"The Swell," located in south-central Utah, is a geological upheaval that created a colorful desert landscape with towering buttes and narrow slot canyons. Encompassing 900 square miles, San Rafael Swell is an outdoor paradise with abundant trails for all types of offroad enthusiasts. There are numerous historical sites where you can get up close to America's best ancient Native American artwork or step into an old log cabin. Buckhorn Draw and Black Dragon Wash trails travel into narrow slot canyons with designated sites for viewing the artwork.
The trail system is vast and divided into two regions by Interstate 70. The southern area trails are easier and less popular with the average weekend user. Day trips can include stops at Goblin Valley State Park or squeezing your way through Crack Canyon and Chute Canyon hiking trails along the Behind The Reef trail. The northern section includes the more difficult and famous 4x4 trails like Eagle Canyon, Devil's Racetrack, and Fix-it Pass; all three have breathtaking views and adrenaline-pumping rock-crawling obstacles. The far northern region near Wellington, UT, includes an educational stop at Jurassic National Monument, a real-time dinosaur dig open to visitors.
The winter months can be below freezing during the day, and summer temperatures can be over 100° in the shade. The vast majority of the region is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which allows camping up to 15 days. Several areas are protected and designated as no camping; most of these sites are around ancient artwork sites. Buckhorn Draw now has paid campsites along this very well-groomed scenic drive. While other, more remote trails have that private campsite with a canyon view you've been searching for. The Swell is remote, requiring planning, even for a day trip; venturing into this vast desert also requires a map system you can count on. Preload the San Rafael regional trails offline before you begin your adventure.
West of Factory Butte is Factory Bench which hosts the uber-popular Skyline View camping area. Skyline View overlooks an otherworldly landscape of multi-hued bentonite hills. Often referred to as the Moonscape Overlook, this place looks so unearthly that it hosts the Mars Research Station. Sunsets and sunrises from the campsites scattered along the edge of Factory Bench are amazing. The northernmost spur has large flat campsites and is the most popular. Smaller campsites further south offer more privacy. The BLM roads that make up this trail are ordinarily easy to drive but will become quite difficult after heavy rains.
The Wickiups' red cone peak acts as a beacon on the San Rafael Swell landscape. Passing along the base of the colorfully layered mountain, this trail plots a course through desert junipers, pinyon pine, and several colonies of rare cacti. Eventually, the trail breaks out of the trees and opens to vast open plains with expansive views of the surrounding sandstone buttes and spires. The north end of The Wickiup connects with Oil Well Flat and many other scenic trails within The Swell.
The name "Wickiup' derives from the similarly shaped dwellings of early American Indians. The mountain is primarily made up of Sinbad Limestone, dating back to the Triassic era, approximately 200 million years ago. There is a quick but difficult "climbing" trail to the top of the peak.
Nestled in the heart of the San Rafael Swell in central Utah, the Locomotive Point trail travels across the picturesque flats known as The Head of Sinbad. Besides the epic canyon camping, this trail has two worthy attractions. The Locomotive Point Pictograph Panel and the Head of Sinbad Pictograph Panel are painted on the walls of the towering sandstone formation for which the trail is named. These Barrier Canyon-style pictographs are estimated to be 1500 to 4000 years old. A quick diversion from the Interstate instantly transports you into a beautiful, rugged landscape with hidden gems around every corner.
South Fork Coal Wash, nestled within the stunning San Rafael Swell, captivates visitors with its striking beauty and geological wonders. This remote and awe-inspiring canyon, located in central Utah, showcases towering cliffs, intricate rock formations, and a vibrant array of colors. With its natural beauty, South Fork Coal Wash stands as a captivating testament to the remarkable landscapes found within the San Rafael Swell. This trail is also run in conjunction with Eva Conover to make for a full day of exploring such an amazing area.
Situated at the southern end of the San Rafael Swell, the Temple Mine is a scenic trip along a ridgeline with inspiring views of Temple Mountain. There are several mining areas to explore. This remote, historic, and seldom traveled route is perfect for the adventurer looking for the hidden nooks and crannies of the San Rafael Swell.
