trying to find a safe way through Glen Canyon. So, Dominguez and Escalan were stuck in Glen Canyon. Once they got over the Dominguez pass, they came through here and they were stuck on one side of the river. They had to cross Wawweep Creek, then they got on Analopee Island.

[00:01:20]Then from there they treked it across.

[00:01:21]And that's exactly what we're going to do right now.

[00:01:39]As they moved, Escalante described the red peaks and small messes that look like the ruins of a fortress. That description is the prominent castle rock in Wawweet Bay.

[00:01:56]Didn't take us long. We already found some beach art. Big old chunk of steel, that's for sure. Must have been to hold the buoys or something cuz you can see a cable there. I doubt it was part of the dock. It's too damn heavy. That's all steel. But we're over here. Okay. Based on the GPS that I did the other night, it looks like this is going to be a 10 mileer. So, we'll start my watch and we'll see how far it actually goes.

[00:02:32]So, it's starting to make sense while I'm here on Analopee Island. They most likely followed Tower but and they also followed Navajo Mountain. They must have seen it when they crossed over the echo cliffs back at Lee's Ferry. So, we're going to do what they did. We're going to follow those markers and go straight towards it. I need to keep in mind that this area of land was covered by water for 60 years. So the Padres's may have seen it a little bit different, but the topography should generally be the same.

[00:02:54]So we're going to follow the path of least resistance. We need to follow the path of least resistance because they had mules. They had horses. So the Padres's knew they couldn't overdo it with their animals cuz if their animals go, they go. What do we got here?

[00:03:06]Another buoy marker. Big old concrete block in the middle of the desert. Seems odd these days with no water, but that's what it is. More buoy markers over there. Big block on the right. Then a tire on the left. Litter box.

[00:03:22]Something.

[00:03:24]Oh, it looks like the top over there.

[00:03:26]No, it's a trash can lid.

[00:03:29]Yeah, I just found a 40. Who drinking 40s on the lake, bro? Going hard on the lake.

[00:03:37]Edward 40 hands. A lot of debris over here. A lot of debris. Water shoes.

[00:03:44]jar of something. This is looking like where the wind would blow everything from uh from high storms. It' blow off from Walweep in the docks. Yeah, it looks like it just came right over here.

[00:03:57]A lot of stuff. We're way up on the lake line to where full pool is. You could see all this driftwood. This is probably the remnants of a high water year. Lot of water came through here back in the 80s. Okay, I think we found the full pool line. Okay. Everything over there would have been water coming in.

[00:04:14]Tammer's tree on the beach. Then the transition line, you can see it turns back into regular desert. Just like that. Blake pal at this level is nowhere to be seen. See Waw Wee launch ramp right over there in the restaurant with the motel. So back to Dominguez and Escalante. So they came up a pass right over there near the Vermilion Cliffs.

[00:04:33]You can see it in the distance. There's those humps. Now that's called Dominguez Pass. Today when they went over Dominguez Pass, they walked through the desert and eventually made it to where the Wii Beach is today. So that's where they made their camp, San Diego. This is the trap of Glen Canyon. On the map, everything looks close. The river looks close. The next ridge looks close, but out here, close doesn't mean reachable.

[00:04:57]A cliff can turn a mile into a full day.

[00:05:00]All right, we made it up and over Analope Island. Looks like we're going to go downhill from here. Got some classic Glen Canyon scenery over here.

[00:05:06]We're going to head to the rocks right underneath Tower Beauty over there. All right, we're almost to these rocks. Got some tracks here. It's probably a coyote den, but those tracks look bigger than a coyote over the hump.

[00:05:27]Oh, I was wrong. That looks like a cow patty. I'm surprised that cattle have made it to Analopee Island. We'll climb up this outcrop and get a better vantage point. Well, there's Analopee Point. You can see Paige in the background. All the RV people down there. Dry storage. Then the private launch ramp right there. Is that anything?

