The San Rafael Swell

Although not technical, BLM 855 provides an alternate path over a small plateau rather than around its foothills. While Wild Horse Canyon stays low, BLM 855 climbs, providing a different vantage point for its brief 1.5-mile length. There are no technical obstacles, but 4WD may be required to navigate the loose, rocky patches on the incline and decline. Embedded rock is littered with loose fragments, so slow and steady momentum is your friend. Camping is not found directly off this trail. However, many nearby trails have dispersed camping options available.

Lower Price River Canyon is one of those trails where you think, "Since I'm here, I might as well check it out," followed by being pleased you did. With easy access from Highway 191, it is passable in 2WD drive vehicles with high ground clearance and durable tires. The trail twists past private ranch land marked by old tires before primitive camping begins, and you enter the Desolation Canyon Wilderness. Price River comes into view as the canyon walls close in. Sometimes, you drive on steep, narrow shelf roads high above the muddy river. The trail is bouncy but reasonably well-maintained to the dead end at the old, closed river crossing. The real reason to venture out and back is the petroglyphs and pictographs hidden along the canyon walls. There are two sites, one with many hidden gems on the rocks.

Hugging up against the Molen Reef, NF-3498 is an easy jaunt taking you from Moore Cutoff Road to Horn Silver Gulch/Dutch Flat Road. This is a mellow trail suitable for any driver looking to get out and enjoy the San Rafael Swell's incredible views. Camping is also amazing along this route and away from the major crowds of the Swell.

If you're the adventurous type seeking the lesser-traveled trail, bushwhacking and rock crawling through remote Camel Wash is made for you. This very lightly used canyon is far out in the northern region of the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area, where very few full-size vehicles travel. The trail is almost "virgin" in spots, with the driver having to find their way through the brush, over boulders, up and down near vertical dirt embankments, all while staying on track. The trail is best traveled in either direction, the easiest being the flats on the western end. Combined with Neversweat and Grey Flats, it creates a fantastic rock-crawling scenic loop. No established campsites were noted along this trail, but a small group could use numerous flat and open areas on the BLM Land. You will need rock crawling experience and a reliable 4x4 vehicle with durable tires and high clearance.

Time to get off the gravel roads and find a campsite? East Wedge is an ideal trail for those seeking more difficulty in their trails and privacy in their camps. The trail crosses over rolling prairie land with views of Cedar Mountain before getting into the trees and rocks. There are several free primitive campsites along the trail. A couple of the camps have room for a few vehicles and beautiful views of the surrounding area. The trail has no difficult obstacles and can be completed by all vehicles with 4x4, high clearance, and durable offroad tires.

East Main is the first of many gravel roads leading to the vast network of trails within Utah's San Rafael Swell. In dry conditions, all vehicles with durable tires can easily travel the trail. The trail crosses over sprawling prairies with 360-degree views of the Book Cliffs and the mountains to the west. You'll be crossing over sections of private land, so camping is nonexistent along this route. Abundant free camping can be found further south on Desert Lake Road.

The trail climbs numerous ridgelines with sprawling views while you're hyper-focused on the narrow rocky ledge ahead. Accessing remote canyons along the northern edge of the San Rafael Swell, Verde Ledges is an exhilarating addition to the Verde Loop. The trail has narrow ledge hills with large loose boulders to climb over, out, and back. Experience is needed on remote and difficult trails; low-range 4x4, high clearance, and durable offroad tires are required. While no established campsites were found along the route, the scenery, ground conditions, and privacy are motivators to create a temporary site along the trail for the night. The trail is impassable in wet conditions. Note: The end of the track currently ends at a large boulder, partially blocking the trail. The width is too narrow for full-size vehicles. ATV 66" width or less to safely pass.

Upper Sid and Charley trail easily travels almost 11 miles across wide-open prairie land above the popular spire. The trail has distant views of red and white sandstone cliffs and narrow slot canyons. You can park along the trail and hike into many of the numerous remote canyons that line the eastern edge of the trail and overlooks along The Red Ledges. The trail requires high clearance, durable tires, and four-wheel drive for the numerous off-camber ruts and rocky ledges. No established campsites were found along the route. Abundant camping can be found along Horn Silver Gulch at the northern trailhead.

