Fuller Bottom

full-limited Icon
3.8/5 (5 reviews)
Castle Dale, Utah (Emery County)
Last Updated: 08/07/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

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.


Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

3.8/5 (6)
This trail guide's difficulty was changed on 08/06/2023
Open
Visited: 05/07/2021

Just went through the trail today. Friday, May 7 2021. The water crossing is very low.. about 10 inches max. The trail going west after the water crossing want bad but there's lots of soft sand and really dusty. No major obstacle or bad sections that you have to worry about.
Trail Review: Fuller Bottom - Nigel Naughton
User Avatar
Official Crew
inline-aa Icon
83750
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 10/02/2019

The trail was pretty easy and thankfully the water crossing was shallow. We didn't have any issues following the track, it was pretty worn and obvious where to go without always looking at the gps. We used this trail to connect with several others in the area. The video is of our one day loop through this beautiful region. We connected this trail with a few others for a mildly challenging day on the trail. We camped in our big rig rv along Buckhorn Draw Road, about a mile and half from I-70. It was easily accessible and free.
User Avatar
Official Crew
inline-aa Icon
51900
Impassable
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/13/2019

Kayaked the San Rafael River so we have to take this trail to the water crossing. The high amount of water we received this year flooded the river, causing a washout in the road just north of the crossing. You can carefully drive around this. After going around, the section of trail in the trees is pretty rutted. Our 17 WK2 lifted tires a few times. Then once you reach the crossing, the south side has been washed out as well. I would bet its almost impossible to run this trail north to south. If you came from the south end, you could knock down the washed out area to make it passable again. The water crossing was around 30" deep in mid-July running about 160 CFS. The guide will be updated with the washout.
Trail Review: Fuller Bottom - TJ Bosworth
Trail Review: Fuller Bottom - TJ Bosworth
View More Images
User Avatar
300
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 08/01/2017

Trail is not challenging, especially if you go later in the year when water levels low. But between the scenery and the native american and pioneer/outlaw history, this whole area (fuller bottom, wedge, and buckhorn wash) is a must do trip, at least once!

From the Community

Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial