Cedar Mountain, Price UT

Buckhorn Draw

Balanced Rock at Cottonwood Wash

Marsing Ranch

The Bowling Pin

Buried Forest

Long Point Ridge

Stove Gulch

Near Cottonwood Wash

1. Marsing Ranch

 1. I went across on a graded road out of Cleveland and south of the mountain to highway 191 south of Woodside. A Verizon tower on the summit ensures a signal nearly all the time Posted. 2025

2. PEAK 5950 is a large mesa about 4 miles NW of Flattop Mtn. A good loop starts on the north side.  I turned north off the Flattop road on the jeep road running east of peak 5919. Just past a cattleguard there is a fork. Left goes along the west side of the mesa and is the better road but I didn't know that then.  I went right down Cottonwood Wash and up into Red Holes Wash and parked on the north side of the mesa. I started up a ridge at N39 22224, W110 38980 and strolled on up to point 5901 then south on the rim to survey junk at the south tip. I walked on to 21505, 39020 then it's best to drop into a wide canyon. The canyon narrows and the left bank has a path to get thru to the start. 2 and a half hours and the 150 gain at the start is the only strain. Great pj forest. Ebikes could make it in but it's going to take a jeep to get across sharp dips. Using the west side road won't have those issues. There are ways to climb up from the south but steep and so not as enjoyable. Posted 2025

3. HUMBUG CANYON has a stock trail off the west rim near point 6034. It's obvious there would be a trail there. A good road goes to it from the Flattop road.  The trail drops down a crack at N39 16875, W110 38099 and goes down to a fork at 16921, 37787. The right fork is the one to go upstream. I walked smooth gravel to 15663, 38525 where boulders turned me back. A tiny stream was there from rain a week or two earlier. 2 hours and the only noticeable gain is the 250 back up the trail. No cattle for years. Shady camping at the TH. Posted 2025

4. PEAK 6270, PEAK 6278 are west of Flattop Mtn. A good loop over 3 peaks is a good one. I parked on the Flattop road east of peak 6105 then walked up thru a break at N39 20201, W110 37450 then on up to the first peak that peakbagger shows as peak 6309. I then went to peak 6270 then down a level to a canyon at 20342, 37652. I walked that down to a badlands basin then up that to the end and then up to the right to get on the NE ridge of peak 6268. I cirlced the rim then down at 19917, 38236 and stayed on the high ground to the last cliff at 19708, 37785 where I descended to the start. 3 hours, 1000 gain. Great pristine pj forests. Posted 2025

5. LUCKY FLATS WASH - I went down canyon to the river then back on the north rim but it's better to reverse it. A jeep road branches off the Flattop road and goes to Lucky Flats Spring then over into Cottonwood Wash. The other way in is the road east of peak 5919. It's longer but easier and less hilly. I parked north of 5491 then it's a matter of following the topo on the rim out to peak 5826 then down to N39 22330, W110 35176 and then 22232, 35237 and straight down to the creekbed. It's easy walking to drops at a narrows but the left rim is easy to walk to an overlook of the river but no way down. Then going back up canyon the exit is the canyon east of peak 5663. 5 and a half hours, 9 miles hardly any strenuous gain. An easy walk in a pristine canyon. Posted 2025

6. LEMON FLATS LOOP - looping around on the rims is an easy hike. I parked on the Flattop road at campsites near peak 5980 then rode my bike 2 miles east and started up the west rim. There is an old road cutting along the left side of peak 6090 and I kept on almost to point 6341 then cut left over a ridge at N39 16602, W110 40673 and straight down into a canyon. I walked the smooth wash down that to the flats then up a red ridge at 17344, 39735 to get on the east rim. That's easy until some boulders past peak 6323 but even those have easy paths thru. Past peak 6205 is a drop and there is a way down on the right. 3 and a half hours, 6.6 miles and the 300 gain up the red ridge is the only strenuous part. Lots of pristine pj forest here. Posted 2025

7. FLATTOP MOUNTAIN el 7140 has a great pj forest but some has been marred by dirt bikes. I made a loop from the north. I parked where the road makes a hairpin turn el 5960 in a canyon west of peak 6654 and went up onto the huge bench then up along the west side of peak 6810. Once on top I circled the rim then descended at N39 19724, W110 35199 and on down the ridge and east of peak 6580 to get back to the bench. Then on to peak 6654 then at 21088, 34476 I dropped back to the start. 4 hours, 1700 gain and 6.5 miles. Posted 2025

8. FLATTOP MTN SW RIDGE - the long ridge has a washed out road that can be used for a loop. An easy 4wd road departs the Flattop road at peak 5980 and goes east to the base of the ridge where it is washed out. I walked up it to a fork on top and stayed right to the end then circled south of peak 6472 and came back on the pristine east rim. There is a road on the south side of peak 6434 that leads back to the fork. 2 and a half hours, 5.4 miles with 400 noticeable gain. Good forest, good views. Posted 2025

9. CEDAR MOUNTAIN el 7665 has a graded road to the summit out of Cleveland. Subaru types can go on to a locked gate near Gooseberry Spring. There is a big drop above the spring but a trail runs down to the left to get at it. Water comes out of a pipe into troughs. That's the best water I saw on the mountain. Posted 2025

10. BULL HOLLOW has an ATV trail running up it. At a main fork the right one goes to the 6200 line. The left fork goes a mile or so on the left bank. The wash itself is blocked just beyond there. A third road goes up to Stake Spring and to the rim but I couldn't get my 125 up it. With an ebike I would ride the graded road up the rim and walk it down at the spring then down canyon. Posted 2025

11. THE NIPPLE el 6281 is north of the main road up Cedar Mtn. I turned off at the 6000 line but there is another road higher up that I didn't check. Soon there is a rough spot then easy 4wd on to Cow Flat Reservoir. I turned north there for a short way and parked. The easiest route up is to go up a wash at N39 17204, W110 44203 and on to a ridge at 17340, 44121. It goes up to the final cliff then go left to a break at 17382, 43994. One hour, 300 gain. I rode the road going north but there is a bad spot NW of the peak. Only OHVS and two wheelers beyond there. I went past a stock tank then thru a gate and stayed left at a fork then down Soap Wash to a main road. Ebikes work on all these roads. Posted 2025

12. PEAK 6878 is at the west end of Cedar Mtn. A loop can be made using a bad jeep trail coming up from the SW then down the west rim on an OHV trail. I parked near Buckhorn Reservoir at N39 14571, W110 48736 then rode my bike south for a mile and a half to an obvious jeep road going up the slope. It's on the topo. I walked it and the first mile or so has been bladed in recent times but that's a trick. It goes to hell with no turnaround. I kept going almost to the west ridge of the peak then headed for a road at 13905, 46778. I walked a quarter air mile on that then left up a wash that leads to the east side of the peak. I went up a little ridge at 14061, 46010 and on to a break in the high cliff at 14369, 46021. I descended the west ridge to the east saddle of peak 6635 then dropped south down the drainage. I stayed left of boulders then on to 14157, 46653 where I could go on down then walk the base. Soon the return road came into view and I followed it up south of peak 6419 and it forks there. The left fork is the OHV trail down to the start. 3 and a half hours, 7.3 miles with 1700 gain.  No cattle ever and no boulder problems. Posted 2025.

