The San Rafael Swell

The San Rafael Swell of central Utah is considered by many to be one of the most unique, rugged, and beautiful geology in the western United States. Spanning from Price to Hanksville and Emery to Green River, this colorful sandstone triangle brings out the adventurer in all of us. You can raft the San Rafael River, mountain bike the innumerable single tracks, explore pictographs and petroglyphs, horseback through the red rock, or kick back in a remote campsite. But the miles and miles of offroad trails running through desert juniper forests onto dry and arid plateaus before descending to cottonwood-lined rivers is the largest draw. Behind the Reef may be the hidden gem of the magnificent Swell. Behind the Reef traces along the huge jutting San Rafael Reef, the eastern wall of the Swell. The dichotomy of jaw-dropping and conflicting views adds to the uniqueness of this remote meandering red track. Looking west, you feel like you are on top of the world, an eagle's perspective of the vast sandstone solitude below. To the east, towering cliffs remind you just how small you really are in this endless stony landscape. What will you find Behind the Reef?

With a name like Devil's Racetrack, you expect a thrill ride or sense of danger. That's partially true for this iconic Utah trail. There are a couple of rock-crawling obstacles near the edge of a shear cliff but nothing like the trails in Moab. The endless panoramas of distant arches and rock spires along the entire route keep you occupied between the rocky challenges. The trail's most iconic section is along The Razorback, a rocky stretch that tilts the driver off-camber while traversing a narrow spine high above the canyons below. The northern portion of the route crosses grassy meadows with the Twin Priest's rock spire as a backdrop.

Wild Horse Road is a visually stimulating treat of quintessential Utah landscapes. Starting just past the towering form of Factory Butte, this offroad trail takes you through the distinct features of Little Wild Horse Mesa, Little Wildhorse Canyon, the San Rafael Swell, and Goblin Valley. Encapsulated between more popular offroad areas of 'The Swell,' Capital Reef National Park, and Moab, this trail is lightly used by comparison and feels utterly remote. If the stunning visual scenery isn't enough, add a river crossing, winding washes to navigate, and your pick of dispersed campsites - and Wild Horse Road may quickly become a new favorite for you.

Buckhorn Draw is your gateway trail into one of America's truly majestic landscapes. The San Rafael Swell is an "Adventurers Paradise", offering unique opportunities to explore narrow canyons, track a dinosaur, camp under a "Dark Sky", and see world-famous Native American artwork all on the same trail. The easy access on gravel allows all types of adventurous travelers to get far back into the backcountry while still being on a maintained county road. With campsites lining the entire route, the toughest part of the ride will be choosing where to put down stakes.

Black Dragon Wash combines incredible history, amazing high canyon walls, and even a few mild challenges along the way. Hidden back in the towering canyon walls, you will find some of America's best pictographs and petroglyph panels. The trail's name derives from a controversial pictograph still visible today. The trail winds through a narrow canyon as it climbs up into the majestic San Rafael Swell. Ideal for history buffs and stock-type 4x4s with high clearance, Black Dragon Wash is a must for those passing through the region.  

The iconic destinations along Eagle Canyon are pictured all over Utah, from signs to merchandise and even on TV. There is no end to all of the history to be learned or the sights to be seen from this incredible trail. Running through the center of the San Rafael Swell, this short canyon has an arch, elevated viewpoints, a historic walk to a refrigerator of times past, and a cabin housing a family with a significant history in the Swell. Be sure to find your way into Eagle Canyon next time you are venturing around this incredible region.

This little jaunt takes you from Calf Canyon Overlook, across a very straight and flat section, and into a winding little trail along one of the many side canyons shooting off from Buckhorn Wash. Although not a destination trail itself, it provides some solitude from the more well-known areas of the San Rafael Swell and good camping opportunities.

While standing at Fixit Pass, take a moment to absorb the breathtaking scenery and congratulate yourself for safely climbing the trail's notable narrow shelf road. The towering white buttes are abundant along the entire route. Using your imagination, the rocky spires create different shapes as you travel past. There are praying hands, a dinosaur, and deep indentations in the white sandstone cliffs. Fixit Pass is required but an excellent addition when connecting with North Fork of Coal Wash, Nielsen Dugway, or Cane Wash.

Hidden Splendor certainly lives up to its name. This incredible trail takes you down to Muddy Creek, a yearlong creek that feeds into the Dirty Devil River. All along this trail are viewpoints looking in every direction. You could easily spend hours on this trail taking great photos and enjoying the peace and quiet that the San Rafael Swell has to offer. If you are looking to spend a few nights in the area, there are many remarkable campsites providing you solitude from the bustle of the campgrounds in the area. Although this is a long out and back style trail, be sure to add this one to the must do list. You will quickly see why they call it Hidden Splendor.

This beautiful off-road trail acts as a shortcut from Buckhorn Draw Road over to Fixit Pass. Wash roads in the San Rafael Swell are abundant, but this one has a few extra features along its edges such as hikes and abandoned mines. This wash has some incredible scenery as it takes you from the more green area near Locomotive Point into the barren desert along the central portion of Buckhorn Draw Road. If you feel like taking a dip, you can even reach the San Rafael River via Fuller Bottom. What this wash lacks in obstacles, it makes up for in scenery. This off-road trail will get you deep into the network of trails within the San Rafael Swell providing days of endless excitement and scenery to view.

The San Rafael Swell in Central Utah is famous for its unique geography and incredible diversity. Boasting multiple dark sky parks, pictograph and petroglyph panels, the world-famous Goblin Valley, and the Wedge (Mini Grand Canyon), the San Rafael Swell is one not to miss. In the northern portion of the Swell, the San Rafael River carves its way from Emery County 90 miles southeast, where it meets with the Green River shortly before it joins up with the Colorado River. Along the river banks is Fuller Bottom, an "oasis" within the arid climate of the San Rafael Swell. Lush with vegetation, Fuller Bottom is accessed by a relatively easy offroad trail from the north and the south. Most visitors come in from the north due to the easy access from the intersecting Wedge Overlook and Buckhorn Wash trails. Coming in from the south requires you to cross the San Rafael River, which may not be an easy task based on when you expect to be traveling. Although this trail, in particular, may not boast of any specific interests aside from Fuller Bottom itself and the river crossing, it is worth the drive! Fuller Bottom gives you access to the petroglyphs and pictographs along Buckhorn Wash to the north and the incredible network of trails to the south, such as Devil's Racetrack, Fixit Pass, Eagle Canyon, or North Fork of Coal Wash.

Whether beginning or ending your adventure into the San Rafael Swell with the Nielsen Dugway trail, the yellow and orange sherbet cliffs are always a wonderful backdrop. The few challenges do little to distract from the views of towering rock buttes that poke out behind the Ponderosa Pines and Rocky Mountain Juniper trees that line the trail. The contrasting layers of the sandstone cliffs are incredibly vibrant along this specific trail within The Swell. Set up basecamp near the southern trailhead to explore all the historic stops this region offers.