Bluejohn Canyon

Bluejohn Canyon is a notable slot canyon located in eastern Wayne County, Utah, within the United States. It is situated on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, positioned just south of the boundary of the Horseshoe Canyon Unit of Canyonlands National Park. While often mistakenly believed to be part of the national park, its administrative status is on BLM territory.

The canyon is thought to derive its name from a 19th-century outlaw named John Griffith. Known by the moniker "Blue John" due to heterochromia (one blue eye and one brown eye), he reportedly utilized the area for concealing stolen horses. The main fork of Bluejohn Canyon extends for approximately 11 miles (18 km) and originates from the Robbers Roost Flats, eventually becoming a tributary to Horseshoe Canyon.

Bluejohn Canyon achieved international recognition in 2003 due to a widely publicized incident involving outdoorsman Aron Ralston. While canyoneering within the canyon, Ralston became trapped for five days when a boulder fell and pinned his right forearm. In a desperate bid for survival, he amputated his own forearm using a multi-tool. This harrowing experience was later detailed in his autobiography, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place," and famously depicted in the 2010 film "127 Hours." The full traversal of Bluejohn Canyon necessitates advanced technical canyoneering skills and appropriate safety equipment.