Hiking the Great American Southwest

Zion's East Rim

2012-11-13T10:30:00.001-08:00

First-my hiking boot review-KEEN sucks!

The nice color brochures that the National Parks put out have basically no information in them anymore.
The Fall newspaper edition at Zion N.P. wasn't much better.
So you will have to see the Ranger to get any description of the East Rim Trail. Or you may read this.

It was free National Park day yesterday, so we went out on a cold morning. I'm not paying $25, no thanks.

It was frigid (maybe about freezing) when we started our hike to Stave Springs from the Weeping Rock parking lot. Instead of turning left to Weeping Rock go straight and up, up, up. The trail is paved for at least the first mile. This turns out not to be a godsend as there is not much cushioning to concrete. The CCC is to blame I think. Wear well-soled cushioned shoes.

The trail climbs 2000 feet in 5 miles from the parking lot to Stave Springs, so it is tough. It is fairly impossible to get lost. When the trail goes straight to Observation Point at the 2 mile mark, go right and downhill instead (toward the East Entrance). The route is then well cairned over slickrock to where it crosses Echo Canyon. After the crossing the trail gets very vertical again. We went up and down this very steep section in the snow, but we made it. The last mile is level to Stave Spring. Treat the spring water before drinking! The spring is the halfway point of the East Rim Trail. We will do the other half as another out-and-back another day, from the east entrance to Stave Spring.

We did the round trip to Stave and back in 6 hours. This includes time to eat and a hike to Hidden Canyon on the way back down to the parking lot.
Hidden Canyon is another vertical little sucker, but probably only a mile each way. There are chains to hold onto on this trail at exposed areas. There is a nice little arch maybe 15 minutes past the end of the developed trail. It's right in the drainage.
Hidden Canyon is a nice extra if there is time.

The best part of the East Rim Trail is beautiful Echo Canyon, including views of narrows below the foot trail. The narrows themselves are a technical adventure and not for me. Of course there are great views all around of Zion Canyon.

Boy my old back is sore from walking on cement, Thanks CCC! Well you needed a job I guess.

We Soar Above Kanab Without Wings

2012-11-01T11:38:00.001-07:00

Come to Kanab, Utah. It is the "Greatest Earth on Show". That is what the welcoming sign says. But if you don't like the desert stay away. We do so we retired here.
It is 9:00 A.M., October 25, 2012, the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
We start the hike at the corner of 100 East and 200 South.
We head east on 200 South to the junction with 300 East.
The historic Farnsworth house is on the southwest corner. This town is full of wonderful old homes.
We turn left or north on 300 East, looking directly at the radio towers. These towers are our not so beautiful landmark on this hike.
We turn right or east on 100 South. ("K" Hill is straight dead ahead. There is a big "K" for Kanab on the cliff face, we do that out west.) The road soon runs out at a scenic dumpster.
A dirt track passes on the right of the garbage can, which we take.
We turn immediately left at the next dirt track.
There are many dirt tracks here but we stay down low from "K" Hill, heading north again toward the towers.
20 minutes from our start we are at a tiny wash which goes right at a hiker's sign. This is Tom's Canyon Trail. A city trail signboard is ahead if you want to read it.
Tom's Canyon Trail is cool today in the shade as it winds up and down the clay hills at the bottom of the Vermilion Cliffs. The trail is marked with sign posts. We do not take the first right which goes up "K" Hill but continue straight and up a hill.
There is a fancy subdivision on our left, "K" Hill on our right.
We reach a gate in 20 minutes and go through. In a few minutes more there is a picnic table left and up a hill. We go straight, passing some horse tie up posts.
Eventually the subdivision runs out; because of the recession it may never grow larger.
Tom's Canyon Trail is supposed to be 1 1/2 miles in length and we walk it in 1/2 hour.
Cliffs Trail (for Vermilion Cliffs) passes on the left of the next Kanab trail system signboard. A right spur here goes to horse tie up posts and a nice spot with a picnic table.
Freelance hiking looks to be available further up Tom's Canyon past the picnic table, but not today.
Cliffs Trail is a sweaty deal even at this temperature. It climbs vertically up the Vermilion Cliffs. The Vermilion Cliffs are part of the "Grand Staircase".
This trail is marked but not as well as Tom's. As we near the top there are no more signs, just pink ribbons.
Just below the top of the cliff the trail levels and heads west around the escarpment (good views of the Chocolate Cliffs, which is the lowest "stair" to the south, and the radio towers), then north a short way, then east up a short canyon.
Cliffs Trail is 3/4 mile long and takes us 45 minutes.
At the end of Cliffs Trail we take the sandy track to the left. This is part of the Hog Canyon ATV trail system.
We will be on ATV trails now for about 45 minutes. It is sandy and still good aerobically with ups and downs.
After 10 minutes on the ATV trail we go right.
After 10 minutes more we bear left quickly 3 or 4 times, looking directly at the radio towers.
1/2 hour after we first get on the ATV trail we are at a gate. There is a "No Trespassing" sign on the gate. I think this gate is always open now.
Five minutes after passing through the gate we go straight, not left, at an ATV and hiker sign.
About five more minutes pass and we go left.
The ATV trail is blocked soon now.
Straight ahead and to the right is a bench to sit on. Available here are the best views of the "Grand Staircase". There is a #21 and #22 signpost here. I don't know what these signposts mean, have never found a guidebook for these. To the north are the White, Grey, and Pink Cliffs. The highest elevation Pink Cliffs are where Bryce Canyon National Park resides.
So the staircase is: Pink, Grey, White, Vermilion (the second step which we are on), and Chocolate Cliffs.
We head directly south from the sitting-bench on what is designated the Squaw Trail. Now the radio towers are left and above us.
Shortly after leaving the scenic bench we see a post with #03 and go left, following the trail to #17 post.
The Squaw Trail winds around and downward with good views of Kanab town and the Chocolate Cliffs.
At signpost #01 there is a view west of the "bottles" rock formation.
The Squaw Trail is 1 1/4 miles long and takes us 1/2 hour.
We go south from the third and final signboard, down Main Street, then left on Center Street, to where we started.
The "bottles" may be reached with a scramble from the signboard.
If you are having trouble finding Main St., the library and hospital are on it.
It is 12:45 P.M., October 25, 2012, the temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Total hiking time and distance: 3 3/4 hours, about 6 miles (I think). This includes time for a bite to eat and the walk on the spur trail to the Tom's Canyon picnic table.
You may do this faster or slower than we did. We are 60 years old. We met some hikers who said they did it in 1 3/4 hours. But they ran a lot. We told them, "We go to the track when we want to run."
Attention:
Cliffs Trail is brutal in the summer heat.
Monsoon season is July through September roughly, every year being different.
Stay away when trail is wet!
Pack all trash out!
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USUT0127

a wonderful hiking area in the GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NAT'L MONUMENT

2012-10-27T12:17:00.001-07:00

EXTRACTED FROM EZINE:

The jurisdiction here lies with the BLM. The fee is zero.

