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| Hunting Panel |
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| Badland Cliffs |
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| Horse Bench |
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| Jack Creek |
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| Trail Canyon |
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| Currant Canyon |
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| Currant Canyon |
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| Currant Canyon |
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| Birch Bottom Canyon |
1. NINE MILE CANYON ROAD starts at a Chevron at the east end of Wellington. It goes paved for 47 miles to Cottonwood Canyon. Most of the rock art is signed. At mp 24 there is a campground and RV park. At mp 27.7 there is a picnic area with restroom. At mile 31.8 a maintained road goes 25 miles up Argyle Canyon to highway 191. I saw a good campsite on the creek where Jenson Canyon comes in. At mp 38.5 a maintained dirt road goes up Gate Canyon for 6 miles to a pass then it's paved on to Myton where there is gas and a Family Dollar. Dry Canyon is at mp 44 and has the best camping and there is a restroom at mp 44.1. At mp 45.1 a dirt road goes left to Franks Canyon. An unlocked gate says private but that's a bluff as it apparently does not apply to the road. Everyone drives thru to Franks then up that on a 4wd road to the good Wrinkles Rd. Posted 2025
2. BIRCH BOTTOM CANYON is the only pristine canyon I found this trip. I went up canyon and then back on the west rim. I turned off the Nine Mile road at mp 31.8 and followed the Argyle road for 9 miles to the canyon at N39 50956, W110 29884. I walked up canyon less than a mile to some tricky falls 4 or 5 feet high with a tiny stream. Easy for two but I barely got up those. I strolled on up to a fork that leads up to point 8024. A fall blocks it but can be passed on either side. I went up on the right reading 52193, 30031 and topped out on the rim south of point 8024. I walked the rim to 51726, 30144 el 8000 and stayed on the ridge center past point 7859 and down to the start. I could see that at the start. 3 hours, 600 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger under Badlands BM. I could have gone on up to that on the rim and maybe the canyon. Posted 2025
3. PARLEY CANYON is one of the prettier canyons I've ever been in and has little cattle impact. I went up the fork east of point 7389 and came back on the rim over that point. I turned off the Nine Mile road at mp 31.8 and followed the Argyle road for 1.6 miles and turned on a high clearance road that goes nearly a mile up Parley. I walked up canyon keeping right at the first fork then left at the next fork reading N39 50216, W110 22466. That fork had an intermittent stream and then I came to a minor fall with a dripping spring. I filled up then went around it and on to the next fork. I stayed right to a game trail at 51125, 22824 on the left bank. I walked it back on the rim and across a wash to 50928, 23363 and it took me up to the high rim. It seemed to be heading into the next fork so I left it and walked the high ground past point 7389 and on to a point that has a route down on the left side and kept going on the rim past ponderosa pines. Where the rim ended I bent right down to 49808, 22907 el 6950 and on down to a gully near bottom at 49875, 22954 and then walked that fork back out. Nearly 4 hours with hardly even 200 noticeable gain. Posted 2025
4. WOOD CANYON has roads up to both rims recently bladed by a power company. I turned off the Nine Mile road at mp 31.8 and followed the Argyle road for 4 miles and then turned on a good road up Wood. The road forks at a spring and each road is easy 4wd up to the rim. The left one goes up to ponderosa pines but an eyesore strip was cut to accomodate power lilnes. The other road goes up to the east rim and on across upper Parley Canyon. Good cycle ride here but that's about it. Posted 2025
5. TRAIL CANYON, CURRANT CANYON - I did these as a loop. At mp 33.7 there is a crude road going up Trail for a quarter mile to a gate. I left a bike there then went to mp 36.1 and walked up Currant. At the mouth just past a fence there are petroglyphs on the right. A half mile past that there are more on an island. I went on up canyon then left at the first main fork and stayed in the main wash to a fork at N39 50901, W110 18825 el 6650. I went left there then exited on the left at 51307, 19298 to get on a road. I walked it past point 7104 then just before a gas well I went left on a road running down a draw. Then at 50792, 20518 I went down a stairway to get down into Trail. I strolled on down smooth gravel to my bike. 5 hours, 10 miles and 100 feet of strenuous gain. It's a long easy stroll. The mouths of these canyons are private but not posted. Posted 2025
