Hidden Splendor

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5/5 (16 reviews)
Hanksville, Utah (Emery County)
Last Updated: 09/11/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

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.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

5/5 (16)
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/13/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The trail does live it's name with those sights
Trail Review: Hidden Splendor - Rejean Barbeau
Trail Review: Hidden Splendor - Rejean Barbeau
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Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/26/2023

We had the entire trail to ourselves today. Incredible sights. One slightly sketch spot on road down to camp area. Before setting up camp we walked down to muddy creek. Area was COVERED with cougar prints from at least 2 cats. SCARY amount of fresh prints. We left the area rather than risk it with cougars and a 3yo son. In way out rewarded with wild horses at McKay Flats.
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15600
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/27/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I combined this trail with Temple Mountain Road and Reds Canyon Loop to make for a good half-day of exploring. This trail was amazing and you wouldn't expect the views it offers when thinking of the other trails that bring you here (hence the name Hidden Splendor). The trail was smooth in some spots and pretty bumpy in others (with some very small 3-5" shelves/drops) but I saw some Outbacks at the end so it's not that bad. One thing I want to mention is that a couple of the roads that lead you here are incredibly smooth (McKay Flat Road for example) and people were carrying the same 30mph speeds from that trail onto this one which had me dodging some a**holes in corners on my way out. The road is very dusty so keep your lights on to increase your chances of being seen.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 04/29/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Awesome trail, I recommend doing reds canyon while you are there as well. I’d give this trail more of a 2 rating than a 1. A 1 in my book could be doable by any vehicle. There are a few small shelf’s to go over towards the end. The last quarter mile down to the river is also looking pretty rough. Doable in any stock 4x4 but I would bring your wife’s van.
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43550
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 04/12/2021

We camped at the very end of Hidden Splendor after a long weekend trip. This is still such an amazing spot. Muddy Creek was running pretty good too, so a nice dip in the water after a long few days was extremely welcomed. I love this area of Utah.
Trail Review: Hidden Splendor - John

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