San Rafael Desert 9062

Dropping into the trailhead along the San Rafael River, you're immediately in this unique trail's brushy and grassy flood plain. The trail's early section offers easy access to charming shady campsites under the cottonwoods thriving along the banks of the San Rafael. Later, the route climbs to a river rock and dirt mesa, built by millennia of shifting river flow. The plateau offers sprawling views of the colorful buttes, eventually dead-ending above the Green River. The trail's end is sagebrush and blowing sand, leaving little room to set up camp. The views of the river are serene and different from others found along Lower San Rafael Road. The trail is soft sand before turning into rocks to climb up the mesa. 4x4 and high clearance are required to access camping along the early portions of the route.