The hiking in Hackberry Canyon is easy for an out-and-back hike. The hike up the side canyon to Sam Pollock Arch is more demanding than Hackberry but worth it. The optional loop described below is demanding but worth it.

The environment is back country and self-sufficiency/self-rescue is required.

The best time to hike here is spring/fall, optimally maybe October, after the monsoon season is well over and daytime temperatures are mid 50sF-70F. Feet may well get wet, so one should regard cold feet as a consideration. The lower 10 miles of Hackberry usually flows.

Navigation is easy with landmarks for assistance.

Trailhead: From Highway 89 between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT drive to between mileposts 17-18 and turn north on the well graded, dirt Cottonwood Road. Drive 14.4 miles to just past a cattle guard and right branching Brigham Plains Road to a short pull off on the left (west) that is the trailhead for lower Hackberry Canyon. Do not ever travel Cottonwood Road if it is wet or if rain is predicted. The road is rough under the best conditions.

From the trailhead head west, being sure to cross Cottonwood Wash to find Hackberry Canyon heading right or north.

The canyon is scenic as it breaks through the Cockscomb. This is a nice narrow (but not a narrows) canyon which usually has spring water running in it. About an hour north, on the left on a bench just above the wash floor are some dinosaur tracks on a small rock (3 ft. wide X 5 ft. long X 2 ft. high). This would be 20-25 minutes after the largest "rock tower" on your right as you travel upstream. To the dino tracks is also a little more than half way to Frank Watson's (built by Mr. Thomas?) cabin which is on the west side about 15 feet above the creek bed. The tracks are outies not innies so they are tough to photograph. They are still cool Grallator prints.

.6 mile upstream from Frank Watson's cabin (which is forever being reconstructed), continue easily through the Moenave & Chinle formations, and the first canyon on the left is the canyon which holds Sam Pollock Arch. It is a 3 mile (total out-and-back distance) trek from here to Sam Pollock arch. To get there, walk up this side canyon until you encounter a pour off at the top of the Kayenta formation in 1/2 mile. Look for a trail on the right (facing up canyon) that leads up and around this obstacle. Continue a mile up canyon to locate Sam Pollock arch looming above the stream bed on the right. There is a cave with Art Chynoweth's signature engraved in it north of the arch.
The one-way route to Sam Pollock Arch: Travel north and upstream in and next to Hackberry Creek 1/2 hour to the largest "rock tower" seen. From here it is 25 minutes to the dinosaur tracks. Then continue 45 minutes to the cabin. The first canyon on the left past Watson's cabin is 15 minutes more (TAKE IT). The first 1/2 mile in this drainage is a boulder-hopping 1/2 hour. Past the dryfall is an easier 1/2 hour hike to the arch (and 1 more mile). When ready, return the way you came. Allow 7-8 hours for the out-and-back trip to the arch. The distance being undetermined, it is probably about 12 miles round trip.

Or a loop option return is available, with many elevation changes and therefore more difficulties. Directly east of Watson's cabin there is a steep drainage ascending a series of falls. Pass on the left side of the first dryfall here to find cowboy glyphs and signatures. Continue to climb the next dryfall series on the left or north. (The south side is easier here, however the north side delivers the hiker due west of the amphitheater or overhang which holds "Moki House", an Indian ruin site with a nice pictograph. Search in the Navaho sandstone domes for it.) From Moki House hike and hug the bottom of the Navaho sandstone domes north for about 20 minutes, then find a spot where the top or rim of the formation may be accessed. Travel this rim south (the Navaho domes should be directly west and below you) to where an intersecting drainage chasm and rim head upstream east. At this intersection a nice arch may be viewed to the southwest but it is hard to photograph. Scramble uphill and east on the north rim of the drainage to what appears to be a perfect huge natural cairn. Travel south over a typical Utah "Devil's Backbone" and then basically southeast, keeping beautiful Castle Rock (which may be hiked from the SE side on another day) and a steep drainage on the left. The trails come and go here. This is what Michael Kelsey calls the Ken Goulding stock trail (but built by Mr. Chynoweth?). Anyway, all trails will eventually come together though many foot tracks disappear daily in the wind. There are very few cairns but they are large and visible. It is nearly impossible to get lost unless one could miss the landmark Castle Rock. There is no trail construction remaining other than the last very steep exit against a cliff face into Cottonwood Wash and the access road. There is another nice arch and a "praying Tibetan monk" just before the descent to Cottonwood.

The return loop option from "Sam Pollock" canyon/Hackberry Canyon intersection: Travel south downstream to the cabin, then just short of 1/2 hour east up the north side of the drainage to the top of first dryfall, passing cowboy signatures at 20-25 minutes. Hike and scramble (another 1/2 hour) the north side of more dryfalls and east to Moki House. Moki House to the large "natural" cairn by the described route is about an hour. Then go east and south on the obscure Ken Goulding Trail, keeping Castle Rock to the left, to Cottonwood Wash in another hour. Lower Hackberry Canyon car-park is south about 1 mile via the C. wash or access road. It is a very long day to incorporate the loop hike. Or camp near the cabin in safe weather and make 2 shorter days. Allow 4 hours from the cabin to the car-park. The distance being undetermined, it is probably 4 1/2 miles from the cabin to the car. It is tough but fair going with constant route negotiating and navigating. The loop return only adds about 1/2 mile more than the out-and-back but adds up to several hours more.

If energy is in excess, from the lower Hackberry TH one may also access the beautiful "Yellow Rock" formation by traveling steeply and almost due west a short distance.