Take a trip back in time through a narrow slot canyon. Stove Gulch within the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area is a beautiful 4x4 experience. The trail winds through a narrow redrock-walled canyon leading to an old settler cabin before a dead end at the Price River. The trail is intended for slightly modified to capable stock 4x4s, but everyone will love it. The drops and descents into the wash are steep and very off-camber. The rocks in the wash are large, requiring careful tire placement to prevent high centering. To help preserve the integrity of this pristine canyon, please do not camp along the trail or drive off the trail up to the cabin. The trail ends at a turnaround near the very brushy Price River. Rockfall is common and may temporarily block the narrow canyon.

Wedge Cutoff is a short gravel road shortcut from Green River Cutoff to the Wedge Overlook trail. It's a well-maintained gravel road with views of Cedar Mountain. Look for pronghorn hanging around the middle of the route, near the shallow reservoir and cattle crossing. No camping was found along the route.

East Mounds Road is a picturesque backcountry road through a corner of this secluded desert region of Utah. While traveling along Highway 6, you can detour onto this enjoyable, maintained gravel road. The trail can be completed in 2WD when the conditions are dry. However, there is one bumpy crossing and soft sand crossing at the train trestle. This can be cautiously completed by all overland and camper van-type vehicles. Camping is limited to non-existent along this route. No established campsites with fire rings were found. Connecting the trail to Buried Forest and Price River Road makes for a leisurely scenic trail ride with an exciting hike in the middle.

Home Base Loop traverses the high-elevation rolling hills deep within the San Rafael Swell. It is most frequented by wild burros, horses, and adventurous hikers. The trail accesses what is considered one of the more difficult slot canyon hikes in Utah, Crawford Draw to Eardley Canyon. In dry conditions, the entire 11-mile loop is passable in 2WD with high clearance. There are no obstacles, height restrictions, or narrow ledges. Washouts and deep ruts across the track are the only challenges. The trail drives down a broad grassy draw with sprawling meadow views and back up a similar draw. Limited camping was found along the trail, and the short spur trail included on the track is the unmarked drop-off and staging for the Crawford Draw hiking.

Bird's eye views of the San Rafael Swell from your campsite. Cedar Overlook, sometimes referred to as East Cedar Mountain, is an easy gravel road to the summit, where you'll find a day's worth of adventure. There are carefully constructed overlooks with steel walkways and fences on the edge of building-sized boulders. Shaded campsites and picnic tables are abundant before reaching the multiple radio and cell towers. Cell service is amazing. The trail becomes slightly rougher after the radio towers and ends at the airplane runway. The camping is primitive and free. Small individual campsites are tucked within the trees, and larger sites for RVs can be found along the main route. There is a vault-type toilet at the day-use picnic area. 

Baptist Draw is a 5.5-mile spur off McKay Flats leading to a beautiful overlook at the edge of the Little Ocean Draw Wilderness. Although it is an easy journey over the packed dirt portions, the trail is rough in a few spots with loose and embedded rocks ranging in size up to about soft-ball size, so be sure to air down your tires. One patch of the trail has a small rocky rut cutting across, so take it slow. 4WD will not be necessary, but high clearance is recommended. At the trail's end lies impressive views of the surrounding Swell, including Temple Mountain, Behind the Reef, and even a distant view of the Henry Mountains. Dispersed camping is available in a few locations along the trail, as well as at the end, where a number of both small and large sites line the rim. The area offers no amenities, and the closest town is almost an hour away. Enjoy the solitude!

Continue your San Rafael 4x4 adventure with Big Hole Wash, a moderate 5-mile crossover. The trail has a few mild challenges for stock 4x4s. There are numerous deep washouts and one loose dirt hill. The trail has a couple of good-sized campsites with rock fire circles. Near the trail's eastern end is an old stone culvert left over from the Spirit Railroad that ran across the area over 140 years ago. The sandstone rocks are still standing in their original condition, but all the ground has washed away around them, creating a unique rock formation.

Traveling out and back to Box Flat feels like entering your remote private paradise. Once through the trees and over the numerous rock steps, you pop out onto a pristine prairie surrounded by scenic sandstone cliffs. The trail has a few early challenges that require you to take it slow in four-wheel drive and accept the bouncy ride. Located along the sandy two-track that circles Big Flat, there are a couple of small individual campsites and the trailhead for a remote hiking trail. The drive around the grassy meadow and between the sandstone buttes is scenic and peaceful.