13. LITTLE CEDAR MOUNTAIN el 6414 has a road to the top. It starts off the graded road on the west side and goes 3 and a half miles up the south rim. Subaru types and ebikes can make it. Posted 2025

14. LONG POINT RIDGE is the largest unspoiled area on Cedar Mtn. I went up an easy ridge to peak 6937 then down the east ridge of Cedar Mtn Knoll. I took the road at Saleratus Reservoir and it goes north like the topo shows then I turned left thru point 5382 and on past a drill hole to a T. I went left a short way to a faded road at N39 14153, W110 31456 and I walked that road to the obvious ridge up to peak 6937. At el 6300 I took an angle to the right to get in the saddle north of the peak but that backfired. I should have gone straight up and over the peak. I went on to the last peak before peak 6792. I call that one Survey Peak as there is some junk still standing at the north end. I then went south to 14226, 32985 and stayed just below the 7000 line on the west side of peak 7192 and on to 13684, 33195 then across a clearing to 13604, 33242. I went up to a rim and on to the bald summit of Cedar Mtn Knoll. I dropped down the east ridge and it bends north to two hills just above the 7040 line. I stayed low left past those then at 13195, 32696 el 6900 the ridge starts dropping steeper. At el 6600 I came to a cliff and was ready to panic. I had less than a pint of water by then. But I moved right to 13268, 32634 and could see an easy way under the cliff then had an easy ridge down to a road. But I should have headed for the road at 13421, 31822 and it leads back to the start. 5 hours, 7.6 miles with 2000 gain. Nothing harder than class 2. Great pj forest. All roads easy 4wd and ebikeable. Posted 2025

15. PEAK 6654 is in the huge valley north of Cedar Mtn. The only road in leaves the main graded road at Saleratus Reservoir and goes north like the topo shows and bends west to a drill hole at Neversweat Wash. There it's best to stay in the wash to N39 16243, W110 32619 where two wheelers can go right in a fork and jeeps can go a little more and take a road on the right bank. I turned right on my 125 then left at a main fork and parked at a fork where I could walk 200 feet up to the high ground at 16558, 33186. I walked that to a minor cliff then went low left to get past it then on up to a crack at 16744, 33794. I went up it then level to the right across a main wash then up a smooth ridge. That's easy to el 6200 or so then the break in the last cliff is up to the right at 16715, 34024. 3 hours, 1000 gain. Pristine. I could have easily drove a jeep in there. Subaru types might get close enough to ebike it. The roads and washes are hard packed. Posted 2025

16. STOVE GULCH, SULPHUR CANYON - these are east of Flattop Mtn and make a good loop. The only road in leaves the main graded road at Saleratus Reservoir and goes north like the topo shows to a fence at peak 5580. Stay right at a fork there and down to the creekbed of Stove. I  walked up Stove into a narrows then a fall made me turn back to a north fork where I  went up a gully and on to the sadde between the canyons reading N39 20359, W110 33349. I could see I could likely go up to peak 5684 and walk the rim back, but I dropped down the canyon leading into Sulphur. It's worth it to go up that canyon until it gets rocky. I could smell sulphur but didn't see the source. I went on down to the river then back up Stove. 3 hours, 40 minutes and nearly 9 miles. Noticeable gain is less than 100. No cattle for years. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 5580. Jeeps can make the roads. Rocks are few. It's just packed red sand.  Posted 2025

17. HISTORIC MARSING RANCH is along the Price River south of peak 6205. A graded road goes from a rest area at mp 367.1 on highway 191 to Coon Spring then a jeep road goes west to a fork just before peak 5598. The left fork is washed out but it's the one to walk then drop off the rim at N39 21993, W110 30961 and go down a canyon on the right side. That will get steep then just drop to a ridge el 5200 in the center and go down and get on the high ground at 21811, 31035. Walk that around to 21663, 31712 and drop down a canyon that leads to the trail that goes to the ranch with the grave of Annabelle Marsing along the way. A lot of structures still stand. It's 3 miles and 90 minutes to walk to the ranch. There is 400 noticeable gain on the way out. On the ride out I climbed Cinder BM and put a track on peakbagger. Jeeps can make it but the next flood may change that. No cattle for years. Posted 2025

18. PRICE RIVER RIM TRAIL - this trail goes down to the river from the west saddle of peak 5931. A good loop goes down the canyon to the east then back up the trail. The graded Gas Field Rd goes south from highway 191 at point 5634 and goes under the RR tracks at a T. Go left a little then right on a good road running south of point 5505 and on to a T at point 5525. Then south to point 5834 which is where I parked. I walked east on the road for nearly half a mile to a fence then walked the left side of that to the rim at N39 24605, W110 33702 then down and had a smooth walk to the river. A trail runs up river close to the slope to the exit trail at 23441, 34825. At the rim a bike would save a mile back to the start but I didn't bother for such a short hike. 2 and a half hours, 700 gain. There would only be 200 noticeable gain if reversing this. The road goes on to the north ridge of peak 6205 and it's a good stroll up that to the summit. 4wd needed beyond point 5525 but nothing major. The Buried Forest hike is not far in from the highway. Signs point the way and it's a one mile hike to peculiar concretions. Posted 2025

Marble, CO

 1. HUNTSMAN RIDGE, HUNTSMAN MOUNTAIN can be done as a long loop. A paved road goes up Coal Creek from Redstone to the TH at private land but hikers and bikers are allowed thru. The trail is a road that goes 1.2 miles to a fork with buildings and a spring near point 8535. I went right up to the peaks then came back on the left fork. But it would be easier to walk the left fork up all the way to the crest west of peak 11298 and on to the peaks then down. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Ridge that makes it obvious.  8 hours, 15 miles with 4350 gain but rarely steep. Riding a bike the first 1.2 miles on the smooth road would help. The USFS topo shows these roads best. All the roads have mtn bike trails or cow trails and hardly any deadfall. I saw dirt bike tracks nearly up to the crest at peak 11298. Domestic sheep graze the high peak so there must be a decent way up from the west. Posted 2025

2. PEAK 11035 can be reached from McClure Pass using a steep but not eroded ATV trail.  It starts just east of the pass and ends at el 10500 then a trail goes on to the summit. From the summit I followed a trail down the east ridge to the east saddle of peak 10377 where I lost it. I kept going down the ridge to the trail east of point 9250 but that's fake. I used game trails along the route of the trail and hit a real trail at el 8600 and walked it out to the Coal Basin TH. That took me 6 hours, 11 miles with 3000 gain from the pass. I got lucky on the descent route but that's for crazy people. I only had some light brush and deadfall didn't show up until I got on the lower trail at el 8600 and it wasn't bad. A better plan is to drop north around peak 10377 to the logging roads and walk those to the lower TH. I can see cow trails or some such on those roads. The USFS topo shows everything best. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Mtn because it would be a route for that peak but only for hikers with ATV. Posted 2025

3. MARBLE has a paved road to it from highway 133. A good dirt road goes up from town to a marble mine. Along the way are THs for Raspberry Creek and Yule Creek. There is a 4wd road that leaves town and goes to the town of Crystal where there is a historic mill. It's 5 miles of 4wd to reach it and will be clogged on weekends . I saw mtn bikers riding the road but it's out of my league. Some restaurants in town but nearest gas is Carbondale. Posted 2025