This whole area is like a fairyland landscape and was created by cataclysmic geologic events.

visit my web site here

more black marks agin THE author

2012-10-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

On Hiking/Oh No... THE AUTHOR

Michael R. Kelsey, as we all know, is the best at finding the most remote hikes. He is best at not much else. This time it is the "old Indian trail" trick. I have nothing against old Indian trails for accessing scenic sites. But I have to be able to find it, and I am not a bird or even a dexterous ancient Pueblo Indian.
Map 34 in his Paria River hiking thing... OOps, have to refer to Map 31 and maybe Map 30 for this Wrather Arch/Canyon via an old Indian route which is immediate?? to the Northern Rim Overlook. No one has hiked here and it is not cairned as THE author hopes. Don't blame him. This whole thing, after a 17 mile off-highway drive which will burden your 4x4, is a route and not a trail. I admit that a route is impossible to find, especially when north is about 2 o'clock on a terrible map. So there is not a cairn and there is not a map. Other than that a good hiking chapter. In all fairness, one of the other maps has the north at 8 o'clock, much better.
But we are used to all of this nonsense with Kelsey. So we persevered, knowing that we were for sure in for some kind of hike anyway. CV exercise will always be provided in this fellow's books. CV, frustration, cussing, confusion, tiredness from not getting there.
Of course we did fine finding the "floating" sand dune. It's as big as the moon.
We eventually found the arch overlook from the north rim of the Paria by matching his photo to our perspective. We could not be sure of the chute down to the river. This is partly because of unfriendly description (it's adjacent) and partly because of no route marked. I guess no one uses this down route except Kelsey and Puebloans. The arch view is stinky at the overlook and I'm sure better in Wrather Canyon. That's why we wanted to get to the bottom. And there is rock art down there too. Us 60-year-olds can't just dive down any crack when we cannot see the route! There is a nice picture of the "route" from the opposite rim. A picture from the top would have helped from the top. You know, from the described hike vantage point.
No complaint about the rim views between the floating dune and the arch but the West Clark Bench (Water Pockets, Cobra Arch, Buckskin) is better than this East Clark Bench. We floundered around for six hours and took the long hill up to our Jeep.
More stuff in this book not worth the trouble: The "Hidden Panel" petroglyphs near the White House trailhead is not worth getting wet for. Ditto the panel on the right a couple miles downstream from the WHTH (that is how MK would do it) near the telephone wires; can barely see them for erosion. Thanks Mike.
Now we will try to find Moki House and the "cowboy trail" down to Hackberry Canyon and Watson Cabin and Pollock Arch. Fat chance but we'll get in some floundering. The "old cowboy trail" trick. At least Yellow and Castle Rocks are nearby and very scenic. Win some lose some with THIS author.

The Box of the Paria River, Hidden Cache, Cowboyglyphs, Yellow Rock

2012-05-30T09:10:00.037-07:00

Well this "Ring of Fire", May 20 1932 hrs., has nothing to do with the hike.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

This is not always the best time of year to hike the GSENM. Not too buggy & the water was low in the Paria River this year. Also we started at 9 a.m., not too hot.

In order to see the two scenics above and below, don't miss the well marked route uphill at the caricature. Above is "Rock Garden". The parentheses mean THE AUTHOR's name. By the time you near these fins, which remind me of Canyonlands Nat'l Park, you should be seeing and heading east toward Yellow Rock.

Castle Rock

The Hidden Cache, above and below. THE AUTHOR says that the access is 800 meters from the car-park to The Box plus 300 meters more to the second drainage on the right. That's where the trail to the Hidden Cache starts up on the left side of the drainage. Look, never mind the meters, just hug the right side as soon as you enter The Box (OBVIOUS!) so that you won't miss the trail up the drainage. Discover the cache then back to the river and upstream you go. If you see "Red Top" sandstone formation at the top of a drainage you missed HC trail by two drainages and are too far upstream. If you get to the fence and the first Cowboy-glyphs you are way too far. That's how far we got before we went back.

The next three below are Yellow Rock which (like The Wave and White Pocket) is a very photogenic geologic area near the Paria River. When you get near Yellow Rock you will see it on your right. Can't miss it. Just head for the southern side of this huge phenom. You can't possibly miss it if you go up at the caricature with the top hat and stay on the most main trail. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT SEE A TRAIL TO YELLOW ROCK-JUST HIKE CROSS-COUNTRY CAREFULLY.

The obvious beginning of southern access to The Box (just north of the Cottonwood Wash mouth), where the Paria River cuts through the Cockscomb. It's not very long but it is very cool. Is it 800 meters from the car-park? A mystery. Anyway, the trail head is marked on the west side of Cottonwood Wash Road about 11 1/2 miles north of Rt. 89 (between Page and Kanab).

Incoming, 5/20/12, 7 p.m. +

This hike was gleaned from THE AUTHOR's "Hiking and Exploring the Paria
River". The only day hikes he mentions in this area were like 20 hours for
us. So by checking his various maps which don't make sense we made this
little loop hike up. It could easily be done in 4 hours certainly, but we had
an extra hour to get lost with Kelsey. So we used up 5 1/4 hours on our
debut. The only thing that really needs attention is the descent east from
Yellow Rock to the Cottonwood Wash or to the road by the same name.
From the south side of Y Rock head due east until encountering cairns.
Some of the descent is very steep. From the wash or road it's about an
hour south to your car, once you get down. Where the road veers sharply
left to bypass a geologic reef I would recommend hiking cross country
right and nearer the wash for less mileage.
SYNOPSIS: Enter The Box from the south and the car-park.
After seeing the Hidden Cache and two graffiti panels (R) on the
Paria River exit right and uphill until Yellow Rock comes into view
right. Exit the south exposure of Yellow Rock to the east until finding
cairns leading to a steep descent. South in the road/wash 1 hour.
OR-
Not Tired Yet? If not you may add 2 hrs. to your hike easily. Instead of going
south after the descent turn north in the wash and hike Hackberry Canyon.
This is a nice narrow (but not a narrows) canyon which usually has spring
water running in it. Bear west as you are northbound to catch Hackberry.
The eastern bigger wash continues as Cottonwood. About an hour north after
the descent from Yellow Rock, on the left on a bench just above the wash floor
are some dinosaur tracks. Small rock (3 ft. wide X 5 ft. long X 2 ft. high).
This would be 15-20 minutes after the large
"rock tower" on your right as you travel upstream. So to the dino tracks
and back adds 2 hours. The tracks are outies not innies so they are tough to
photograph. They are still cool Grallators.

