The trail leads 0.4 mile down the wash to the bench above Dark Canyon's wash. Again, try to stay on one trail here. Past hikers have forged a network of interconnecting paths above the wash, resulting in serious erosion and destruction of the coarse, yet delicate desert vegetation. Lost Canyon can be reached by following the trail 0.8 mile up the course of Dark Canyon's small stream, crossing it several times en route. The better campsites are located along that stretch, on low benches above the wash.
Most sites are shadeless, though a few are set beneath the scant shade of scattered cottonwoods.
The gorge becomes narrow and confined by limestone cliffs above Lost Canyon, and in the 6 miles from there to Youngs Canyon, much of the route follows limestone ledges above the wash. Although campsites are scarce in that section, hikers can find ledges wide enough to spread a sleeping bag or pitch a freestanding tent above the high water mark of past flash floods. Dark Canyon's gorge tightens up immediately below LeanTo Canyon, with rockhopping, ledge walking, and numerous stream crossings en route to Lake Powell. .