4. CHAIR MOUNTAIN can't be reached from McClure Pass. The road that goes up from the pass turns private at the 9800 line. A gate can be seen there on the topo. But there are campsites to that point. Posted 2025

Gypsum, CO

 1. Gypsum has a Family Dollar and a supermarket. Eagle has a City Market. One sunny camp area with Verizon is on the Cottonwood Pass Rd at the edge of town. FR412 is a  good road that goes up Gypsum Creek to campsites but they are miles up. Posted 2025

2. HARDSCRABBLE MOUNTAIN el 11166 has roads most of the way that Subaru types can make. I followed FR412 to FR413 then at FR441 there is a campsite where a trail runs NE up a clearing to the summits. The east summit has the best view. The main road goes on down to Eagle but I didn't ride it. Posted 2025

3. HOOSIER BENCHMARK el 11503 has an easy 4wd road most of the way. The Cottonwood Pass Rd leaves town and goes over a lower pass then across a creek and up to an OHV TH. Just before that is where FR514 goes left and up to the crest next to the peak. The road gets very rocky beyond there and I didn't last long. Posted 2025

4. RED HILL el 8164 is a loop ride that ebikers make. The paved Cottonwood Pass Rd tops out just past mp 5. Then a rutted road goes right and there is a cell signal to navigate the roads that go to the peak and also peak 8410. The main road goes back to the camp area on the Cottonwood Pass Rd which is where I started on my 125. 16 miles, few rocks. Only go clockwise. Posted 2025

5. BIG RED HILL el 8446 is north of town. Trail Gulch Rd goes north from the freeway exit to road #50. That road goes east to a fork NE of point 7784. I went left there and stopped at a steep hill west of point 7807 but could have gone on then walked the easy looking SW ridge of the peak. The east side of the peak is blocked by private land. Easy 4wd as far as I went and ebikers go out there. Posted 2025

Kremmling to Silverthorne, CO

This shows what is still open in the Piney Peak area.

One way around that is to stay up all night.

It's the life of Riley on Buffalo Mtn. Just lay around all day and do nothing.

  Kremmling has a Dollar General and high priced supermarket. Frisco has a Walmart. There is plenty of BLM land around Kremmling to camp on with cell signal and I never had a signal again but for hikes. Forest roads at Elliott Ridge and over into the Piney Peak area have spots and then the turnoff for Williams Peak has some. FR141 and FR142 at Bills Peak have some. The closest to I-70 is the Rock Creek Rd at mp 109.2 on highway 9. There are designated sites in there on a left fork but bad for trailers and cars though I saw cars in there. Posted 2025

1. WOLFORD PEAK el 9182 near Kremmling has a road all the way but is gated at el 8485. Paved county 22 goes north at the east end of town for about a mile to road 224 as the sat image shows. That,s a maintained road to a fork just before point 8035. I could have drove a car that far. A 4wd road goes west to the gate near point 8485 then it's a 20 minute walk up. The cell tower on the summit saturates campsites in the area with a Verizon signal. 5 bars, baby. Posted 2025

2. JUNCTION BUTTE el 8764 is south of Kremmling. Graded county 33 runs along the north side then at mp 2.5 a high clearance road goes south along the east side. Soon a fork goes right and heads straight for the south ridge. Or stay left on a better road to point 7716 then go north to el 7850 where the road meets with the other fork and is closed beyond there. But it can be walked up to the south ridge where it fades in rocks but easy to walk to the summit. I took a direct line back down. 90 minutes, 900 gain. The roads are good for 2 wheelers. Posted 2025

3. MERIDIAN PEAK el 12426 is at the north end of the Eagles Nest Wilderness. A trail goes the whole way on an old road on Elliott Ridge. Turn off highway 9 at mp 128.5 and follow the paved then graded Spring Creek Rd to the forest boundary in about 6 miles. Subaru types can make the remaining 6 or 7 miles to the TH at Blue Lake el 11150. The topo is correct on the roads. The trail is on tundra most of the way and there is one big dip in the ridge of 250 feet. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles with nearly 2000 gain and all easy. Posted 2025

4. PINEY PEAK el 11573 -  FR401 comes in from the north and is graded to Slough Grass Lake. I came down from Elliott Ridge on FR202 which is easy 4wd. Subaru types can keep going on FR401 to FR442 at George Lake. Then it's a rocky mess on FR442 to FR784 and up to McCord Pass. I parked my 125 at FR784 and walked it to the pass but could have rode as I found out. From the pass I walked a closed road past a barrier and saw a way thru the trees to get on the ridge and up to the peak. I ran the ridge to peak 11385 then came back until I was .15 mile from a logging road at N39 48444, W106 29180. I took a gentle angle down to it and on to Piney Peak Spring. Just a dry trough there. I followed the logging roads back to the pass. I rode out on the road down 3 Licks Creek but that's a disaster. I saw God turn back on that. GRAND LOOP VERSION - walk the road up 3 Licks Creek to the pass then run the ridge to peak 11385. I saw a way off it to the old road past Chimney Rock then keep going to the eastern leg of FR441 which is still open as a map posted at a kiosk indicates. Walk that leg back to FR401 with an ebike waiting. I measured that on the computer as 14 miles for the hiking part.

5. WILLIAMS PEAK el 11617 has a rocky 4wd road most of the way. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.5 and the road goes up to the crest and runs for miles like the topo shows. I parked at the south saddle of the peak and had no trouble to the summit. The road smooths out on to Williams BM and it has a better view. I parked at the NW saddle and walked right of center on tundra to the summit. Then kept going on the easy crest to peak 11145 at N39 50367, W106 08643 and then down to the road at 50495, 08887. A trail goes on from the end of the road maybe to Ute Pass. I walked the road back. The spring on the topo had a good flow and was the only water I saw. The Williams  Peak Trail had a sign saying 6.7 miles to the lower TH. That hike took 3 hours and 7 miles. Easy one. I saw jeep tracks near the end of the road but there are long segments with no turnaround. Posted 2025

6. GREEN MOUNTAIN el 9418 has a faint road going high up the south ridge as the topo shows. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.4 and go south on easy 4wd for about a mile then go right to logs blocking the road at just over 8000. The road goes up and fades but reappears again next to point 8525 reading N39 53802, W106 19556. It goes on to 53593, 19431 and on to the south ridge then it's easy to the summit. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Ebikes work here. Posted 2025

7. UPPER CATARACT LAKE is a scenic one. The paved Heeney Rd runs along the south side of Green Mtn Reservoir. At mp 5.5 a good road runs to the Surprise Lake TH. The trails leading to Surprise Lake and on to Upper Cataract are about like the topo shows and signs were up. 6 hours, 12 miles with 2600 gain, not steep. The first 3 miles are smooth. The only camping near the TH is a high priced campground. But if you're a cow you camp for free and when you gotta go you don't have to use the restroom. Posted 2025