Best Hikes Within 25 Miles of Kanab

2012-05-06T09:52:00.009-07:00

Kanab, Utah. I live there. I hike there. These are our favorite local hikes:

Bunting Trail-well publicized and in town
Squaw Trail (the best view of the "Grand Staircase")-well publicized and in town
Solaredas Trail-in town
Skutumpah Canyon (rock art)
North Fork Tiny Canyon or Mace Cave (rock art & ruins)
Dinosaur track hike near Flag Point (rock art also and we saw mountain lions)

all of the above can get you home for lunch if started by 7 or 8 a.m.
the next 3, I would carry my lunch just in case

Mansard or Island in the Sky hike (rock art)
Kanab Creek east of Rt. 89 (Indian ruins)
North Fork Hog Canyon (including "Superman" rock art & waterglyphs)

the next 2 may require more than half a day, mostly because of access problems (and 4WD only)

Glass Eye or Flood Canyon Indian ruins (try to include Inch Worm Arch)
Peekaboo or Red Canyon (short & nice slot canyon)

the following is a long hike but worth the effort

Cottonwood or Ron Smith Indian ruin site (rattlesnakes)

Bryce, nice

2012-04-24T17:31:00.012-07:00

I don't like to tout National Parks because there is plenty of great free stuff to do. However, the Peekaboo Loop accessed from Bryce Point in Bryce Canyon National Park is the most awesome hike in the most eye-popping N. P.
Hiking in Bryce is no walk in the park. The hoodoos reflect the sun's heat uncomfortably on uphill grades. High elevations and natural ups and downs make this a demanding hike. The park recommends 3-4 hours, we did it in 2 1/2. I could not recommend this on a hot summer afternoon.
This loop and access lets one see the entire Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, worthy of the name. And see the Wall of Windows. The Bryce Point access is not always open, dependent on weather. Peekaboo can also be accessed from Navaho Loop (still great but not as).

We prefaced this 5 1/2 mile hike (rated strenuous) with the 1 mile Bristlecone Loop at the top of the paved 18 mile park road. These trees are always cruelly twisted but they like it like that-bad weather is good for thousand year life spans apparently. We didn't need to do this, as Peekaboo had a few specimens. But it's an extra mile if you want it.
So go on a free National Parks day.
Red Canyon next door in Dixie National Forest has free access.

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Hometown Tiny Canyon

2012-04-23T12:59:00.009-07:00

It's nice to drive just a few miles from home for a nice hike. Tiny Canyon is the canyon at the south end of the rifle range which is north of Kanab, Ut. on Hwy. 89 (or the canyon just north of Trail Canyon, which is across from Hog Canyon). We accessed it twice trying to find a supposed Indian ruin in the south fork. Well we tried two south forks and haven't found it yet. There are some short decent narrows in the 2nd. south fork (turn south out of Tiny just before the west fork dry-or-wet falls). Anyway, to explore any southern forks, park at the range and find any trail on the north rim. My opinion: unless you find the ruin site, not worth the trouble for the southern forks. UP AND DOWN IN THE SAND & BRUSHY! But scenic.
We did find a nice cave (Mace) in the north fork though. Pictographs, petroglyphs, metates. Across the wash from Mace Cave there is a ruin site under a ledge, maybe 3 or 4 pits and some original beam posts. Not much there but still interesting. You could go the same way as to the last south fork and turn north. My recommendation though is to drive north past the rifle range where the guardrail ends and park. (If you get to the Best Friends turn you are too far.) Head up the sandy drainage on the west side of Hwy. 89. Get ALL THE WAY to the top. This should take a good half hour to 45 minutes. Now head west cross country, erring on the side of Tiny Canyon for orientation. 1 1/2 hours should get you to the obvious large cave at the end of the north fork. We took 3 1/2 hours round trip with exploration. You can cut time off on the way back by staying back from Tiny Canyon and taking a more direct line. Orientation should not be an issue on your way back. It's just ESE. This hike is not too tough but is not for really hot weather. We went at 8a.m. in the summer. It's sandy! Good views!
We haven't given up on those elusive ruins in the south fork yet.

Moki Steps, Petroglyphs, Pictographs, Waterglyphs, Dinosaurs, Lions and...oh my!

2011-11-18T13:49:00.005-08:00

Moki steps are not for the afeared of heights but the only way

the long and the short of it-a smaller dinosaur crossed at right angle to the larger

view from the top eastward

This booger is a dinosaur track pictograph! I got no idea how bullet holes got here. To see this baker's dozen (well I can't guarantee the mountain lions) from Kanab: Go east on 89. About 6 miles east of Johnson Canyon Rd. go north & park at the second cattle guard. Walk about 120 paces north on the same rd. Walk left on an obsolete 2-track and look directly at the Vermilion Cliffs. You are going to the top & the biggest white rock directly in front of you. Aim for the right side of it! About a 1000 foot climb. Perseverance will eventually get you some cairns. You must take the Moki steps. Allow 4 hours with plenty of picture taking and goofing off. A swell time for all!

blue is unusual in pictographs

"SUPERMAN"

Want to get to these 9 above? From Kanab go north on 89. Take the Best Friends road. Take Rt. 100 right. Take Rt. 101 right. Take 101D right. Take 101E left. Park in 1/4 mile. Walk north on the rim to the waterglyph. Standing at the glyph look east across the wash to the alcove with the rock art. Lots of bush-wacking to get there. This access is 4WD only!!! ....11.22 update: About a 10 minute walk north along the rim from the pictured waterglyph there is another great one!

HERE'S MY WEBSITE IF YOU CARE; RECIPES mavensrecipes.blogspot.com; BIKING maven-fiveexceptionaltrail.blogspot.com, phomtbiking.blogspot.com, mavensepicride.blogspot.com; GOLF COURSES golfbyeveryman.blogspot.com

Cobra Arch/Middle Trail Loop

2011-10-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

This hike is in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.
Cobra Arch is one of the most unusual I've seen and the Middle Trail into Buckskin Gulch looks pretty good and doable. With just day packs it looks like a piece of cake (about 100 vertical ft.), but we didn't have time this go 'round to enter the gulch.
I've been in the bottom of Buckskin several times, but had never seen it from the rim until now. It's DEEP (up to 500 ft.)! Which I could kinda tell from the bottom.
Route to trail head: Take route 89 east from Kanab, Utah or west from Page, Arizona. Between mile posts 21 & 22, immediately east of Paria River Guest Ranch, turn south on gravel road FR #750. Stay on the most main route, which is occasionally marked "750" to the Middle Trail. The trail head is just past a fence line, on the south side of the road, 7.8 miles from the paved Hwy. 89. The last mile is sandy and 4WD at certain times of the year. I made it all the way in 2WD.
Oh yeah, Long Canyon, which is about a mile from the pavement, looks to have some pretty neat narrows to explore sometime. It's not really colorful probably, but it is tight.
Hiking route from the Middle Trail head: Progress south on the trail for a few minutes to where the fence is down (before 1st downgrade) and turn left or east on a well worn trail. Follow the rim for about 45 minutes where a trail leaves the rim to the right and heads down slope. In another 45 minutes reach Cobra Arch. (So it's about 1 1/2 hours to the arch, 45 minutes on the rim and 45 minutes slogging through the sand to just below or south of the arch.) After visiting the arch head southwest toward the big gash in the earth which is Buckskin Gulch. Basically rim walk the north side of the gulch until the Middle Trail is intersected. This should take 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours from the arch. You'll get there. Then take the Middle Trail north and uphill back to your vehicle (let's say 1 to 1 1/2 hours again). With sightseeing, multiple stops for picture taking, and looking into Buckskin at various points, the whole loop took us 4 1/2 hours at a leisurely pace. WARNINGS: If looking into the slot canyon from above be extremely careful for two reasons: 1) Anything kicked or dropped or thrown into the canyon may kill someone below. 2) The slot canyon's rim is very disintegrated and flaky and if you are on a slab that breaks or if you lose your footing you are one dead person for certain.
Do take the time to look at the gulch access at Middle Trail. There are some good petroglyphs to see without leaving the rim or downclimbing.

