Three days in Utah/Arizona

JDWalters

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
120
I had a few days to spend in Utah last year. My wife and I had visited the previous year and my goal this time around was to visit spots that we hadn't been able to make it to.

First stop was Kanab, trying for a North Coyote Buttes permit. As usual, I was unsuccessful, but I drove to the Wire Pass trailhead anyway. We hadn't gotten to hike through Buckskin Gulch, and I also wanted to try to get up on West Clark Bench to do some exploring.
DSC_6457.JPGDSC_6464.JPGDSC_6476.JPG

I made it through Wire Pass without any problems. I was planning to hike downstream in Buckskin Gulch, but found that there was quite a bit of water. I knew that this was a possibility, but had been hoping for a dry canyon, at least for a few miles. Turning around and going upstream also brought me to more pools. I pressed on through them, alternating between wet and dry areas. I figured that at least I could enjoy the canyon a bit and then try to climb out to West Clark Bench.
DSC_6495.JPGDSC_6498.JPGDSC_6502.JPG

I didn't have to go too far before the canyon walls weren't so high and eventually I found a way out of the canyon.
DSC_6512.JPG

I began to explore the sandstone wonderland that lay around me.
DSC_6524.JPGDSC_6528.JPGDSC_6548.JPGDSC_6552.JPGDSC_6559.JPGDSC_6564.JPGDSC_6588.JPGDSC_6592.JPGDSC_6597.JPGDSC_6603.JPGDSC_6607.JPGDSC_6608a.JPGDSC_6612.JPG
DSC_6616.JPGDSC_6618.JPGDSC_6620.JPGDSC_6627.JPG

I would have loved to have more time to explore the area, but I didn't have much daylight left, so I began working my way north on the bench and then dropped back down to Buckskin Gulch.
DSC_6638.JPG

The next day, I drove through the San Rafael Reef area. I stopped by to see the Molen Reef petroglyphs.
DSC_6648.JPGDSC_6654a.JPGDSC_6656.JPG

Then I headed east on Interstate 70, stopping at the various overlooks along the way. I live near the eastern end of I-70, and while it's not an ugly road around me, the scenery cannot compare to the San Rafael Swell area. Just gorgeous. This is a photo of the San Rafael Reef.
DSC_6679.JPG

I had planned to hike in the Tidwell Draw area of the Swell, but found road conditions to be worse than I had hoped. I wasn't willing to take my rental 4WD over the roads that I came to, so I head south on UT-24 for Caineville.
DSC_6680.JPGDSC_6682.JPGDSC_6697.JPGDSC_6702.JPG

I stopped at the BLM station in Hanksville and asked about hiking up North Caineville Mesa. They told me where I needed to go to get through the North Caineville Reef and said that they had heard there was a way up the Mesa, although they had not done it themselves. I drove around North Caineville Mesa, past Factory Butte, looking for the pull-off area. The road was in great shape, although once I turned left to snake around the back of the Mesa, the road conditions deteriorated a bit. Still, I was able to get to the pull-off.
DSC_6703.JPGDSC_6706.JPGDSC_6707.JPGDSC_6714.JPG

I found a notch through the top of North Caineville Mesa, and then wandered around the top. NCM is huge. I hiked several miles from the notch to where I could view Factory Butte, and still didn't touch the southern half of the mesa. I wish that I'd had more time -- and that I'd gotten there earlier; there were deep shadows around the base of the mesa by this point in the day.
DSC_6715.JPGDSC_6718.JPGDSC_6722.JPGDSC_6725.JPGDSC_6735.JPGDSC_6762.JPGDSC_6766.JPGDSC_6774.JPG

I stayed on top of the mesa until after sunset, then headed back down. Thankfully I was able to finish my descent before it got completely dark. The next morning, I drove down Hole in the Rock Road a little ways to the Devil's Garden. My goal for the day was to hike to Zebra Canyon, which had been flooded when my wife and I visited before. I didn't want to start hiking that too early, and Devil's Garden was something that we hadn't seen.
DSC_6787.JPGDSC_6799.JPGDSC_6808.JPGDSC_6809.JPGDSC_6815.JPG

