A: Either late spring or mid-fall are my two favorite times.
–Todd (01/04/2021)
Information
Nearby Trails
| Status: | Open |
| Typically Open: | Year Round |
| Difficulty: | 3-3
( MODERATE
)
|
| Length: | 10.59 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 5769 feet |
| Duration: | About 1 hour, 30 minutes |
| Shape of Trail: | Connector |
| Best Direction to Travel: | N/A |
| Nearest Town: | Moab |
| Nearest Town w/ Services: | Moab |
| Official Road Name: | |
| Management Agency: | Bureau of Land Management |
| District: | Moab Field Office |
Highlights
Slightly stinky to the nose but super pleasant on the eyes, Onion Creek is a must-do trail in the Moab area. No matter what your wheeling style is, the drive is sensory overload as you meander through several different rock formations formed hundreds of millions of years ago. The contrasts from the start of the trail to its end are simply startling.
Route Information
Advanced Rating System 
Recommended Vehicle:
Stock SUV with High Clearance and 4 Low
Concerns:
Summary:
Basic dirt road with no obstacles.
Technical Rating
Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 12" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 12" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 24" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep.
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Description
The Onion Creek Road surface is mostly compacted dirt with multiple shallow creek crossings. It is narrow in spots with no passing, and it climbs in elevation roughly 1,500' to Fisher Valley where it connects to the more difficult Rose Garden Hill and Thompson Canyon. There can be hidden washouts along the ridge that require extra attention and eyes on the road. Avoid in rain. Note: the creek crossings are frequent, but playing off the designated route and attempting to drive in the creek is strictly prohibited. This trail is suitable for any high clearance SUV when dry.
Impassable when wet.
Waypoints
1. Trailhead From Highway 128 (0 mi)
Follow the gravel road southeast.
2. Upper Onion Creek Campground (0.6 mi)
Stay straight through the campground looking directly ahead to the dirt road.
3. Scenic (1.2 mi)
Continue on the road. Views of Fisher Towers.
4. Fork - Continue Straight (1.5 mi)
Continue straight. This is the first of many creek crossings.
5. Scenic (1.8 mi)
Continue on the road. Traveling deeper in the canyon leads to more intense views and high walls comprised of reddish-brown mud and sandstone. The white residue along the side of the road and creek are salt deposits.
6. Scenic and Tight Road (2.9 mi)
Follow the well-defined road. The trail will get much more narrow in spots with blinds curves while intermittently dipping into wider wash areas. The "Totem Pole" spire comes into view. Be mindful of oncoming traffic.
7. Bridge (3.7 mi)
Continue along the road. If traffic is light, this is a good location to see where the creek is forming deep canyon walls. You gain in elevation from here on up to Fisher Valley.
8. Scenic and Widened Area (4.2 mi)
The road begins to widen with views of the upper Cutler rock formations.
9. Noticeable Rock Formation Change (5.1 mi)
Continue following the road. The landscape takes a dramatic change, with the contrasting lighter color rocks that were formed 300-million years ago. What is in view is the Onion Creek salt diapir. Over time, the heavy salt content that was formed when this area was once an ocean has slowly pushed and folded its way up through the other layers of rock. The slightly stinky smell you will encounter for the next few miles is actually sulfur which naturally forms in the area.
10. Entering The Narrows (5.8 mi)
Continue along the road. A few blind curves are present but with passing locations. The slight sulfur smell will be more present here as you shortly pass "Stinking Spring", which carries the foul-smelling sulfurous gas to the surface.
11. Scenic and Out of Narrrows (7 mi)
Follow the road.
12. Steep Narrow Climb (7.3 mi)
Drive up the 10% grade road. Be mindful of oncoming traffic as there is little room to pull over once you round the corner.
13. Start of Ridge (7.6 mi)
Follow the ridge all the way up to Fisher Valley. As you look off to the left (north) you can barely see the famous photographic posing rock from "Top of the World" jutting off the cliff side.
14. Gate - Continue Straight (8.8 mi)
Continue straight. The spur road leads to a smaller network of trails. If you were only interested in driving Onion Creek, this is a good spot to turn around. The trail technically goes for another 1.8 miles connecting to Rose Garden Hill and Thompson Canyon.
15. Fisher Valley (9 mi)
Continue straight.
16. Rose Garden Hill Trailhead (9.6 mi)
Turn left (north) to take on the challenging Rose Garden Hill or straight to connect to Thompson Canyon.
17. Trailhead From Thompson Canyon (10.6 mi)
Turn left (north) to take Thompson Canyon. The road leading right (south) goes to private property.
Directions to Trailhead
Starting Point: Moab, Utah
Drive north on Highway 191 to Highway 128, turn right on Highway 128. Between mile markers 21 and 22 you will see the sign marking the Onion Creek Road and turn right.
Camping
Designated
There is no dispersed camping along this trail from Waypoints 1-14. However, there are 12 improved BLM campgrounds along Highway 128.
For individual use only, not to be shared.
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