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Snake Gulch to the Corral

2011-09-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

I recommend it.
Snake Gulch is full of pictographs (and a few petroglyphs) from the "Basketmakers", 300 BC to 800 AD. I would call this place Canon Pintado if it wasn't already taken. The jurisdiction is Kaibab National Forest (Kanab Creek Wilderness). An easy terrain hike, out-and-back to the corral and/or spring at Table Rock took us 6 1/2 hours, including lunch. It's about 6 miles each way and features mostly red pigmented pictographs. Hike early in the day to see the north side art work more easily in the shade. Snake Gulch trail runs generally east to west on this hike. The first art site is mostly petroglyphs in an alcove right, about 45 minutes into the hike. After that keep looking right all the way to the corral, which is about 3 1/2 hours into the hike (including sightseeing). Some pictographs are ankle-high and some are 20 feet above the trail. Apparently many ledges have fallen down. There are also many ruin piles, not of much discernibility except to archaeologists. They are still cool though, with some stone fencing obvious. Turn around at the corral and cross to the south side of the gulch as there are a couple of nice panels there. The corral has not much remaining except for fence posts. Recognize it by the granaries behind it and below an alcove. If doing a multi-day hike of Snake Gulch, there is a camping site existing on the south side of the gulch, across from the corral. This should be plenty of a day, shouldering a full pack. The Table Rock spring was dry this fall day.
Access: 1 mile south of Fredonia, Az. take a right onto Forest Service Route 22 for 21 miles paved and 1 1/2 miles gravel. Turn right on FS 423 for 1 1/3 mi., then right on FS 642 for 2.6 miles to the trail head. The trail is about an hour from downtown Kanab.

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Archaic Rock Art

2011-09-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Thx to Jim A. and "Untitled Topo" for getting us here

Clue: our crack is left

Clue: this chasm's on the way

Clue: trailhead view

Clue: trail fossils on the way

Clue: Scarlett Johanson was not here

Green is very unusual in "Barrier Canyon" art

Jack Sprague, chairperson of the Conservation and Preservation Committee for the ARARA submitted to Mr. G. Smith in 2008 that he was very distressed that Mr. Smith had published directions to a Barrier Canyon rock art site on the internet. I have spent 15 plus years investigating this remarkable (3000-4000 years old) style of rock art and my first inclination was to spout: "OK Mr. Sprague, so you can see this wunderbar site but no one else may?" Well, after having seen the sights for myself, I agree with Mr. S. this time. I rigorously object to a "don't ask don't tell" discipline regarding cultural resources, as I don't believe that most beer drinking vandals are willing to hike 10 miles to do their damage (I know it only takes one). I also find that if government personnel is pressed that they will give you just enough information to get you killed. When someone is sincere and determined to find a site in the desert, this is an absurd policy. However, the site which Mr. Sprague refers to is extraordinarily fragile. So I am not going to give you but clues here, unlike my usual hiking guides. By the way, Mr. Smith did cease and desist publicly announcing the position of this site. Alas, unfortunately this is a good thing.
I will tell you that there are many miles of rough road (you must bear south 32 miles after entering the main gravel road from the highway) and a 1700 vertical elevation (in 3 miles) climb out of this site. Not for most casual vandals, but "Annie", you have gone or are going to Hell-Karma says.
I will say that I am not as concerned for this site as I am for Sego and Buckhorn. Those two sites are extremely accessible. Horseshoe (the quintessential) is protected by Rangers.

Cottonwood Canyon Ruin Site

2011-09-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

This wonderful site near Kanab, Ut. is one of the few cliff dwellings in the area. It is a difficult (approximately) 7 1/2 mile round trip hike and a person will likely only average just over a mile per hour. Well worth it! Start across Rt. 89 from the Hog Canyon 4WD playground entrance (so you will be entering the sandy track on the west side of the highway). After wallowing around a while you will find the only place where you can easily 4WD across Kanab Creek. First priority is to scramble to the top of the rim on the north side of Trail Canyon. You will (as per usual) constantly be thinking "this must be the top", but it isn't. If you began to get vertical asap, eventually find a tepee-shaped white dome rock formation and head for the deep red rocks directly above and northwest of the tepee. Shortly thereafter you reach a fence and the top. It is only about 3/4 mi. from bottom to top, but close to an hour. After going through the fence head west-south-west through sandy rim terrain for about 1 1/4 miles. This terrain is up and down, up and down-another hour. You should not get lost here, keeping Trail Canyon to your left. Tiny Canyon is on your right. Stay as close to Trail Canyon as possible while trying to stay westbound. Intersect an old 4WD trail (archaeologists or pot-hunters made this I assume) which has not been used for 20 years and heads still westerly. Difficult to follow in places (and we saw a rattlesnake too), but you don't belong out here if you can't do it. 25 minutes or 1 mile on this obscure track brings you to an intersection with a more evident north and south 2-track. This is the most important junction since gaining the rim. Go south on this track for five minutes to a locked gate and fence. Walk west along the fence 5 minutes or so to the canyon rim. This is not actually Cottonwood but it IS where the ruin is. At the end of the fence you are at the northern "finger" of a 3 "finger" canyon. Head south along the rim, keeping the canyon on your right. Basically heading south and west, 15 minutes from the fence you are standing directly above the ruin but will never see it. This cost me hours of rambling around. Now stay close to the rim! Heading primarily west now and looking back north and east, eventually (15 minutes approx. after you were standing directly above the site) you will spot an alcove which faces west and is almost obscured by vegetation. There it is! Get out the binoculars and you will confirm ancient dwellings before scrambling down. It's a tough climb down and back up (15 minutes out) and more rattlers live here. I don't know that this site is worth dying for, but snakes are scared of you too. Most bites occur if we people want to play with snakes. Rattlesnakes don't play, puppies do.
There is another way to the site but I am not sharing right now.