8. UTE PEAK el 12303 - a one way hike can be done on a trail from Ute Pass over the summit  then down the Acorn Creek Trail to a second vehicle. Turn off highway 9 onto Ute Park Rd at about mp 112.1 and stay left at the first fork then right at the second to the Acorn TH. I left my truck there then rode my cycle 8 and a half miles to the pass and walked the trail. There is only one trail up. All the others on the topo are fake. At the summit I just kept going down the main ridge to the Acorn trail at N39 46232, W106 04277 el 11300  then walked it down to my truck. 6 and a half hours, 10.4 miles with 3300 gain.  Highway 9 has a wide shoulder for ebikes and the Ute Pass road has light traffic and is paved. Posted 2025

9. BILLS PEAK el 12703 can be done as a loop up the trail along Kinney Creek then down to Horshoe Lake and back on that trail. Drive over Ute Pass then past a huge mine to mp 9 then follow signs to the Kinney TH. Cars have trouble with the last 3 miles but could ebike it. Subaru types make it all the way. The trail goes roughly like the topo shows. The trail forks south of point 10785 which is where the loop begins. Left goes up to the peak. I stayed on the trail until I could get on the south ridge of the summit then went up. I resumed on the trail to N39 50933, W105 57973 el 12400 and leveled off to get on the ridge that circles the lake. An obvious elk trail SW of the lake is the way down. It reads 50545, 59056. I picked up the main trail on the east shore of the lake and walked it out. 6 and a half hours, 11 miles with a bit over 3000 gain. The first 2 miles are in a burn area that ends just before the fork. The main road goes on under a mine conveyor then FR142 is a good one lane road that  goes over 4 miles to a TH with campsites along the way. It's a good road for two wheelers. Posted 2025

10. BUFFALO MOUNTAIN el 12777 is west of Silverthorne. The TH is at the end of Ryan Gulch Rd but the two dozen spaces fill up every day. So start crazy early or ride an ebike from Target. A bike path runs along Ryan Gulch Rd. The trail goes steep and rocky for 3 miles to the summit. The important thing is where the talus starts the real trail goes right and fake trails go left. A family of goats resides here. 5 hours, 6 miles with 3000 gain. Two cars were waiting to take my space when I returned. They had to shoot it out. Posted 2025

Rabbit Ears Range, Never Summer Range

Bearpaws Peaks

Parika Peak

Bowen Mtn

Arapaho Ridge

 1. The peaks in the area are easy tundra hikes. Granby has a City Market and Dollar General.

2. BOWEN, FAIRVIEW, PARIKA - these peaks can be done as a loop. FR750 is a good road to the TH for trail #1141. I walked it to Bowen Pass. The last water is a big spring below the pass at the junction with the CDT. I went up the ridge from the pass to a faint trail at N40 21918, W105 56248 el 12200. It drops a little then goes along the right side of crags then the rest is obvious. One narrow ledge beyond there will worry some but a route 20 feet lower can be used then back up a chute. Take a 20 foot handline for the squeamish. I didn't think the ledge to be risky. I came back and walked the ridge and then under peak 12442 to an elk trail at  22370, 56381 el 12200 and then on over Fairview and up to Parika. I came back to the trail that goes over the shoulder of Fairview and then went straight down tundra to the saddle el 11396 and on to 22328, 57217 and soon hit the trail again then on back. 7 and a half hours, 9.3 miles with 3600 gain and mostly on tundra. Nothing harder than class 2.  It would only add 250 to go over peak 12442. The USFS topo shows the trails best. Posted 2025

3. CASCADE MOUNTAIN el 12303 has trails nearly the whole way from FR750. A logging road works well for the return. I walked trail #1141 from FR750 to Bowen Pass then took a trail up the ridge. It runs to the right of peaks including Ruby then almost to the top of Cascade. I then dropped to the saddle east of peak 11550 and went down a trail on the left. Once on the floor I moved far right and walked meadows to a passage at N40 21395, W105 57951 and then on to the logging road at 21639, 57906 el 10640. I went on to a fork at 21708, 57884 and went right to another fork at 21954, 57861 and right again and walked left of the creek down to FR750.  6 hours, 8.7 miles with 2800 gain. Easy tundra and meadows. Posted 2025

4. MOUNT CINDY el 12047 can be done as a loop including Bearpaws Peaks. FR740  is maintained as far as Teller City. Some cars might make it another half mile to good campsites along FR758. Then it's 3 miles of rocky 4wd road to a fork at FR7581A. That's the last parking spot for 4wds. I rode my cycle a little more and parked at N40 23994, W105 58148 el 10100. Then I walked the road to the Jack Creek TH. At the 11000 line I went straight up a clearing to cut a switchback and hit the trail running on a closed road. I should have tried going straight on up to the ridge but I walked the trail up. At 24035, 55657 el 11200 I came to the last good stream. I kept going up to the ridge and walked a fading road on it to peak 11740. The road seems to drop to the Michigan River but I went up an elk trail to el 11680 then skirted left of the summit and on up the ridge. A crag is in the way so I took an elk trail at 24777, 56123 el 11700 to get around it on the left. From the summit of Cindy I walked the ridge to Bearpaws. An elk trail runs left of center into the east saddle of peak 11570. A camera was attached to a tree there. I skirted left around the peak then up to the ridge that leads to Bearpaws. I took a trip out to the high peak then came back to the ridge out to peak 11590. I skirted that one on the right then went over the left shoulder of the next peak then down to a wide tundra drainage at 24327, 58299 el 11040. I went down the center then moved left at a steeper part then on down tundra and came to some deadfall. I went left around that then hit the road at my cycle. 6 hours, 9 miles with 2400 gain. All easy terrain. One compromise on that rocky road is to drive halfway to a campsite at the 9560 line along Jack Creek. That would make it a 12 mile hike. An ebike might work for a mile past Teller City. Posted 2025

5. CDT LOOP - one hike I thought about but skipped is to start at the Illinois River TH and walk to the CDT then on to trail #1141 near Bowen Pass then back on that trail to a bike waiting at that TH. It might be 10 miles of hiking. 

6. TELLER CITY was a late 19th mining town. A loop trail with displays leads past log cabin ruins. Cars can get there. Posted 2025

7. RADIAL MOUNTAIN el 11241 - a trail goes up from Willow Creek Pass to a T at el 10000 where a dirt bike trail crosses. Then there is deadfall on up the ridge but I could weave or step over all of it. It clears up at el 10700 and it's a clean ridge to the summit. 3 and a half hours, 1700 gain. Posted 2025

8. PARKVIEW MOUNTAIN el 12296 - an easy 4wd road goes to 11050 from BM 9485 at mp 21 on highway 125. Near timberline there is a fork so stay left across a dip to a parking area. ATVs can go on to el 11300 then a rocky trail leads to tundra and then it's just pick an angle to get on the SE ridge and up to the lookout. It took me an hour to the top from el 11050. I wouldn't take any rig wider than a jeep on that road. My 125 made it easily. EBIKE VERSION - FR730 is mostly smooth to el 10300. I would ride that far then walk FR751 over the ridge to the other road and go up then back down the NE ridge. Cars have to park at the pass and use a trail from there but could do the same loop.  Posted2025

