Looking for multi-day recommendations for San Rafeal Swell

[Portplant65]

Last year a friend and I did two nights in San Rafael Swell and did the Salt Wash hike (~8 miles ground trip). We are going back in May for another 3-day 2 night trip and looking for something a little longer (10-15 mile loop) where we could hike all the way in on a Friday, move to a new site Saturday, hike out and head home on Sunday. We’re really trying to stay close to water as well to minimize the weight of carrying it all. I don’t know the area at all besides where we went last year.

Any suggestions?

 

[Kullaberg63]

I just leafed thru Allen's San Rafael book and saw multiple options for you described in good detail. The Virgin Springs Canyon loop especially stood out. Might be worth getting

 

[regehr]

yeah +1 for Allen v1 or else the much newer Allen and Mitchell. I've done an extended version of the Virgin Springs loop and it was excellent, though next time I'd minimize the amount of walking on top of Sid's Mountain which was thorny and cowed up. the Spring/Nate loop would be another great choice.