Kanab's Historic Homes

2011-08-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

Kanab this Kanab that, blah blah blah. Well in the last posting I added a note about this town's historic structures. 15 are listed on the historic "Walking Tour". But I found many more. You can walk to all of them so I put it in this Blog. But to see them all in a day I recommend bicycling. Do not take pictures of the residents. Do not publish any photos of these residences without written specific permission from the residents! It is strictly illegal to do so. None the less people are proud of these homes. Take a look. There are 15 structures on the Kanab "Heritage Walking Tour". I found 24 more homes with Heritage Council documentation signage. There are at least that many more that qualify, but these people do not appreciate gapers apparently. Kanab also has a historic cemetery and historic movie sets (free access) and movie star signage.
Some notes on the 15 structures on the "Walking Tour": the structure at 97W Center has a facade, the house at 101W 100N has an address on it of 106 on it (for sale MLS 1404772 and 4 stars in my opinion), the Heritage House (4 stars) at Main and 100S has an address of 115S on the fence, the B&B at 58S has an address of 54 on it (4 stars), the structure at 17W 100S is 4 stars, the structure at 116S 100W is 4 stars, the 4 star house at 93N 200W has a for sale sign but must be inactive, the commercial property at 86S 200W is for sale (MLS 1404456).
THE OTHER 24 HOMES: 400 SOUTH; 00 block West= Hayden & Sytha B. Church 1915, Joseph & Anna Brown 1919, 100 SOUTH; 100 block West= Edward K. Pugh 1905, 100 block East= Findlay-Hamblin 1915, 100 NORTH; 100 block West= Israel & Ella Woolley Chamberlain 1919, 00 block East= Willis C. Little 1905, 200 NORTH; 200 block West= George & Wandle Mace 1883, 300 NORTH; 100 block West= Cram-Beard 1932 (still in the family, not original outside??), 300 EAST; 200 block South= Frank L. Farnsworth 1918 (4 stars), 100 EAST; 200 block North= Hamblin-Larsen 1918 (4 stars), 00 block North= Francis Marion Hamblin, Jr. 1910, MAIN; 300 block South= Willow J. Mackelprang 1917 (4 stars), 100 block North= Shumway-Morris 1880-1905 (for sale MLS 1404688), 100 WEST; 100 block South= Nephi Merrill & Sarah Jane Mace Johnson 1917 (obscured by trees), 200 block South= Brigham Adelbert Riggs, Jr. 1929 (still in family), 200 block North= James W. Swapp 1912 (4 stars), 200 WEST (the best street); 100 block South= John Franklin Brown 1885, 00 block North= E. Leo Chamberlain 1916 (4 stars), Frederick A. Lundquist 1890 (4 stars), 100 block North= Jolley/Robinson/Kitchen 1893 by Jolley (additions by Kitchen & Robinson, for sale MLS 1403728, 4 stars), 200 block North= J. Marson Young 1936 (4 stars), 300 WEST; 200 block North= W. J. F. McAllister 1898, G. Franklin Swapp 1912 (for sale MLS 1404844), 100 block North= James L. Bunting 1888 (4 stars).
Most of these family names still have plenty of representatives living in the area.
So the original town site appears to have roughly been from what is currently from 300W to 400E and from 300N to 400S with a few "outliers".

Kanab's Vermilion Cliffs

2011-07-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here's some great hikes not a 5 minute drive from downtown K town, Utah:
The Bunting Trail has a steep uphill grade to the Vermilion Cliffs rim with some petroglyphs to see.
The Squaw Trail, another rim trail, has the best view of the Grand Staircase.
K Ridge Trail to Tom's Canyon Trail, not my fave but a great workout.
The Mansard Trail: like the Procession Panel in Bluff, the reward here took 3 or 4 attempts to find. Like PP it was stunning & worth the effort. The formation east of Mansard is also worth a look. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AND STEEP ROUTE FINDING WITH NO ESTABLISHED TRAIL.
The Solaredas Trail, reminds me of the Colorado Nat'l Monument area (we found some Moqui Steps).
These are all about 2-3 hours total out and back. All are steep and I would rate them moderately strenuous, except for Mansard which is harder.
If you are hanging around Kanab, it has an incredible amount of homes listed on the Heritage Council. Please respect private property and persons.
Throw your vitamin D3 in the garbage here. Blue skies and sun every day! Just watch the forecast for afternoon flash floods in July, August, September. And they CAN happen any time of year. I was in a flash flood in October-not supposed to happen.

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More Archaeological Finds For Finding

2011-02-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Prehistory of Perry Mesa: The short-lived settlement of a mesa-canyon complext [sic] in central Arizona, ca. A.D. 1200-1450 (The Arizona archaeologist)
I have indeed been lucky enough to find these sites:

No other clues forthcoming. You will find them if you're sincere.

GAZING,

Rochester-Muddy Creek Petroglyphs, rock-art, SW of Moore, Ut. (5*)

Sego Canyon, rock-art, NW of Thompson, Ut. (5*)

HIKING,

1. The Citadel, cliff dwelling ruins, SW of Blanding, Ut. (5*)

2. Perry Mesa (Agua Fria N. Mon.), mesa top ruins & rock-art, N of Phoenix, Az. (4 1/2*)many trails

3. Hardscrabble Wash, rock-art, N of St. Johns, Az. (4*)

4. Cannonball Mesa, mesa top ruins, W of Cortez, Co. (4*)can be biked

5. (Lower) Fish Creek, cliff dwelling ruins, SW of Blanding, Ut. (4*)

6. Cliff Dweller, old mine & rock-art, SW of Green River, Ut. (3 1/2*)

7. Owl Creek/Fish Creek Loop, cliff dwelling ruins & natural arches, SW of Blanding, Ut. (3 1/2*)

8. El Morro National Mon., pioneer rock-art, E of Ramah, N.M. (3 1/2*)

9. South Mountain Park, rock-art, S Phoenix, Az. (3 1/2*)

Available For Itinerary Management And Support

2010-11-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

Backcountry in the GREAT BASIN DESERT, U.S.A. Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico included with epicenter of the COLORADO RIVER BASIN of southern Utah. Ancient American Indian Archaeology and Art, HIKING, MT. BIKING, Geologic Astonishments not available to traditional tourists.
THE BEST HIDDEN GEM GOLFING!

