Hidden Canyon

Hidden Canyon, also known as Nutter Twists Road, connects County Road 130 to a network of remote canyons, including Rattlesnake, Last Chance, St. George, and Jump Canyons. It eventually meets Black Canyon (BLM 1007) near Pakoon Springs. The route can be traveled in either direction, but it requires an aggressive high clearance Four Wheel Drive vehicle with low-range gearing due to steep wash crossings and basketball-sized boulders to contend with. Any rain event can quickly change conditions due to the numerous washes, so use caution.

The description here begins in the south at County Road 103, the road starts on a rocky surface and follows the edge of a fairly deep wash. As you continue north, the route begins to cross the wash repeatedly while canyon walls rise around you and become tall and dramatic. Farther along, the canyon opens into a broad area with several historic corrals and trailheads that branch into other canyons. As the terrain widens, views of Hidden Rim come into sight and tower above the landscape.

The vegetation in this area begins to change. Cholla cactus and Joshua trees become more common as you climb higher. Signs warn that the road ahead is meant for Four Wheel Drive vehicles only and that only experienced drivers should continue. Along the northern edge of the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness, the surface becomes increasingly rocky and includes short sections of minor rock crawling. Some stretches are on wider, single-vehicle-width roads, high above steep drop-offs into the wash below. The views into the wilderness are exceptional, with buttes and knobs rising in all directions. The road ends where it meets BLM 1007.

Several corrals in the wider parts of the route make comfortable places to stop for lunch or to stretch your legs. An old mine is located along the way and was most likely a copper or silver prospect. A small stone structure can be seen from the road nearby. Many roads in this region bear names that originated from early ranching families who established the original travel routes. Although there is no written record connecting the Nutter family to this road, the naming pattern suggests it was taken from a ranching family, while the word twists likely refers to the winding nature of the route.

Camping is available near the southern end of the road and at several of the corral areas along the way.