6. GATES CANYON is at mp 38.5. I camped at a gravel parking area there. A maintained road goes up canyon and on 33 miles to Myton and the last 26 miles is paved. At mile 4 there is a good road going left for 8 miles to a gas well on the rim of Trail Canyon. Just before the well, there is an easy 4wd road going left down a draw and on 4 miles to the rim of Parley Canyon. It's a short walk to peak 7521 at N39 50477, W110 21809 for a good view. Back on the Gates road, in less than a mile there is a sign for the Wrinkles Road. It says 24 miles to the boat launch on the river. I could have drove a car the whole way. Along the way there is road at 50402, 01455 that goes a bit over a mile to a point on the east rim of Bulls. The main road goes on past a canyon near point 5588 that has a stock trail down it but there is a big drop near the mouth that stops travel. I saw an elk below it. The main road goes on to 50079, 58011 where a road goes half a mile to point 5567 with a good view of lower Nine Miles Creek. I went on to the river and merged with another good road that goes to Myton. Then I went back to the Franks Canyon road at 50793, 05960. It goes down to Nine Mile Creek then a good road goes on to pavement and back to Gates. Posted 2025
7. BLIND CANYON - I went up that and back in Daddy Canyon. I parked at Daddy at mp 44.1 then rode my bike to Blind at mp 41.7. I went up it to a ridge at N39 49165, W110 11980 and then up it to a cliff. I stayed right around that then came back to center and then straight up thru a crack in the upper cliff. I saw I could have gone left a few feet of that crack for a better route. I walked to some rock piles at 48786, 11670. I didn't see any reason paleface would build those. I resumed on the rim to Nine BM at 47843, 11684. The rim is so good that I walked it out to the point on the rim of Daddy. I dropped down at 47829, 10733 then down to the right to a forested ridge. I didn't trust that so I went on to 47750, 10583 el 6400 and then down a drainage to bottom and out. Nearly 5 hours, 9 miles with 500 noticeable gain for the hiking part. Good forest on the rim. Posted 2025
8. PRICKLY PEAR CANYON - I went up canyon and back on the south rim. I took a dirt road at mp 41.7 for a mile to the first fork on the right. I walked it 2 miles mostly on smooth gravel to a pipe spring at 47226, 13680 and filled up. I went on to an easy ridge at 46992, 14112 then up to a gas well. I went left under it to get on the high ridge then on past point 7067 to 46674, 13594 el 7000 where I turned NE down the main ridge. At 46916, 12803 el 6450 I dropped down to the right then at 46904, 12696 I had a safe slope down which I could see at the start. 3 hours with 400 noticeable gain. Great forest in the canyon and ridges. No cattle for years but that might not last. The second fork is just a few feet up the road. I walked it to a 20 foot fall and passed that on the right and passed a large alcove then turned back at the main fork near the 6520 line. A good loop would be to go up the first fork and down the second. I could see that a stray cow made it down from the high rim to the fall years ago. DRY CANYON RIM - the road goes on up steep to the top then take the second road on the left to get out to the rim on a good road. A crude road goes on a bit more then it's a good rim walk out to a mesa el 7047 at the end of the rim. At the last saddle there is a way down left of center then for the last cliff there is a passage at 45871, 11308. A log fence had been set up trap animals on the mesa. Ranchers wouldn't do that. Indians? I clrcled the mesa in a perfect pj forest and returned. 2 hours, 15 minutes with 800 gain due to all the dips in the rim. That mesa should remain pristine forever. The main road goes on to Harmon Canyon then down that to mp 33.7. Posted 2025
9. DEVILS CANYON, DADDY CANYON - these two can be combined as a loop. At mp 45.1 a dirt road branches off for nearly 3 miles to a gate at Devils. I parked there then rode my bike back to Daddy at mp 44.1. I strolled up it to a trail at N39 48987, W110 10534 that took me up to the rim at peak 6563. I then went straight down a fork of Devils and came to huge boulders. I stayed high left on a faint trail to get past those then bank to bank on game trails. The trails peter out at 48767, 08580 then I had to drop to the creekbed and walk it on down. 4 hours, 9 miles and 300 noticeable gain for the hike part. Easy hike and ride. Posted 2025
10. COTTONWOOD CANYON STOCK TRAIL - this likely was used to get up to Bruin Point before roads made it easy. At the end of pavement in the canyon there is a fork on the right and the trail can be seen on the left slope. It took me an hour walking smooth gravel to get to the 6200 line in the right fork. I saw no trail in that fork but I could have gone on to Flat Iron Mesa. No doubt the Indians used this route. Posted 2025
11. JACK CREEK - a route goes down near point 6801 then it's easy to the river. From the end of pavement in Ninemile just keep going up Cottonwood to a fork and go left up to the highest rim then on to a T at N39 43593, W110 07942. Go right a bit over 3 miles to 43241, 05091 and descend a steep slope then walk down to a main fork then to a second fork where road remnants run on the left bank then to the right bank and so on. At 42636, 02788 there is a trail on the right bank then at around el 5100 there is a WSA sign that likely was as far as the road went. At 42814, 00641 there is a huge overhang and the right bank works from there on to the river. 8 hours, 16 miles and the only strain is the 700 foot climb back up to the rim. That took me half an hour. But if a 70 year old can do it, how hard can it be? No water until the river. It's maintained roads all the way but steep. There is a good road around to peak 7003 as the topo shows with some camp spots on the rim there. The peak can be climbed via a break at 43262, 03791. INDIAN SPRING is in the main arm of the canyon. Cattle have polluted it but there is another spring a tenth mile down canyon in a gully at 41822, 08862. I parked on the road west of it. With tubing I could draw water before cattle can get at it. The canyon is dry below the springs and cattle can't go down it. I walked it to a narrows at the 6200 line.It looked like it has a seasonal stream. It soon opens up and I turned back. The road goes on to Cedar Ridge and the BLM has a locked gate at the 7800 line. Posted 2025