[00:05:48]I don't know.

[00:05:52]All right, keep trekking forward.

[00:05:56]We're getting horny over here.

[00:06:00]I'm not going to lie. If I was out here like the Spanish were, starving to death. That dude's lunch. I'm really wondering about that cave. Escalani never wrote it down in his journal. So, we're heading to their next campsite, which is over there. They named it San Carlos or Vado de los Chamas. I'm horrible with Spanish, especially 1776 Spanish. But besides that, that's where they went. Dude, where are these cattle coming from, man? The only water source is the lake, and I don't think they could hoof it down that cool. We can see where the lake used to be. The white line right there in the center.

[00:06:32]Dominguez and Escalani's camp should be over there. Do you guys see what I see?

[00:06:36]Tammerous trees. We've hit the full pool water line. It is crazy how long these can stay alive for. You can see it's not dead. See some boers over there. Hey, what's going on, bro? Look like you're going out to have some fun. All right, we made it to the main channel. And there is Navajo Canyon.

[00:06:55]As they arrived to the opposite end of Navajo Canyon, the journey got dangerous. Escalani wrote in his journal that the descent towards the river was long, steep, rough, dangerous. Two pack animals went down first, then they couldn't make it back up, even with their loads removed. We can assume this is the moment the Padres's realized this was serious. This was no longer just a route. It was a gamble. If they went down into the wrong canyon, they might not get out. If they crossed the river in the wrong place, they might be trapped on the other side. So, they stopped and sent scouts ahead. They needed to know if there was a way through. They needed to know if there was a way to cross the Colorado River.

[00:07:36]Now, the question is is where did they camp? They camped where they could go down to the river. Yes, you heard it right here, folks. You could get down to the river from Analopee Island to Navajo Canyon. So, this is all cliffs. So, this is not San Carlos. This is not the spot where Dominguez and Escalani camped.

[00:07:53]It's going to be further that way. So, Dominguez and Escalani's camp, San Carlos, was directly across the mouth of Navajo Canyon. So, that gives us kind of an idea of where it's at. And I'm just not seeing where you can get people of cattle and horses down this. So, native guides brought them here. And Dominguez wrote in his journal that he felt that guides didn't know where they were going. And by the looks of it, where the cliffs are, he might have been right.

[00:08:17]Navajo Canyon right across. Oh, down there. That might be San Carlos right there on that shelf. That makes sense.

[00:08:27]There's a photo I found from the river that shows the slope. So, I'll show you guys here. The slope that goes all the way up to the cliff edge there. You could see it. So, there was a way to get down. People knew it. Okay, we came from up there, then down across. But this, let's see what's down there.

[00:08:48]There's no way they got their horses and cattle down this. So, Dominguez and Escalani sent two of the scouts into Navajo Canyon, but where did they get down from? That's the question. Then a couple days later, or about a day later, excuse me. Escalani was like, "Okay, let's try to go down." Then he actually took two cattle, but they rolled down and they lost all their equipment really coming back up. So, it's just like, how were they able to get down this? Did they get down this?

[00:09:15]Nope. That's too much.

[00:09:19]Wait, I think this is the spot.

[00:09:47]All right, there.

[00:09:54]Okay, get it, son.

[00:09:59]Wow, that was cool to see that before and after, man. It's always cool to do one of those. Can't be a desert rat video without that. WL Rosho, that was the guy in the photograph. So, all right, let's continue. It really is looking like that is the easier route down to the river. Finally brought out the Radio Coke Geer counter. Been seeing some colorful rocks, so I'm going to check them out. I've always wondered if these yellow ginger colors were anything, but Oh, wow. It actually went up a little bit.

[00:10:29]Not much. All right, it makes sense that the camp would have been over here with the cliffs and how the animals could have got down. Let's see if there's a nice way to actually get to the water.

[00:10:38]Yeah, this is totally doable for cattle and horses. Let's see how far down we can go.