Wild Horse Canyon is an excellent way to continue your Behind the Reef overland adventure into the San Rafael Swell. Ideal for stock type 4x4s, the trail climbs over 1200' from Behind The Reef to sprawling meadows where herds of wild horses are seen grazing. The trail crosses meadow valleys where wild herds spend their days. Wild horses and burros have occupied the region since the Spanish Trail days in the early 1800's. The trail has a few rocky sections that require 4x4, durable tires, and high clearance; however, there are no hard obstacles, steep hill climbs, or extremely narrow ledges. The camping is pretty limited, and only a couple of small pull-off-type sites were found along the route.
Continuing your Behind The Reef adventure through Little Wild Horse Canyon may be the adrenaline boost your overland trip needed. With two choices at the end of Behind the Reef trail, Little Wild Horse is the difficult option for reaching the higher elevations within the San Rafael Swell. The trail winds through a rocky wash before climbing along narrow, steep, rocky ledges. A few hills are long, loose rock, requiring low-range gearing, offroad tires, and a confident driver. The views of the colorful reef, buttes, and canyons go on for miles as you wind your way up to the meadows on top of The Swell. There were no established campsites found along this challenging trail.
An ideal beginner's route and an excellent addition to The Wickiup, Round Knoll is a meandering scenic route named after a nearby natural flat-top mesa. The route twists, bumps, and drops across varied terrain with lush high desert vegetation. Desert junipers and pinyon pine patches are dense, while shrubs of black brush, rabbitbrush, and several colonies of rare cacti line the route. The northern portion of the route has ever-expansive views of colorful sandstone buttes and spires.
Last Chance Road easily transports you 26 miles into Utah's remote backcountry, where the spires, cliffs, and mountain views will have you saying, "Wow" around every corner—the gravel washboard road winds through several canyons on tight corners and along cliff edges. You will drive for miles across prairies rimmed with towering cliff walls and have abundant choices of private primitive camping. The numerous short offshoots offer semi-secluded camping for a couple of vehicles with tents. The views at every campsite are amazing. The trail connects in the south with the Cathedral Valley Loop trail and numerous other trails with days' worth of scenery to be wowed by. Your vehicle must be very dependable and durable for offroad travel. In dry conditions, the entire route is passable in 2WD. There are no washouts or deep ruts unless driving in the mud, which makes it nearly impassable. Overprepare for the desert with extra fuel, water, and a good working spare tire.
Horn Silver Gulch (Dutch Flat Road) is a great way to access the San Rafael Swell. On many parts of the trail, you get some excellent views of this remarkable area of the Swell, Cedar Mountain, and the Molen Reef. It is a mild trail with many camping opportunities, so whether you are looking for a whole weekend or just an afternoon in the Swell, this trail is an excellent way to get there.
This offroad trail crosses a dead flat plateau of hard-packed, grayish bentonite clay, with views of Factory Butte, the most recognizable feature in the immediate area. It is bordered by Capitol Reef to the west, the Henry Mountains to the south, San Rafael Swell to the north, and the San Rafael Desert to the east. This road gives you access to a vast network of four-wheel drive routes within the Factory Butte OHV system as well as the open OHV areas. It can also be used to connect to Wild Horse Road, which takes you all the way to Goblin Valley on dirt. This is a relatively maintained dirt road, with a few small patches of bumps after rain storms. 2WD and high clearance will be plenty under dry conditions. However, due to the bentonite, 4WD will be required if the trail is wet, but it is advised to avoid it altogether if there is heavy rain in the forecast. Camping is available in many locations, all in the form of dispersed camping. Interestingly, some scenes of Disney's "John Carter" were filmed in the factory butte area.
Oil Well Flat is a fun, offroad trail within the heart of what is truly a natural wonder, the San Rafael Swell. The shifting terrain is sure to keep you wondering what’s around the next bend. You’ll wind through junipers and bobbing slopes of colored sandstone. Beyond a clearing in the trees, the trail parallels the towering sandstone cliffs and towers. Spring and fall are prime seasons to visit, when temperatures are moderate. Ideal for beginners, combining this trail with both The Wickiup and Round Knoll creates a wonderful loop around this mesmerizing landscape.
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