9. SHEEP MTN and HYANNIS PEAK -  a one way hike is the best in the range. I started at Grassy Run TH and walked the trail up to Arapaho Ridge then kept going to the CDT. I took a 2 hour side trip to Hyannis then went on over Sheep to trail #1187 but that trail is gone. I made it to my bike at Longs Lake anyway. The best version is to start on the CDT at FR107 el 10600 and it's an all trail walk of about a 11 miles to Grassy Run TH. Some deadfall on the descent slows things down by 15 minutes. The version I did took 7 hours. Next time I'll start on the CDT and skip Hyannis and include Red Hill. That would be a 5 mile side trip total. The USFS topo shows the trails. FR106 and FR715 are good roads for cars and the others are good high clearance roads and all ebikeable. Posted 2025

10. SHEEP MOUNTAIN el 11819 has a trail most of the way. FR106 is a good road to the T at FR730. Then go right to FR107 and up to the crest on easy high clearance roads that are ebikeable. The CDT runs along the crest to the peak like the USFS topo shows. 3 hours, 40 minutes and 7.5 miles with 2000 gain. The other SHEEP MOUNTAIN el 11361 has a road up to the top but is closed at el 10700. OHVs don't have to obey that and go all the way up. Posted 2025

11. HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN el 11495 has a fairly easy NE ridge. FR106 is a good road to the T at FR730. Then go left on FR730 which is easy 4wd and ebikeable. In 2 miles park and there is a trail going up to the NE saddle of the peak where the CDT crosses. Just before the CDT there is a clearing in view on the right. That leads up the ridge to the summit. It took one hour with 1100 gain to get to the summit. Then I dropped back to the CDT and walked it up to peak 11466 and then walked a tundra ridge north to peak 10972. That's the best part. I took a left turn at that peak and on down tundra to the road. I ran out of tundra and walked the forest for 4 minutes to hit the road and walked it back. That leg of the hike took 2 and a half hours with 1300 gain.  FR730 goes on a dozen miles to the highway but gets narrow and rocky. Posted 2025

12. GRAVEL MOUNTAIN el 11769 - FR123 departs highway 125 at mp 17 and goes up Willow Creek. After a bit over 10 miles the road tops out in the west saddle el 10600 of peak 10724. I parked there and took a bad right fork then right at the next fork and on to 3 forks. I stayed far right to a meadow then straight up to a saddle el 11200 on the NE ridge then up. 2 hours, 1100 gain. Cars can go several miles up FR123 then ebike it. High clearance can make it all the way to the saddle. The hike is not in the burn area. Posted 2025

13. ELK MOUNTAIN, CORRAL PEAKS - these are easy ones. Turn off highway 40 at mp 194.6 and take county 21 into the forest as FR112.6. It's a good road to FR111 el 9990. That's a good high clearance road to a fork el 10560. The right fork is gated and the left fork is rough for a short way to a grassy road at N40 09525, W106 08375 el 10700. I could have drove a jeep on up to the summit of Elk. Back on FR112.6, keep going to 11875, 08335 el 10500 and turn left on easy 4wd for a third mile to a closure. Walk on up the closed road to the saddle between the Corral Peaks then it's easy to climb each one. The USFS topo shows roads the best. I saw a low clearance car almost at the Corral Peaks and still going. The first campsite is 3 and a half miles in on county 21. Posted 2025

Eastern Uinta Mountains

Leidy Peak

Something peculiar on Leidy

Elk near Leidy

Rock ring near Leidy

Marsh Peak

The cave at Big Brush Creek

 1. Highway 191 out of Vernal is the easiest way to get to the national forest. At mp 376 is a huge camp area with restrooms. 2500W and 3500W are roads out of Vernal that go into the forest and become good graded roads. The road to Paradise Lake is old pavement to the forest boundary and then FR104 is very bumpy on to the lake. Cars go in there. FR117 out of Elkhorn is the road to Chepeta Lake and it is extremely bumpy but improves some when it tops out. Cars might get to the lake. Uinta is the Indian word for rocks, rocks, and more rocks that go on forever. Posted 2025

2. LEIDY PEAK el 12028 is an easy one. FR43 goes to the TH el 10920  just short of what the topo shows. Some cars could make it. The spring near the 10400 line had good water. I followed trail #25 to the east ridge then it's mostly tundra to the summit. I had to detour around snow by way of good springs at N40 45877, W109 49383 el 11120. I came back down and strolled out to peak 11139. The last saddle has a large rock ring at 45239, 48256 el 10800. Be careful around that. It's hard to find Indian relics at that elevation. A herd of elk was out there. 5 hours, 8.5 miles, 2000 gain. There is good camping at the TH and it was deserted on a Saturday. Posted 2025

3. MOUNT UNTERMANN el 12074 has a spotty trail going to it from Hacking Lake around  the north side of Leidy. Then there is the option to loop back on trail #39 or come back over Leidy. I did the former.  The trail on the topo is off in places but not enough to get you lost. Near the start are decoy cairns running too low. The correct trail is at N40 46289, W109 50446 then fades and shows up again at 45889, 51060 and then it drops to a lower level at 45834, 51367. And there I saw that Gabbro Pass was snowed in so I merged onto the ridge and up a talus point. I stayed left of center and it only took 5 minutes to get up then I had tundra nearly to the summit. I then went over to peak 12011 and saw a rock ring with a zigzag line on the summit at 45480, 53073. Be careful there as it might be Indian. I then headed down trail #39 and the map is off so it's best to head down tundra to the trail at 45481, 52137 then on to a sign for trail #41 that leads back. 6 hours, 15 minutes and 12.3 miles with 2800 gain. Just to Untermann and back the same way would be 9 miles and less than 5 hours. Posted 2025

4. MARSH PEAK el 12240 has a trail on the east ridge like the topo shows but the last 3 miles of FR27 is rocky. Expect an hour for that.  I went to the summit then north on the ridge to trail #51 and back along the lakes. I followed the trail then zigzagged up the east ridge to N40 42612, W109 49325 el 11800 where I leveled off around to the north side then up. I kept going on the main ridge to the south saddle of peak 11951 then dropped left on tundra to 43927, 50956 and went straight on down to a rim el 11200 and walked tundra all the way to trail #51 at 44946, 52288 el 11200. That hits bottom and fades but ignore fake cairns and stay on the right like the topo shows. I filled up at a spring along there reading 45105, 51852 and then went on to trail #39 at 45229, 51529 el 10800 and it gets heavy use. It follows close to the topo but one meadow is tricky but I picked it up at 44646, 49397. 8 hours, 13.3 miles with 3000 gain. Some talus has to be dealt with but stable. I would wait until July when bogs are easier. I nearly had to wade the creek in late June. ALTERNATE - coming in from the TH above Hacking Lake would add 5 or 6 miles to the total but a base camp could be set up at the junction with trail #39. I could have drove a car to that TH. Trail #26 might work too but I never saw it. Posted 2025

5. TROUT CREEK PEAK el 10519 is along FR43 to Hacking Lake and Leidy. FR38 is a decent high clearance road but then there is a locked gate at the 9800 line. But there was no sign against riding an ebike. As the road passes under the north saddle I left it and then at the saddle is a trail that goes nearly to the summit and some survey junk. Mosquitoes were bad. Posted 2025