[00:10:46]Nice. Our own main channel cove. Lots of muscles. But maybe we can find a spot without them. All I know is this is probably the last part of the year where I can actually do a hike like this cuz this is brutal. Midday sun. So, we're going to have to get some cold plunge action going on.

[00:11:20]Going to need that for the hike up.

[00:11:32]What do they say? If you carry a bucket to the river, you're liable to get shot.

[00:11:37]Luckily, it's one of these, not a bucket. All right, just did one more jump in. I'm going to let my feet dry, then we'll get the shoes on. But I wanted to check this out over here. The mouth of Navajo Canyon and the Spaniards went down over there. We'll go back over there and check it out. But I'm just so amazed that they were able to get down those cliffs. But mind you, like we've talked about, the lake has come up and down, up and down, and the waves have pushed that sand probably deeper, deeper down. What's not accessible today might have been accessible yesterday or in 1776. They were so close to the river, but they still could not easily use it.

[00:12:13]They needed the water for the animals.

[00:12:15]They needed food. They needed a route.

[00:12:18]But the canyon walls controlled everything. One scout crossed to search for an exit. Another went bearback with supplies to make smoke signals. Then came night and they didn't return. This is my stopping point. I followed the route as far as I can. From here I have to turn back. But Dominguez and Escalante kept going. They pushed east towards Worm Creek, Gunsite Canyon, Padre Creek, and eventually the famous crossing of the fathers. That crossing is now underwater beneath Lake Pal, but I'm saving that for the next video because before they ever found the crossing, they had to survive the maze of Glenn Canyon first. It really amazes me that people were able to get down that. It seems unlikely, but that's the case, you know, especially with the fact of that old photo I showed you from the river. It shows you it could get down in there. And there's some footage from the B when they flew a plane over here, which I'll show you right now. You could see that hill is right there.

[00:13:19]We're going to go back to Wawweep from here. It's going to be the hottest part of the day, but luckily my clothing is damp, so I got to hurry and make sure I can utilize this air conditioning that I got. All right, we're heading for that cave over there in the distance. I just found the motherload of Moy marbles.

[00:13:35]Wow, it goes back pretty far in there.

[00:13:37]That's perfect timing for me cuz I need a shaded break. There's no shade out here.

[00:13:43]Well, not too far, but it goes in.

[00:13:48]It's nice. Oh, damn. I just walked right by it.

[00:13:53]Look at that.

[00:13:56]Someone was making arrowheads up here.

[00:13:58]What we got here?

[00:14:00]Another piece. Then down below, chipping.

[00:14:06]I wonder if there's petetroglyphs on this wall. I wonder how many people were up here cuz it kind of makes sense. This used to be a stop for the migration route because where Dominguez and Escalan were back on the cliff edge where you go down then across to Navajo Canyon that was a point to and from. So this must have been the hotel for the night if anyone did leave their mark.

[00:14:26]It's not here. I don't see any carvings, petetroglyphs or anything of the sorts on the wall. The ancients, whoever lived here, definitely had a good view.

[00:14:37]Moved my bag over there to put in the shade so I can lay down. But I saw this.

[00:14:42]What is that? A bee that is carved.

[00:14:51]I don't know what that would be. But this cave is noticeable from miles away.

[00:14:58]And the pass is over there. Oh, dude.

[00:15:01]How am I missing these? You see that?

[00:15:05]Is that modern graffiti? like cowboys did that modern man. You can see it's old. It's kind of fa fading away.

[00:15:15]Ah, that's pretty cool, man. I thought there was nothing in here. So far, we're at what? Can you see that? There it goes. 9.41 miles. 6 hours 35 minutes since we left this morning. For you guys, it's probably been like 15 minutes. I'll see how much I edit it.

[00:15:32]But like and subscribe, guys. I'm chilling. We'll get going here soon. Let me just relax.