WEBSITE

Some Great Geologic Hikes I'll Let You Find

2009-12-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

'cause getting there can be half the fun:
(towns referenced can be found on most atlases, with populations large enough to list)

Little Wild Horse Canyon/Bell Canyon (8 mi. loop, 5*)
N of Hanksville, Ut. on BLM land.
Stay hydrated. Very arid, roads impassable when wet.
Lovely narrows in LWHC. Goblin Valley St. Pk. is too cool and nearby.
TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/lwh.htm
www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/swell/little.htm

Round Valley Draw (4 1/4 mi. round-trip, 4*)
S of Tropic, Ut. in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
A 15 foot drop is involved. We didn't make the descent.
What we saw of the narrows was sweet. See Grosvenor Arch in the area.
TRY: www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/round_valley_draw/canyon.html
http://www..zionnational-park.com/round-valley-draw.htm (use URL)

No Thoroughfare Canyon (8 1/2 miles each way, 3 1/2*)
W of Grand Junction, Co. in Colorado National Monument.
As the name suggests, no trail, follows watercourse. Very long out-and-back day hike, or use shuttle.
A great bushwhack reveals some of the oldest rock on earth.
TRY: www.gjsentinel.com/rec/content/sports/stories/2009/05/04/050309_haggerty_www.html
www.americansouthwest.net/colorado/colorado/national_monument.html

Pollock Bench (5 1/2 mi. loop, 3 1/2*)
W of Fruita, Co. on BLM land (Black Ridge Wilderness).
This was a five-star mountain bike ride, but now is hiking only, boo hoo.
This whole Colorado River Gorge area is special.
TRY: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca//recreation/hiking/pollock.html
www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-colorado-national-monument-colorado-sidwcmdev_069137.html

Crag Crest (10-11 mi. loop, 3 1/2*)
N of Cedaredge, Co. in Grand Mesa National Forest.
Winter-like storms any time of year. Afternoon storm danger.
Good cross-country skiing available.
TRY: www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/recreation/trails/grand_mesa/crag_crest.shtml
www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151802/crag-crest.html

Spencer Trail (2 1/4 miles each way, 3*)
Near Page, Az. in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
A trudge uphill then down, in an arid environment.
The hike starts at historic Lee's Ferry. Great views at the summit.
TRY: www.toddshikingguide.com/Hikes/Arizona/GrandCanyon/Canyon19.htm
www.azcentral.com/travel/hiking/articles/2009/06/09/20090609hike0612.html

Wheeler Geologic Area (shortest option 17 miles, including WGA loop of 3.2 miles, 3*)
NE of Creede, Co. in Rio Grande National Forest.
Was formerly a National Monument, but was too hard to get to (& grueling as a day trip).
The amphitheater is swell indeed.
TRY: www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151493/wheeler-geologic-area.html
www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm

NOTE: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DISCREPANCIES IN HIKING MILEAGES. QUOTED DISTANCES ARE AS I REMEMBER HIKING THEM.

Here's 2 additional hikes I don't remember, but I did 'em:
Crack Canyon.TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/crack.htm
The Chute of Muddy Creek. TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/thechute.htm

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"PERFECT KIVA", (Grand Gulch)

2009-09-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

pictured: "Perfect Kiva", Bullet Canyon
article here on Ezine

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"ARCHAIC BUTLER WASH"

2009-09-05T10:01:00.001-07:00

pictured: vandalized "Wolfman Petroglyphs"

This area held one of the greatest caches of artifacts in the southwestern United States. Alas, that brought pot hunters. Much of what was saved became (dis)located to museums. Astonishingly, there is still enough in situ that we can still inhale the spirit of the place. Due to the unprotected nature of this Bureau of Land Management land, I'm not going to tell exactly how to get to these places.
The Butler Wash area is very disorienting and rewarding. Here's what I recommend: Stay at the Recapture Lodge in historic Bluff, Utah. Make some friends there. You will be among people with outdoor interests and the owners are very knowledgeable. If they sense sincerity they may help you find these great sites.
It took me 3 tries to find the "Procession Panel"4*. It entails a 6.6 mile drive north up unimproved Butler Wash Rd. (San Juan Co. #262, impassable when wet), which is 4 miles west of town. Then turn 100 yards west to the trail head above Butler Wash. It's then a 1 1/4 mile hike each way to the petroglyph panel.
It took me several tries to find "Eagle's Nest" ruin. Wow, what a testament to paranoia and guts that is!
The hikes into the 2 "bowl" sites are as rewarding as the grand finales.
Although access trails are short to sites, the Butler Wash area is very dangerous. Orientation is difficult and it is very arid. No potable water is available. Be careful and be aware of precise landmarks.
This is a no-fee area unless you take a guide. Please consider a guide if you are not back country savvy. The problems are the "no trail" slickrock and many intersecting wrong turns in the wash. A guided San Juan River trip is the only way to take in the "Desecration Panel".
HERE'S SOME GENERAL MILEAGES TO SOME OF THE BEST STUFF:
Monarch Ruins(4*)-Access to the trail 7.2 miles north of Rt. 163 on Butler Wash Rd.
Eagle's Nest Ruins(5*)-Access to the trail 8 miles N of 163 on BWR.
Wolfman Petroglyph Panel(4*)-Access to the trail 1 mile N of 163 on BWR.
Fishbowl Ruins(3*)-Access to the trail 1 mile N of 163 on BWR.
Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel (on the confluence with San Juan River)(5*)-Access to the trail on Rt. 163, just west of the wash. This is simply a 2 mile walk and bushwhack each way, heading south in Butler Wash. Besides the great panel at the end, there are some ruins on the way.
"Airport" Petroglyphs(4*)-Located on the sandstone bluffs facing the San Juan River. Access about 1 mile east of Butler Wash, at the airstrip.

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"PERFECT KIVA", (Slickhorn #1)

2009-09-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Follow the directions for Slickhorn #6 hike, but take the first clearly defined track west (this will be about 4 mi. from the pavement) after bearing south where the Government Trail turnoff goes north. This westbound track (right) takes you to the trail head and primitive campsite at "First Fork" of Slickhorn Canyon.
This kiva is indeed perfect, although the ladder is replicated. Can't have everything. 700 years will do that sometimes.
There is no maintained trail into First Fork, which will head you in a southwesterly direction. 15 minutes brings you to a pour-off which can be detoured to the left via a shallow side canyon. A mile past this easy circumvention there is another pour-off, this one not so easily negotiated. Here, climb to a bench just below the mesa top on the south side of the canyon. Look for cairns. When you are on the bench, look across the main canyon and downstream for a large sandstone monolith. This monolith is your landmark for descending back to the main "First Fork" canyon. Look for cairns again. (If you are short of clues, perhaps Rangers have knocked cairns over. I can't blame them, sorry.) Now, 200 yards downstream from the monolith, look for the trail up to "Perfect Kiva Ruin". You will not see the site from the canyon bottom. IT'S SWEET!
We turned back here, but hiking 1 1/2 miles more down canyon brings you to "Second Fork". There are several small ruins there I heard, including a fine granary.