6. GRIZZLY BENCHMARK el 9968 is 2 miles west of highway 191. A 4wd road goes all the way up. FR181 leaves the highway at mp 375.8 and goes to a ski hut el 9200 then on to the summit. It's not worth taking a 4wd past a campsite at N40 44948, W109 30674 el 9750. Posted 2025

7. DYER MOUNTAIN el 10248 has a 4wd most of the way. FR249 goes up along the east side then into the north saddle el 10100. I don't think it's worth it to take a 4wd past the Dyer Mines el 9800. I had no trouble riding my 125 to the saddle. Posted 2025

8. RED PINE TRAIL - this one goes down into Ashley Gorge and shows on the topo. Cars can make it to FR237 then it's nearly 3 miles of easy 4wd to the rim at N40 41047, W109 38878. Ebikes could make it.  It took half an hour to get down to the creek. One good campsite is there. In September of 2004 I was here and my notes read " The trail goes to a cable crossing the creek. In Sept the creek was hard to cross. I went upstream to cross and then went downstream to a sink where the whole creek goes underground at 40574, 39338. From the sink, it's an hour of boulder hopping down to a canyon on the right where a large stream enters. A half hour after that on the left a larger volume of water enters at 39193, 38319. This is from a diversion canal. Now there is a river. I turned back here and went directly up the slope above the sink to the trail. 6 hrs,1500 gain. " This trip I saw no cable. Posted June, 2025.

9. BIG BRUSH ICE CAVE - this is on the floor of Big Brush Creek near some mines below the 8300 line. The topo shows it as a depression and the creek goes underground in this cave but it's normally dry. FR18 is a good road running north of it and the main trail down starts at a pullout at a sharp bend in the road. Park there but ignore the main trail and walk 200 feet to a closed road at N40 42026, W109 35113 that shows on the topo going to the mines. The cave will come into sight then there are fixed ropes to get down the last steep slope. The ice formation in the cave is 15 feet tall or so. From the cave, I walked up the dry canyon for half a mile to where the oncoming creek sinks. It sinks all at once. Along the way there is a left bend in the creekbed where the left bank has ruins. Just past the sink there is a lean-to on the left  bank. A few feet past that I could see a way up the slope to the road then walked 5 minutes back to the start. That loop takes less than 2  hours with barely more than 100 strenuous gain. The main trail hikers use for the cave is steeper with trickier rope work and needs to be closed off. Posted 2025

10. LIMBER FLAG el 9510 has a 4wd road most of the way. FR254 goes up the south ridge then at the last tenth mile there are blocks in the way. A faint trail goes along the right side then it's a guess which block is highest. LIMESTONE MOUNTAIN is nearby and also has a 4wd most of the way. FR257 goes up the south ridge to a bump el 9150 then it's an easy stroll on up. There are rocks on these roads that make 2 wheelers no fun but the roads up Pothole Creek and East Draw are good. Posted 2025

11. ASHLEY GORGE WEST RIM - FR30 goes south from FR18 to the edge of a rim.  A car could make it that far. Then FR435 runs rocky to a rim and smooths out and ends south of peak 8441. I walked to N40 36336, W109 38711 to get down to a clearing and on across the canyon to peak 8441 for a view. An elk trail goes up the last bit. That hike took 85 minutes with 500 gain. The ride in on the 3.3 miles of 4wd road took 35 minutes. An ebike could make most of that. I had a cell signal and there's good camping with a view on that rim. Posted 2025

12. LAKE MOUNTAIN, MIDDLE MOUNTAIN - these two can be done from the top down on trails and roads. I parked on FR104 just inside the forest boundary el 8100. Then I rode my cycle to Logger Cabins Park el 9450 and walked down FR115 to a stock trail at N40 36896, W109 51414 and then walked that to Middle Mtn. On that there is a tricky fence that I crossed at 37198, 49823 but a gate is to the right of that and easier. I kept going to Lake Mtn then took a trail at 36158, 48598 that goes down past Chenab Spring and to a good pipe spring at el 8500 and then on down to my truck. 3 hours, 7 miles and hardly any noticeable gain. Hikers who prefer to go uphill can reverse this. Posted 2025

13. ICE CAVE PEAK el 10036 is a short walk from FR298. It has no view but has some peculiar benchmarks. The end of the road has a good view. I didn't visit the ice cave but was told it is a crevice just south of Ice Cave Spring.  FR441 has a trail at the end that goes to point 9527 and also a closed road that goes to bald peak 9359. On the return from that easy peak I made it harder by taking a wrong fork and going up steeper. What a dope. These roads are good for two wheelers but not the closed one. Posted 2025

14. PEAK 11529 is NW of Marsh Peak. The easiest route is to take trail #75 then up into the north saddle. FR296 is 3 miles of easy 4wd to trail #51 then rocks get bigger to Blanchett Park where the road ends. Trail #75 starts where the topo shows then fades in grass so just pick it up again at N40 42623, W109 54951. A spring at the 10320 line is a good one. At 44577, 54906 leave the trail and head for the north saddle thru an easy forest.  The saddle is defended by a talus slope. I went up it at 44633, 53765 and took 10 minutes to get up to tundra then had an easy stroll to the summit. Then I had two ways to descend. Either the south ridge or go back to the saddle then east to Red Belly Lake and walk the that trail back. And the latter was my original plan but I got suckered by how easy the south ridge looked so I went down it but it gets too tedious near bottom. So stick with the Red Belly route or back the same way. I had a 6 mile hike to the summit from my parking spot near trail #51 with 1000 noticeable gain. Next time I'll try the loop back on trail #51. Posted 2025

15. LITTLE MOUNTAIN el 8620  has a bumpy high clearance road to the top. It leaves highway 121 at mp 32.5 and goes a dozen miles. Cars can make the first 3 miles or so then try an ebike. It's bumpy due to embedded rocks, not so much loose ones. Posted 2025

16. PEAK 12062 is NE of Cliff Lake. Two loops are possible by going up the main south ridge then back by way of the lake road or trail #75.  I did the former. I parked on FR459 where it tops out and walked a logging road that soon fades. I went on along the south side of Johnson Lake then up to the north saddle of Mesa. I went up the ridge and dodged the worst talus by staying far right of point 11497 at N40 42770, W109 57127. I went on to the summit then down the west ridge to 44510, 58650 el 11160 where I had an easy route down to trees. I went on down a ridge at 44411, 58868 el 10800 then thru an easy forest to a meadow at 44240, 59030. I then walked elk trails and hit trail #49 then the road that leads back. 7 and a half hours, 13 miles with 2700 gain and mostly easy. Lots of talus but stable and not too big. FR459 is easy 4wd but gets worse beyond where I parked. Returning on trail #75 would be the better hike and a car and ebike would work. I saw a way down off the main ridge that leads down to the south side of the lake at the head of Reynolds Creek. For that one I would just park on FR104 and go around Mesa. Posted 2025

17. WHITEROCKS RIVER CANYON has a good dirt road running for 9 miles up it. About halfway is where campsites under the pines start and the remaining road makes a good bike ride. I didn't see anything else to do. Posted 2025

18. BUCK RIDGE el 10001 - FR282 runs for 3 miles and ends just before the peak. A trail goes on like the topo shows making for a 10 minute walk to the summit.  The road has lots of embedded little rocks but I think I could have rode an ebike on it. It would be groovy to walk the trail on down the mountain. It's a pretty area with no cattle. Posted 2025