[00:15:41]Bye, cave.

[00:15:43]Oh, yeah.

[00:15:48]We have a marker of some sort. Survey marker. Yeah, looks like it. General Land Office. What year is this? 1937.

[00:15:59]General Land Office. 1937. Well, that's pretty cool. You never know what you're going to find out here.

[00:16:04]All right, we almost made it to Castle Rock. Well, I think this is a good vantage point if any. So, let me show you. You have Wat Bay over there. Then you have Warm Creek Bay over there. Now, they used to be kissing and touching and the water would go right by Castle Rock right in the center there. And you would go through the cut, which we are going to go see. So, where my feet are is where the water would be. I would be standing in water. And there's the lake down there right now. as of 2026.

[00:16:37]I think we made it. That ladies and gentlemen is the Castle Rock cut. Over there is towards Walweep. Then back behind us, Warm Creek. So for the cut to be usable, the lake would have to rise 55 ft in order for water to be in here and for boats to go across.

[00:17:00]Looks like some folks have driven their UTVs through here.

[00:17:03]So from back behind us all the way to Wawweep, the cut is about a mile, a mile long dredge all the way through.

[00:17:12]So I'm actually going to go back up and get a better shot of Castle Rock. There she is. They cut it down pretty deep back in the day. Now they just need to cut it down 55 more feet.

[00:17:23]Then we're going to have a new Grand Canyon right here. Well, there's Wepe over there. She's still pretty far away.

[00:17:29]And the cut It amazes me to think that Castle Rock used to be an island. Crazy. Well, that's the end of the road.

[00:17:41]This is home stretch, baby. Let's just hope the kayak wasn't stolen. God, I have to call park service. Castle Rock right there. Then our trek all the way over Analopee Island. Oh, I got to keep going. What the hell is that metal? Oh, yeah. That's a metal right over here.

[00:18:01]Little cove. Nice little cove. Damn, dude. Is it really gone? Oh no. I see the wood. Oh god. Where's it at? Right there. Can you see it? Oh, there it is.

[00:18:12]Right there.

[00:18:14]I thought I was going to be robbed.

[00:18:16]Piece of wood. Kept it there. No problem. We're good to go. Now we just have to trek across the water and not get hit by a boat. Okay. Grand total for the hike. Back at the kayak. 14.63 miles in 9 hours and 22 minutes.

[00:18:34]Well, that was a really good hike, man.

[00:18:37]My legs are killing me. I got this wake surfer boat I got to freaking go around.

[00:18:42]These waves are going to be gnarly.

[00:18:45]Like being surrounded, bro. God damn it.

[00:18:47]Right in the middle of these [ __ ] boats.

[00:18:58]Jesus. This is a hazard. Do not freaking kayak in Huawei, folks. I'm telling you right now. All right, we finally made it back.

[00:19:15]>> N bro, you can supervise.

[00:19:27]Woo!

[00:19:30]>> All right.

[00:19:31]>> Yeah, buddy.

[00:19:32]>> Thanks, guys.

[00:19:33]>> No worries, dude. Appreciate it.

[00:19:36]>> I like to try it. It's the third time I've done it.

[00:19:38]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, you got to drive.

[00:19:40]>> Third time's a charm.

[00:19:41]>> You got to drive.

[00:19:41]>> Thanks, bro.

[00:19:43]>> Lake Pal hides more than old canyon walls. It hides old routes, old camps, old problems, and places where people had to make hard decisions just to keep moving. Today, this looks like open water. But in 1776, this was one of the hardest parts of Glen Canyon to get through. All right, ladies and gentlemen, that was a successful day on Analopee Island. You can see where we tked across it. So, this is where I'm going to leave you guys. I appreciate if you made it to the end. I hope you had fun on this one. I am sore as hell. I need to go take a hot bath. So, see you on the next one, everybody. Like and subscribe.

[00:20:20]Appreciate it. We'll see you next time.