Salt Creek Canyonlands March

[Jack Menhoff]

Does anyone know what the road conditions to cathedral butte and what the water will be like in Salt Creek around March 25th? It's been a pretty light snow year this.

 

[mike_offerman]

I had friends drive up the road in between the Bears Ears last weekend and said that there was no snow there. Also said that not much snow up on the South side of Abajo.

 

[Jack Menhoff]

I had friends drive up the road in between the Bears Ears last weekend and said that there was no snow there. Also said that not much snow up on the South side of Abajo.

Thanks, I am mostly worried about not being able to get to cathedral butte because of snow/mud.

I'll see if I can find a ranger when I pick up my permit to ask about water situation. Snowpack is low across southern Utah this year.

 

[TrailScot]

Thanks, I am mostly worried about not being able to get to cathedral butte because of snow/mud.

I'll see if I can find a ranger when I pick up my permit to ask about water situation. Snowpack is low across southern Utah this year.

The friendly folks at the Needles Outpost should be able to give you an idea about conditions.

 

[RyanP]

What kind of vehicle do you have? It won't make much of a difference if the road has snow/mud, but you have to cross a creek to get on that road, and the one time I did it, it was quite the adventure...

 

[Magnus]

I was down in Capitol Reef this weekend and it seems like all of Southern Utah got snow. A thin layer is sticking around in the shade and on North Slopes. I am sure this doesn't help too much but I drove up to Cathedral Butte mid-December and there was some snow, but still 2WD. Salt Creek had a very healthy flow in it though!

 

[lostmuhnkee]

Hi - I'm a complete n00b here, but just wanted to let you know I was down in Salt Creek this past weekend (2/28-3/2) and the road was completely dry (I've been back there when it wasn't!) The only snow/moisture I encountered was at the top of the drop-in at Cathedral Butte. Barring any major storms or extended periods of moisture in the next few weeks, if there have been a few days of sun and dry, it should be gtg at the end of March.
Also, the creek that runs sometimes across the road at the beginning was not flowing when I went (dry creek bed).

Water was flowing plentiful at the waterslide near Kirk's cabin.

 

[Jack Menhoff]

Hi - I'm a complete n00b here, but just wanted to let you know I was down in Salt Creek this past weekend (2/28-3/2) and the road was completely dry (I've been back there when it wasn't!) The only snow/moisture I encountered was at the top of the drop-in at Cathedral Butte. Barring any major storms or extended periods of moisture in the next few weeks, if there have been a few days of sun and dry, it should be gtg at the end of March.
Also, the creek that runs sometimes across the road at the beginning was not flowing when I went (dry creek bed).

Water was flowing plentiful at the waterslide near Kirk's cabin.

Thanks for the update, weather shows a rain the Tuesday before so hopefully it's dried off by Friday afternoon.

 

[Jorey]

Thanks for the update, weather shows a rain the Tuesday before so hopefully it's dried off by Friday afternoon.

I would take a closer look. There is a decent storm coming in with rain and snow for most of the plateau that doesn't end until Friday AM, with low 20s overnight for Friday.

 

[lostmuhnkee]

Thanks for the update, weather shows a rain the Tuesday before so hopefully it's dried off by Friday afternoon.

Forecasting out that far can be a little tricky down there. I waited until the weekend before when I saw it was going to be dry the coming week to plan my trip. Luckily (unluckily in other ways?) it's been so dry this season, most moisture gets sucked up within a couple of days. Good luck!

 

[Jack Menhoff]

I would take a closer look. There is a decent storm coming in with rain and snow for most of the plateau that doesn't end until Friday AM, with low 20s overnight for Friday.

Not this weekend the weekend, going the last weekend of March.