19. CLOVER BENCHMARK el 12335 is an easy one up the south ridge. FR305 is a good road until the last fifth mile before a closed road at N40 40316, W110 05776 el 10550. I walked that road to 40813, 05845 then in another tenth mile I left the road and went up along the right side of rock fields to 41168, 05574. I turned left there and up a slope to get on the south ridge. At 11500 I moved right some and on up to the BM at 43004, 05518. 4 and a half hours, 10 miles with 2100 gain and not steep. I was on tundra strips most of the way. It looked OK to go on to peak 12425 but I wasn't looking for a hike that long. I put a track on peakbagger under that peak. Posted 2025

20. PEAK 12666 is west of Chepeta Lake and has a rocky trail most of the way. It starts at the dam and runs close to the topo and then near the summit it's an easy walk to the top. I descended to the east saddle and took a nap on a handy slab at N40 48464, W110 06051 el 12500 then down from the saddle to the trail at 48076, 05913 el 11900 and on back. 7 and a half hours, 14 miles with 2500 gain, not steep. Posted 2025 

Goose Lakes

Marsh Peak

Peak 11139

Rock ring and zigzag line on peak 12011

Mexican Mountain Wilderness

Ruins at Shadscale Mesa

 1. COTTONWOOD WASH ROAD - this forms the east boundary of the wilderness. The best way in is the Smith Camp Rd that leaves highway 191 south of Seleratus BM. It's a graded road to point 4418 where another graded road goes north to the Cottonwood road and a car might make it the whole way. The Cottonwood road is easy 4wd because of sand and chalk dust. Going south is a dead end and going north leads to the graded Green River Cut Off Rd. Posted 2025

2. COTTONWOOD WASH NORTH RIM - I was able to get to Horse Heaven walking the rim and some forks thru point 6184 then came back on the next rim to the north.   There is a parking area at the mouth for the rock art hikers. I just went up the rim to the first fork cutting thru. I went down there but hit a drop at the bottom. I came back up and looked at a route at N39 05179, W110 27514 that would work if I had a gator hook and 20 feet of line. There is one more just past that that might go but I stayed on the rim past point 5318 to 05839, 28221 then dropped down at some potholes with water. I walked that fork along the north side of point 5715 to a narrows blocked by falls just before the 5600 line. I came back to a gap east of point 5715 and went thru to the next fork then up that a short way to a minor class 3 fall, the hardest thing on this hike. I went up OK but easier for two and likely bypassable anyway. I kept going up the easy canyon to 05731, 29043 where a sheep route goes up the rim. I went on up to a neck at 05737, 29287 and on up the rim past peak 6015 then just past point 6184 there is a saddle where I thought I was toast. But straight across the saddle is a class 2 crack where sheep go up. Then all I had to do was skirt around the head of the forks then down the rim to past point 6015 and down to a rim at 06186, 29163 el 5850. I walked the rim down to a drainage at 05935, 27992 which comes back to the rim at some potholes with water. I needed that so I filled up. I kept going down toward point 4925 and hit a trail there at 05460, 26516 that took me down a canyon and to the road with a short walk back to the start. That took me 9 hours, 15 miles with nearly 2000 gain. Rarely steep. This could be shortened a lot by heading directly up to point 5318 on the rim and also skipping the side trip to the narrows. Posted 2025

3. COTTONWOOD WASH SOUTH RIM - there are ways up the rim and over to the rim of Spring Canyon. One way is to start at the mouth and go up a trail at N39 04758, W110 26018. It goes along the left side of a drainage and finally fades then it's easy on up the ridges. The second way is to go up Cottonwood to a class 3 route at 04694, 27037. It goes up to the left to the next level then it's easy to 04565, 27234 then it's a straight shot up the drainage to the rim. I then walked up the rim to 04151, 27483 to get down a  cliff and on down to Nates Canyon. Going up canyon are cottonwoods and potholes, some had water. I came to a minor fall and past that it's easy to go to the rim of Spring Canyon. Someone glued a dirt bike ornament on the rim at 03525, 28578 just east of point 5950. I then went NE down a fork that leads to the big drop in Nates. At a minor drop I went left to 03879, 27613 to get down then on to the drop. There I went north up a drainage that shows green on the topo reading 03949, 27284. I walked that a third mile to a large cairn and exited there and leveled off then made a hard right to 04339, 26910 to get on the descent ridge. I had a deep canyon on my left and just followed it down to the start. 5 hours, 8 miles with 1600 gain.

4. POINT 5948 is on the rim east of the Lower Black Box. The road down Tidwell Draw is easy 4wd. I parked and walked to a saddle south of point 4290 at N38 58112, W110 23703 then on up a ridge at 58146, 23962. I dropped off the rim at 58221, 24609 el 4800 and down into a canyon on the right. It has another little rim and the last spot to drop down it is at 58251, 24835 then it's a short walk to the main rim of the river. The rim is lined with domes so I went right around them into a drainage at 58248, 24820 then up that to 58525, 25072 and then to 58678, 25366 where I dropped into another drainage. I went on to 58804, 25583 then to smooth rock at 58949, 25759. There I just followed the forks that lead to the rim north of peak 6001. Along the way are potholes with 2 feet of water that day at 59177, 26241. At the rim I just walked it to 58938, 27190 and crossed a drainage to get to the summit. No sign of humanity there. 6 hours, 10 miles with 2200 gain. 200 of that is on the return. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 6001. Posted 2025.

5. SMITH CAMP LOOP - a trail goes to the rim from the camp then it's easy to loop north back. The camp is at the 4-way at BM 4548 on the Cottonwood Wash Rd. First I stashed a bike 1.2 miles north at a fork near BM 4606 on the Cottonwood road then came back to the 4-way and turned west to the camp. A trail goes up canyon on the left bank and will bend south. I got off there to smooth rock at N39 01634, W110 24787 then up to a trail at 01618, 25002. It goes on to 01608, 25659 then in another fifth mile it bends left to the rim. I could see  that I could walk the rim south to a point at the 5600 line. But I walked north on the rim until domes got in the way. But there are obvious passages to the right of the domes. I went on to 02214, 26300 and turned right down a canyon. At a drop, I cut over the left bank to 02484, 25928 and dropped down. At the next drop I bypassed on the left then up a ramp at 02734, 25702 to get on the rim. I went on to 02801, 25573 then walked down the rim staying with the canyon on my right. Nearly 4 hours with 1000 easy gain. Cars might make it to the camp from the south or at least get close enough to ebike it. SOUTH LOOP - I returned later and took the same route to the rim but then went south to the point at the 5600 line, north of point 5370. Then I went to a rim at 01114, 25788 and then to 01083, 25452. At 01036, 25212 I went south across a wash then down to the starting trail at 01108, 24660. It took me north back to the start. 3 hours, 1200 gain, all easy. Posted 2025