12. HORSE BENCH forms the south rim of lower Nine Mile Canyon. The BLM has gated it at point 7142. Only horse, foot and bike travel allowed beyond there. A gas well maintenance man is allowed to drive it and said the gate has been ripped out 3 times in his 8 years working there. Cameras have been installed. He has a 2 and a half hour drive to work from Vernal. His deepest well is 14000 feet. Posted 2025
13. FLAT IRON MESA el 7400+ has a maintained road to it. From the end of pavement in Cottonwood Canyon just keep going until the road goes up the right rim and it will go on to the mesa. An easy 4wd road continues along the left side of the mesa and a game trail goes up the west point. The road goes on and then I walked to N39 44971, W110 09805 where I could see the rim route out to mesa 6871 then to point 6764. That's the best part. A cliff along the way blocks horses. I spent 2 and a half hours out there. It's one of the greatest rim walks. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2025
14. BRUIN POINT - a loop ride can be done up Dry Canyon and down Cottonwood Canyon. The best road into Dry starts at mp 44 and goes up to a main fork with a sign pointing to the right for Stone Cabin Draw and says it's gated in 4 miles. But the road in Dry goes on up to a main fork at N39 38633, W110 20403 el 10100. Right goes to Bruin, left goes back down thru Cottonwood back to pavement. Upper Dry had a stream and one crossed the road at 40106, 21343 and there was no more. These roads are easy 4wd and good for two wheelers. The one in Dry had less erosion. It's 40 miles of dirt and 3 miles of pavement. No cattle in the canyons. Dry would be the better one to ride a bike in. Posted 2025
15. PETES CANYON is a one way hike too easy to pass up. I parked my camper at mp 38.5 and rode my cycle 4 miles up Gate Canyon and took the first left for 2 miles on a decent road. I started down a wash at N39 51033, W110 16107 and soon came to a rim. I went left a few feet to get down then on to the main canyon. Soon I came to a dripping spring under a cliff then strolled on smooth gravel to mp 38. As the cottonwoods came into view near the mouth I saw two petroglyphs on the left wall. 2 hours for the hiking part. I retrieved my cycle as was I heading for Myton anyway. Posted 2025
16. BULLS CANYON is along the Wrinkles Road. At N39 50799, W110 03073 I was able to ride my cycle 2 and a half miles down firm gravel to a fence at private land. I made a U-turn and went up the first side canyon on the east side. There is a game trail at 49803, 01856 that goes up to the next level then a trail runs along the 5400 line out to a point over Nine Mile Creek. I walked the rim and got into the next canyon to the east but was blocked by a 20 foot drop in it. Along the rim there is a 1909 marker. Posted 2025
17. BADLANDS BENCHMARK el 9317 is way out on the high rim in Ashley NF. I took the road running the rim from point 7309 where the Gate Canyon road tops out. It's a good road to a gate at the forest boundary where I turned right on a lesser road that took me down to the Five Mile Canyon road. I stayed left at forks to get back on the rim and followed it to the BM. It's 23 miles from point 7309 and a mile of it is 4wd, the worst being a steep hill. Easy for jeeps. All good for cycles too but I wouldn't ride a heavy one. I was following signs for route 1 the whole way.Good camping on the rim with a Verizon signal and no cattle for years. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2025
18. BAD BENCHMARK el 7088 sits atop the Bad Lands Cliffs. I used the graded road that connects Myton to the Sand Wash boat launch. At N39 52394, W110 01749 I turned off on a road running south of Twin Knolls. I stayed right at forks on easy 4wd to get to the rim then the road fades at peak 6810. It's an easy stroll on the rim to the summit at 52280, 05646. My cycle broke down near the start so I just kept going over peak 7211 and on to my camper at Gate Canyon. Posted 2025
19. PEAK 7290 is the last thing to do along the paved road to Myton. It's a short walk up but then the long north ridge makes a good descent route in a clean forest. I parked on the paved road at N39 58028, W110 10706 then rode my cycle 3 and a half miles uphill and then walked across a trench at 55839, 13250 to get on a road that goes part way up the peak. At the summit I dropped down a crack at 54976, 12740 to get on the main ridge and walked it over peak 7101 and then on to 56859, 11282. I hit the last leg at 57243, 11035 and then down to my truck. 3 hours, 1000 gain, rarely steep. Posted 2025