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"HARVEST SCENE" (Pictograph Loop Trail)

2009-09-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

100 photos here.

Like Horseshoe Canyon with "Great Gallery", The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park (fee area) offers great Barrier Canyon style art work in a beautiful mural, via a hike. This too-cool pictograph style is about 2000 years old or more, and it's survival depends on us. Thankfully, not too many vandals will go to the trouble here.
Getting there is half the fun (or torture, depending on your back and butt). Don't even try to access this hike without a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. And then you better know how to handle a CJ or Cherokee well.
Turn east on a dirt road between Hwy. 95 mile marker 46 and 47 into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This dirt track is technically Rt. 633 here. In the beginning you will wonder what the problem is for cars, until you get to the Teapot Rock area. Scenic paved Utah Hwy. 95 runs from Blanding to Hanksville, Utah. It is an awesome road in itself. I especially like the White Canyon area heading west from Blanding.
Anyway, it's over 5 hours from the turn off of the pavement to the Chimney Rock campground (primitive) in the Maze, even though it's less than 50 miles. Get your camping permit from the Hans Flat Ranger Station reserved. (We were able to do it by phone.) Believe it or not, park personnel do patrol this most desolate region. You probably will get busted without a permit.
The first 30 miles on the dirt road are easy driving, where you come to a four way junction. Turn right and learn how to drive or get high-centered. DO NOT EXCEED 5MPH IN THE TEAPOT ROCK AREA. You will go from Glen Canyon NRA to Canyonlands NP just after the "Golden Stairs" about 40 miles from Rt. 95. Good news! If you make it this far, you''ll make it to your Chimney Rock campsite (which is the trail head), after passing "The Wall" and "Standing Rock" campsites. All are primitive.
THE HIKE: There are three cairned trails at Chimney Rock campground. Take the left most, continuing to bear left, then descending into a drainage which is Pictograph Fork. After the descent, the walking is easy in a northwesterly direction. The Harvest Scene panel about 1 1/2 hours northwest from camp is the focus. After a good look, continue down canyon (north) about a mile to a large drainage right. You do not want to miss this turn, or you may be in dehydration and/or search party trouble. Eventually the trail will ascend up this drainage on the right side. When you get up on top, you can see Chimney Rock to the right or south, your landmark for camp. Pete's Mesa is left. The route to camp should be cairned on slickrock. This is about a 9 mile loop as described. Allowing time to study the pictograph panel is the main consideration, other than not getting lost. But this one is not too hard to follow. If one can get to the camp site, obviously one is cognizant.
Hey, this baby is a real pain all the way around, and worth the trouble. This hike can not possibly be done without an overnight, primitive camping experience. Don't try to drive around here if it's wet.

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"FISHER TOWERS"

2009-09-05T09:55:00.001-07:00

These 200 million plus year old monoliths, of the Moenkopi and Cutler sandstone/mudstone formations, appear to be melting. The tallest, Titan, is 900 feet tall. Perhaps you will see some technical climbers on the hike. (The climbing is expert rated.) The trail is easy to find, on scenic Utah Hwy. 128, which runs from Interstate 70 on the north to Moab on the south. Mile marker 21 is where the 2.2 mile road takes off from 128 to the trailhead. The whole of Hwy. 128 is awesome scenery, with the towers being some of the best of the best. The trail is approximately 4 1/4 miles out and back. It's not too tough, but you will want to allow some sightseeing time. The trail should be well cairned. Nearby sights which can be seen on the hike include the underrated La Sal Mountains and Castle Rock. If you are a John Wayne fan you will recognize Castle Rock from some "oaters". Moab, Utah is about 23 miles from the trail. Be ready to fall in love with this beautiful Colorado River gorge area. DID YOU BRING YOUR BICYCLE PLEASE? It's not allowed on this track, but there is plenty of good riding in this "Mountain Biking Mecca".

"BUCKSKIN GULCH"

2009-09-05T09:53:00.001-07:00

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article here on Ezine

"SPOOKY, PEEK-A-BOO & (Dry Fork) COYOTE GULCHES"

2009-09-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

If you are claustrophobic, there is no way that you will handle Spooky Gulch narrows (pictured). I was walking sideways and I weigh 150. It is so narrow, locals say, rattlesnakes drop in from the top, as they cannot sense the chasm. Stick to Dry Fork Coyote Gulch's narrows if you don't like it tight. Nonetheless, Spooky is awesome, if indeed intense. Peek-a-Boo Gulch presents natural bridges (almost immediately from the south end, which is the access here described).
Steve Allen has a nice loop description in his "Canyoneering 3" (hike 19). It includes the southern ends of Spooky and Peek-a-Boo.
It's hot and dry (except when it flash floods) in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Be cautious.
To access this area use the Dry Fork Coyote Road (high-clearance), which is 26 miles south on Hole-in-the-Rock Rd., to the left or easterly. Hole-in-the-Rock begins just east of Escalante, Utah, off of Rt. 12.
The hiking trail begins at the parking area, 1.7 miles down DFC Rd. The trail northeast will be marked, as it is popular. Do not get on the sand dune as you pass right of it. Stay right and descend into the gulch. When the Dry Fork Coyote Gulch is reached, Peek-a-Boo is the first slot on the left, as you travel down canyon, or east in Coyote. A climb up into Peek-a-Boo is required. Spooky is about 15 minutes east of Peek-a-Boo.
Brimstone Gulch is the next slot downstream from Spooky, but we did not explore it. It is difficult, as are the northern reaches of Spooky. Further along yet, past Brimstone, is a side canyon that contains a natural bridge.
Less tight are the narrows of Dry Fork Coyote in the opposite direction (up canyon), where a loop can be made to the parking area by exiting DFC Gulch left and hiking cross country SE to the vehicle.
I have no time designations for the area hiking. When the water is half gone, return to the vehicle. This is more a photographer's playground than a hike. But it is challenging.
Approximate mileages from trail head: Dry Fork Coyote Gulch 1/3 mi., Peek-a-Boo Gulch is a very short walk down canyon, Spooky Gulch additional 1/2 mile dc, Brimstone Gulch additional 1 mile dc.

If you want to see more of Dry Fork Coyote Gulch, use the Red Well Road. It travels east, 30.7 miles south (down) Hole-in-the-Rock Rd. The trail head is 1.3 miles down Red Well Rd. Dry Fork Coyote confluence is left, a half hour down the trail, as it heads east.

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