6. PEAK 5035 is east of Cottonwood Wash. The colorful east canyons are the main attraction. I took the graded road along Cottonwood Wash and turned north on the road going past Trail Spring. I had 3 miles of easy 4wd and ebikeable to a fence. I parked there and walked to a canyon at N34 04022, W110 20637. I went up that to a fork at 04378, 21371 and then up the ridge between the forks to point 4730 and on to the summit. There are ways to drop south off the summit, the easiest being by way of the east saddle and then down canyon and past a fence at the mouth. I left the wash and thru a saddle on the left at 03579, 20734 and headed back. 2 and a half hours with 400 noticeable gain. Posted 2025

7. JOE HOLE WASH is SE of Cedar Mountain running parallel to the main road. A one way hike is too easy to pass up. I parked at a crook in the road east of BM 5473 then rode 3 miles west to the road turning south to Lews Hole. That's a minor drop with a pothole. A trail goes along the right rim for a tenth mile then drops down at a fence. I strolled on down canyon and then for the last third mile turned north up a draw to get to my truck. 100 minutes, 4 and a half miles. Cattle impact is light. Posted 2025

8. UPPER COTTONWOOD WASH - a sheep trail goes out of Big Hole Wash and over into the main fork of Cottonwood. The Big Flat Rd turns to 4wd at peak 6215 and then shortly comes a fork. Go left for 2/3 mile to a big fall. A mtn bike would work on that road. Walk to the trail at N39 05959, W110 31704. It goes up onto a point then go another tenth mile up the point then left up a draw to a rim then to 05944, 31437. Drop down there then thru a gap to 05923, 31248 where it's easy to drop into Cottonwood. At the 6040 line there is a drop, the first of many. I just walked level to the right and dropped to a flat and walked a sheep trail at that level to a 1933 marker at 05744, 30732 el 6000. I went on a bit more to a point then turned back. I spent less than 3 hours. Easy hike. It looks likely that the hike could be extended to Moonshine Waterhole for a loop.  Posted 2025

9. MOONSHINE WATERHOLE - it's a one hour hike to that but I kept going down the rim then back on the rim of Nates Canyon. I parked at the end of the jeep road in Box Flat and walked the easy ground around to Moonshine then walked the north rim down to N39 04667, W110 28938 on the south side of peak 5995 where I could walk down to the creekbed. I went down to the big drop passing cottonwoods and more waterholes, one as big as Moonshine. Then I came back and up a ridge at 04626, 28627 to get on the rim of Nates. I walked on up along the south side of Nates BM. A slope there at 04138, 31510 goes up and around to the north side of the summit block where I chickened out on a crumbly class 3 step about 8 feet high. It's best to have 2 people and a hand line. I walked on around the peak back to the start on a hiker trail. 6 hours, 20 minutes, and 10.7 miles with 1800 gain. Rarely steep. I put a track on peakbagger. There appears to be a stock trail to Moonshine that starts near the end of the road and goes thru Jackass Flat but no cattle for decades. Posted 2025 

10. UPPER SPRING CANYON - for this I started at the end of the road in Box Flat and walked past Nates BM to a gully  SE of peak 6702 at N39 03717, W110 31541. I went down that to bottom and walked downstream to the big drop with many deep potholes along the way and cottonwoods. At the drop, I went left on the rim a  few feet then up to smooth rock at 03333, 29959 el 6000. I walked upstream along the 6000 line for a tenth mile then up a drainage to the rim then walked it back. 5 hours and 1500 gain. The only steep gain is the 400 at the exit gully. Nothing harder than class 2. Posted 2025

11. HORSE HEAVEN JEEP ROAD - this starts on the Cottonwood Wash Rd just north of BM 5073. It goes up to el 6200 on the rim of the north fork of Cottonwood Wash and soon ends. No tricky spots on the road. Posted 2025

12. THE SKYWALK is what I call the skinniest of ridges on the south rim of Pine Canyon north of peak 6630. The 4wd road in from the Box Flat Rd starts at Dry Pond and goes west for nearly 5 miles to a rock art site at peak 6632. There's only one main road to follow and it circles west of peak 6522. Just before the end there is a gully at N39 06022, W110 37992 where I went up and on to 05607, 38017 to get up to the last level then on to the ridge. I walked it out and back then on to the ridge running NW from peak 6645. I could see the canyon on the north side of it was passable so I dropped in at 05925, 38170 and on down to a drop. There I stayed on the right bank around a corner then walked a rim to 06702, 38555 where I could walk up along the west side of peak 6495 to get on the high rim then out to point 6485. I went back around the north side of peak 6495 to get back to Prickly Pear Flat then headed down a canyon at 06295, 37812 to get back to the start. 6 hours and 10.3 miles. Rarely steep. This is one of the great rim hikes of all time. No sign of humanity on those rims but for one cairn. I could see that point 6540 is hopeless. There are ponderosa pines in the bottoms west of peak 6765. Posted 2025

13. GRADE BENCHMARK el 5510 has an easy east slope. Turn off highway 191 at about mp 289.9 and go in on easy 4wd and stay left at main forks to get to the road going up Lost Spring Wash. That leads to the east slope then just pick a route up. I went up at N39 06874, W110 23863 then from the summit I went north across a drainage then down the rim of it to 07143, 24703 where I could get thru a cliff then weaved on down to the road. 2 hours, 800 gain, all easy and very pleasant terrain in a juniper forest. I wouldn't reverse this loop as the downhill leg is softer and steeper. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2025

14. SHADSCALE MESA is along the river just south of I-70. It's a short hike to the high point but a traverse is a lot more interesting. There is a low budget interchange on I-70 at mp 147. There is an underpass and gates on both sides of the highway. A half mile south on a crude dirt road there is a sign to lock a bike to. Then drive to mp 156.4 on highway 24 and turn and park at N38 52287, W110 23158 where a steep road goes up the mesa. Walk the road up then walk the rim to a canyon at 52928, 25123 and go up and over the high point. Then keep going on the rim to 54736, 4977 where a sheep trail goes down to a saddle and follows an ancient road down to the flats where the sign is. It took me an hour to pedal my bike around to the south side where the hike starts and there is a paved shoulder the whole way. The hike takes 3 or 4 hours, easy. I put a track on peakbagger. LITTLE SHADSCALE is what I call the small mesa to the south. I parked at a sand slide at the south end next to the pavement. Then I walked north on the road for a quarter mile then west up a valley to a canyon at 51541, 23745. I went up that to the top then north to the block that looks to be the high point. I went left around it and saw a possible route up but would have some tricky walking above a cliff. So I put it off until I can bring a friend and let them go first. I walked the mesa to the south end at 51261, 22910 and down the slide to the start. 2 and a half hours, easy. No cattle. Posted 2025

15. BENTONITE HILLS - the best hike in bentonite I ever took is in the area south of I-70 and east of highway 24. Turn off 24 at mp 155.9 and go straight thru a 4-way then stay left at main forks to a wash at N38 50989, W110 19764. Go 3/4 mile up that then walk the main wash to 51027, 18831 where it bends right then on to a washed out road at 50956, 18464. That goes up to the rim then go east over mesa 4606 then down to a lower rim and drop off it at 51201, 17058 and down to the flats. Go on to 50812, 17248 then thru a gap at 50364, 18442 then walk most directly back to the start. 3 or 4 hours, easy. All roads easy 4wd. Ebikes make all but the last 3/4 mile of the 4 miles of dirt roads. Posted 2025