Next, I drove to the parking area for the trail to Zebra Canyon. Most of the trail was pretty straight-forward, but I was glad that I had my GPS for the end.
DSC_6818.JPGDSC_6858.JPGDSC_6820.JPGDSC_6823.JPGDSC_6826.JPGDSC_6832.JPGDSC_6840.JPGDSC_6845.JPG

I was glad that I didn't begin my hike any later; there were a number of groups close to Zebra when I left, and I wouldn't want to have to get around others while in that tight space. I wandered around the area above the slot canyon, looking for moki marbles, but the GPS coordinates that I had were not accurate. There was some nice scenery though.
DSC_6852.JPGDSC_6856.JPG

I didn't have a lot of time, but I wanted to see if I could make it to Toroweap Point on the way back to Las Vegas. I made it there about an hour before sunset.
DSC_6860.JPGDSC_6867.JPGDSC_6871.JPGDSC_6877.JPG

I did quite a bit of driving during this trip, but in this part of the country, it was quite enjoyable. I had wonderful weather, and the car didn't break down or get a flat tire. I'm not sure when I'll be out this way again, but hopefully next time I'll have more than three days.
 
Last edited:
Beautiful photos, great TR- thanks for sharing. That was a lot of windshield time in a few days and yet you still hiked a lot. We were just there and I now regret not going to Toroweap Point, your vertorama and panoramas are amazing. There is never enough time in that area and the short winter days make it harder!
 
Nice post. Don't know how you missed the Moki marbles..... There are acres and acres of them.... They are more like hardball size.. .
 
That's an awesome road trip covering some very cool areas. Wouldn't mind trying to get on top of North Caineville Mesa myself if I ever make it back down to that area.
 
Awesome pics! So when you headed back toward buckskin TH, how far down before the east walls gave them self up for exit towards west clark bench? Been thinking about visiting the area in late March but was planning the traditional route.
 
Awesome pics! So when you headed back toward buckskin TH, how far down before the east walls gave them self up for exit towards west clark bench? Been thinking about visiting the area in late March but was planning the traditional route.

Thanks! I would guess that it was about 0.75 miles. It's probably faster to get to the area from the Buckskin Gulch trailhead, but you would miss the better slot canyon areas and Wire Pass. If your goal is to see the southern portion of West Clark Bench and not the Edmaier's Secret area, then maybe it's still faster going the way that I went.
 
That's an awesome road trip covering some very cool areas. Wouldn't mind trying to get on top of North Caineville Mesa myself if I ever make it back down to that area.
I highly recommend it, especially if you hike up the northern side.
 
Oh my gosh, your photos are unbelievable - spectacular!!! I have had the pleasure of backpacking through Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch (all the way to Lee's Ferry) and it never occurred to me that the landscape up above would be so dramatic and amazing. WOW! To get up top, did you have to use ropes and do technical climbing? WOW again - I cannot get over how fabulous your photos are. I live in Michigan and wish I lived closer!
 
Holy moly! Amazing views and photographs! Thank you for sharing!
 
Any trouble coming out through Wire Pass? The last time I went through there (a few years ago.) I had a devil of a time getting up one of the boulder drop offs. Standing on a rock pile that was just a bit tooo short and having to pull off a tough move against the walls. Being alone worked against me on that up climb.
 
Any trouble coming out through Wire Pass? The last time I went through there (a few years ago.) I had a devil of a time getting up one of the boulder drop offs. Standing on a rock pile that was just a bit tooo short and having to pull off a tough move against the walls. Being alone worked against me on that up climb.

