Black Dragon Wash

[DrNed]

A client of mine mentioned Black Dragon Wash today and I looked it up.
Looks like could be a good spring overnight trip.

Anyone have any personal experience? Water? Camp sites? Access? Things to see?

Thanks

 

[Nick]

In the Swell? It's not a backpacking trip. There's a short hike to some pictographs and a cool cave if the bats will let you in. And by short, I mean less than a few hundred yards, I'd guess. Good car camping nearby.

We stopped there on the way home from a this trip out into the Roost a couple years back for the pics above. Another year I tried driving down it but it got too rough and I turned back a mile or three from the cave.

 

[DrNed]

Good to know - thanks Nick!

 

[DAA]

You can get to the rock art by coming up from the bottom off of I-70 and it's usually passable for normal SUV's etc. My very "street" not at all offroad capable Ram 1500 had no problem at all getting there that way. There is plenty of camping near the mouth of the wash, too.

- DAA

 

[DrNed]

Is there enough to see and explore for an afternoon? Or is it a drive to the rock art and then you've seen it all?

Does anyone have GPS or good directions for this canyon and its sights?

Thanks.

 

[Nick]

There's a lot to do in the immediate area. Not sure if Black Dragon itself is worth more than an hour unless you just want to walk up the wash or something.

 

[Artemus]

There's a lot to do in the immediate area. Not sure if Black Dragon itself is worth more than an hour unless you just want to walk up the wash or something.

Walking up the wash is very enjoyable and worthy. The walk is on an archaic 4WD road that goes way up the canyon that is sometimes passable, and at last check, legal but sketchy. That may have changed. Then each sandstone fin forming either side of the canyon is an interesting walk all by themselves with varying amounts of spiciness. I could spend a week there easily.

 

[DrNed]

Walking up the wash is very enjoyable and worthy. The walk is on an archaic 4WD road that is sometimes passable and at last count legal but sketchy. Then each sandstone fin forming either side of the canyon is an interesting walk all by themselves with varying amounts of spiciness. I could spend a week there easily.

Sweet thanks Artemus!

 

[Yvonne]

great car camping nearby. And the walk to the panel is really nice