roads along Comb Ridge

[kansas]

Are the roads on either side of Comb Bluff between Hwy 95 and HWY 163 passable in a passenger car? Would there likely be many people around first week of October?

 

[Wyatt Carson]

We have driven the entire Butler Wash side several times and at those times you could do it in any passenger car. There are times during or after storms when it would not work. Some places are a bit rough but just go slow over them. The method I use is to just turn around if there is an impasse.

We have driven parts of the Cottonwood wash side, the west side and had no problems there either but the same applies. They are dirt roads with lots of washes running across them, dry most of the time. Storms can change that in a few hours.

You will see people here and there. Some of the parking places have a few vehicles there, folks going in to see the various sights, pictograph panels and ruins or just the natural beauty. We have been there in October, didn't have any huge crowds but there were scattered vehicles and people. Easy to hike away from though.

Like all of southern Utah, it is more crowded than 10 or 15 years ago but you can still find stellar campsites and places to explore.

 

[kansas]

Thanks for the tip. I have a couple of people new to the dessert, and I want to show them a good time without making them go on any forced marches. This sounds perfect.

 

[kansas]

Can you suggest a map?

 

[Wyatt Carson]

One of my favorite maps that covers most of the Comb is the Trails Illustrated National Geographic, Grand Gulch Cedar Mesa Plateau #706. It is 1:90,000 so if you are looking at a specific area on the Comb you might print off some 1:24000 to accompany it so you will have more detail. You will see both Butler Wash road and Cottonwood wash road and the entry/exit points from Hwy 95 and Hwy 165. The Comb is cut up with some very gnarly canyons, many, many of them so some of our forays have seemed like a forced march. In some places it can be a very intricate puzzle. But there are many good, fairly easy hikes that take only a few hours too and bring you to some outstanding places.

 

[kansas]

I think we're go to spend a few days along Butler Wash. Do you have any opinion about travelling from the north to south or the other way around?

 

[Wyatt Carson]

We have traveled both ways. There is a short section on the south end that is a bit rough, just go slow. The road dips through dry washes a lot so there are some semi steep climbs that are fine in dry weather. Those dips could wash out in wet weather and the resulting mud will rob traction for climbing or steering. But when it is dry we have had zero problems.

We like both ends of the Comb and many places along it. It can be a confusing place until you get your bearings so knowing some specifics of what you intend to do will be a good thing your first time or two. When traveling lengthwise along the Comb we have had some exciting way finding with all the sheer cuts both up top and down near Butler too but it is different all along. We found an old hobnail boot once among other things and once we almost had to bivouac as darkness set in, the terrain was so intensely rough in that area but we barely made it across the last few obstacles before the light totally went. I didn't want to attempt it with headlamps. I need to see farther to see a route that goes in there. But some places are pretty laid back and calm too so it just depends on where you are in there. Overall it is a ton of fun and the views are killer.