Lockhart Road and Bobby's Hole

[Stephanie B]

Thought I'd pass along that the Canyonlands/Arches Backcountry office confirmed that Lockhart Road is still impassable due to a major washout. We were driving Lockhart northbound last fall and met a couple coming in the opposite direction that had seen the washout and thought it was about 11 miles north of Hamburger Rock/211. I then inquired about the road through Bobby's Hole (between Needles and Beef Basin) and was informed that it is also impassable due to a car-sized boulder having falling onto the road. The maintenance of both roads is the responsibility of the San Juan County Road Department (who wasn't sure about their current status). Hope this helps someone with their trip planning.

 

[Stephanie B]

For what it's worth.....Just received a call from the Needles Backcountry office. The person I spoke with thinks there might have been some confusion on behalf of the Moab-based Backcountry Office regarding Lockhart Road in that there's a spur-road that connects Needles proper to Lockhart and that road is washed out. It's not clear to me based on this most recent phone conversation exactly which road (the one that is washed out) she was referring to. Anyway, she believes that Lockhart Road is open all the way from the west side of Moab to Hamburger Rock/211.

 

[Reef&Ruins]

Sometimes I wonder if the NPS puts out a certain level of disinformation to try to discourage all but the most hardened hikers/4WD users to not do something as a way of protecting things out that way.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

There is definitely a big boulder blocking the road near Bobbys Hole, a photo of it is posted on ExpeditionUtah.

 

[Stephanie B]

There is definitely a big boulder blocking the road near Bobbys Hole, a photo of it is posted on ExpeditionUtah.

Thanks, Randy.

 

[Stephanie B]

An update on Lockhart Basin and Bobby's Hole...

Heard from a backcountry ranger at Needles that he spoke last week with a gentleman that had driven the Lockhart Basin Trail from Hamburger Rock to near the north end, but had to turn around because of obstacles that were too tricky for his full-sized F250. So it appears that the washout was repaired.

While in Needles recently we decided to check out the big rock partially blocking the drive up Bobby's Hole to Beef Basin. Our personal opinion is that our FJ or any jeep could fit to the right of the boulder, but there's not much room for error. Our concern would be getting over the obstacle below it (the rocks with the black tire marks at the bottom of the photo) and not having enough time to adjust the tire placement to avoid the big boulder on the left. Given all the loose sand and lack of traction, it would be dicey. It also appeared to us that the overall condition of the trail has deteriorated since we were there 2 1/2 years ago. Far more of that black plastic stuff is exposed and it looks even looser than before. I think we'd be okay going down it, but probably not up given it's current condition.

 

[regehr]

when I looked at the marks on those rocks I felt my vehicle wince

 

[Bob]

lol ....nice. looks doable tho via picture for small 4x4s Last time I went up that road, many years ago had to load the back of the truck with rocks because the dust was so powdered and deep everything just chattered and bounced...... with a light rear end.