There’s a walk around that drop.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Udink Three Days in Southern Utah Everything Else 6
TractorDoc Three Days at Mount Rainier in late July. Hiking & Camping 10
Tater Head Three days in Arches... Trip Planning 10
dennargle Three Days In The Amazon Hiking & Camping 7
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Three / Day Three Backpacking 10
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake, Ouzel Creek, and Three Rivers Junction -- September 13-16 2021 Backpacking 62
Perry Looping the Highline - Episode Three: The Crossing Backpacking 6
J Three of my Favorite Things: Hiko Springs, NV. Narrows, peaks, petroglyph hike Hiking & Camping 0
Stephanie B Old Woman Wash, Three Finger Petroglyphs, and Wild Horse Canyon (Backcountry Fest in the San Rafael Swell) Hiking & Camping 6
Mike K Uintas Three Nighter Backpacking 13
regehr Three of the Four American Fork Twin Peaks Hiking & Camping 10
balzaccom Caribou Wilderness Three Day Trip Backpacking 1
Red Rock Rangers Three Peaks Mountain Bike Trail Everything Else 0
ZubenElGenubi Three Day/Two Night Trip: Ansel Adams Wilderness Trip Planning 5
Shannon Three-four day loop trail ideas? Trip Planning 2
mattvogt7 Canyonlands Three District Tour Backpacking 16
ram Part three- Bargain Basement Canyoneering 5
uintahiker Three Short Hikes at Gila Cliff Dwellings Hiking & Camping 1
Udink Three Finger and Uneva Canyons Hiking & Camping 8
wanderinfinn Three, Moonshine, and Blue John Canyons Canyoneering 9
Tyler Northwest Fork of Three Canyon, April 2010 Canyoneering 0
Nick Three Weeks! General Discussion 1
Nick Three Canyon & Moonshine Wash Canyoneering 7
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
B 5 Days in the Sawtooths Backpacking 2
M Backpacking 50 miles in the Uinta Mountains for 5 days with ~50 pound pack Backpacking 4
Bob The Thorofare to Brooks Lake - 9 Days in Pictures Backpacking 10
RyanP Four Days in the IPW (8/9 - 8/12) Backpacking 17
D Four Days in the Maze, April 17-20 2023 Backpacking 7
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 9 of 9, 7-29 & 30, /2022 Backpacking 5
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 8 of 9, 7/28/2022 Backpacking 5
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 7 of 9, July 26-27, 2022 Backpacking 13
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 6, 7/25/2022 Backpacking 17
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 5 of 9, 7/23-24, 2022 Backpacking 10
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 4 of 9, 7/22, 2022 Backpacking 4
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 3 of 9, 7/20-21, 2022 Backpacking 2
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 2, 7/19/2022 Backpacking 4
F 12 days in Wyoming's Teton Wilderness, part 1, 7/15-18, 2022 Backpacking 13
norwegianxplorer 6 days Backpacking Norway in the Fall (Part 2) Backpacking 4
norwegianxplorer 6 days backpacking Jotunheimen in the fall Trip Reports 4
regehr King's in two days Hiking & Camping 5
Desertratgal 5 Days Solo Packrafting Canyonlands On The Water 4
norwegianxplorer 7 days backpacking Breheimen/Glacier Home National Park in Norway Backpacking 2
Bob Slickhorn Canyon System - 6 days Backpacking 22
Mikjik86 4 Days Backpacking Grand Teton Wilderness/Teton Crest Trail - Wyoming, July, 2021 Backpacking 0
J Death Valley Natl. Pk. 6 Days hiking. Nov 14-19, 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
norwegianxplorer Finding Hidden Glacier, 9 days backpacking Jotunheimen National Park Pt3, Norway. Trip Reports 0
norwegianxplorer 5 days Backpacking Rondane National Park, Norway Backpacking 3
norwegianxplorer 10 days Backpacking Femundsmarka National Park and Rogen Nature Reserve, Norway and Sweden Backpacking 8

Similar threads

Back
Top