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| Hunt Draw area |
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| Farnsworth Canyon |
1. I had a Verizon signal in many spots along highway 24 between I-70 and Goblin Valley SP. No recent cattle in this area. The only running water I found is a solar well near mp 139 on highway 24. A good dirt road goes a half a mile west to it. I could have used an ebike on every road. Posted 2026
2. THREE FINGER CANYON LOOP - this canyon is the second one to the north of Greasewood Tank. Uneva Mine Canyon is the one south of Moonshine Tanks . Both show adits on the topo and 4wd roads to the mouth which are open. This is a Steve Allen route that goes up Uneva then south over 2 saddles to Three Finger. The best road in leaves highway 24 at mp 152.7 and goes past Uneva and on to I-70 at mp 147 where gates allow access in either direction. Some sand is on that road. I parked on the Uneva road where it makes a hard turn to the north near the mouth. I went up canyon to N38 53102, W110 27827 where the road goes south past cabin ruins then makes a hard left then I soon left it and headed south to the main saddle. I went down the other side on the smooth left bank then up to the next saddle using the left bank at first then center to get over the saddle and down into Three Finger. At bottom are road segments on the left bank to get to the mouth where good petroglyphs are on the left just before the 4wd road. I walked the road to a shortcut that has been blocked and at bottom of that I went to 51669, 27436 to get into a wash. I went on in the wash to a trail at 51867, 27345 that goes up to a bench. I walked that to a trail at 52174, 27205 that goes into the wash that leads back to the start. At the last half mile I got on the rim and had a trail. 3 and a half hours, 6 miles with 700 noticeable gain and not steep. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 5671 and there is a trip report for that tricky side trip. Posted 2026
3. 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
4. HATT BENCHMARK el 4608 is east of Shadscale Mesa. The old highway runs south of it thru Jessies Twist to the rim then 4wd goes north all the way to the summit. The last 3/4 mile is rough so I walked it. This is an excuse to take a cycle or ebike ride thru good bentonite. Posted 2026
5. 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
6. HORSE BENCH el 4848 is a minor peak on the bench of the same name. Whiley Hall did a short hike from the south but that's a lot of gas to drive out there. Maybe she has an uncle who owns a gas station. I made the hike longer by coming up the west canyons. Turn off 24 at mp 155.9 and go south at a 4-way for 4.6 miles to the wash south of point 4261. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable for nearly 3 miles up the wash to a fork at N38 48187, W110 18388. Walk the right fork past point 4411 to the peak then back down the other fork. I got in it down a steep slope at 48481, 17606. 2 and a half hours with 300 noticeable gain. The canyons are the main attraction and the one at point 4411 is best. Firm washes that day. Posted 2026
7. GREASEWOOD TANK is at one of the pristine canyons cutting thru the reef. A good road goes in from highway 24 at mp 152.7. It bends north and near BM 4313 is the main wash that goes a bit over 2 miles to the tank and not open to vehicles. There is a series of tanks with hundreds of toads hopping around. I went on up the narrows to where it opens up. I spent 2 hours, 40 minutes. Posted 2026
8. PEAK 6162 is on the south rim of Straight Wash. I followed a Whiley Hall track. At mp 147 on highway 24 there is an easy 4wd road that goes 2.5 miles to the Zero Gravity Canyon TH. A trail runs along the rim of it then after a mile you have to veer off to a canyon at N38 46040, W110 30235. Either drop down it or use the rim on the right, which I like better at least for the ascent. Get on a ridge at 45855, 30437 and go up it to 45916, 30482 then drop right into a canyon and go up it and get on the left rim when it gets tedious. At 46010, 31088 there is an easy passage going up into a narrow wash and when that opens go left and down to 46053, 31295 to get on the final segment. Near the top is a gully low left at 46303, 31993 that avoids boulders. 5 hours, a bit over 7 miles with 2000 gain. Easy terrain. Posted 2026
9. ERNIE BENCHMARK el 6403 is the best hike I did on the reef top. At mp 147 on highway 24 there is an easy 4wd road that goes 2.5 miles to the Zero Gravity Canyon TH. A trail runs along the rim of it then after a mile you have to veer off to a canyon at N38 46040, W110 30235. I went down it staying straight thru a saddle to get to the canyon running west of peak 4948. I went up a fork at N38 45008, W110 31139 and came to a tricky chockstone in a tenth mile. A bypass is on the left then I got on the right bank and went up to the end of the canyon and over into a wash at 45233, 31732. Some deep potholes are just up canyon at 45343, 31954 and just past those I went up the ridge at 45343, 32001 and just stayed on it to the summit. Then I dropped off the rim down a gully at 46085, 32818 and came to a 10 foot stairway not harder than class 3. I went on down the canyon and cut over to the next fork at 46224, 32502 to bypass a cliff. I went down the left side of the fork back into the main fork and down to huge boulders blocking the way. A class 3 route is on the right and then I came to catttails. I exited there at 46052, 31627 and walked the easiest ground up thru a saddle at 46119, 31502 and down into a right fork to 46055, 31296 and then exited up to the left and straight over into the next canyon. I walked it down to a right bend then left it to 46009, 31085 and down into a canyon to 45942, 30681 and on down canyon and up to the right rim at 45915, 30479. I walked the rim to the left and horseshoed down to a saddle and dropped down and thru a gap at 45901, 30337 to get back to the ascent route. 7 hours, 11 miles with 2500 gain. I put a track on peakbagger. I combined tracks by Basnet and Hall. Posted 2026
10. PEAK 6196 is on the west rim of Ernie Canyon. Not on the topo but peakbagger notes it with a track by Hall that I followed up. Turn off highway 24 at mp 141.6 and follow easy 4wd past Lost Spring to the fork at point 4889. The right fork goes to a stock tank but is closed so I walked it to a trail going up a ridge at N38 42219, W110 33420. The ridge tops out and I went on down into a big valley then up a drainage at 42743, 33771 and topped out at 42829, 34041. I went on to a slickrock shelf at 43125, 34471 then right of peak 5904 up a little ridge at 43679, 34976 and on to 43872, 35128 where I crossed a neck. Then up the other side at 44025, 35015 but it might be easier to go up left of that. That tops out then the route drops down across a little canyon but a pothole with water blocked it that day. So I skipped that last bit to the peak and got on a ridge at 44069, 34992 el 6100 and walked it down SE toward peak 5642. At 43746, 34544 el 5800 I went down a 4 foot drop, nothing risky. That's the hardest thing on the hike. I went on down to the right to a gorgeous basin. I went downstream into a narrows blocked by a pothole, so I walked the right rim with a lot of slickrock on down to a drainage at 43037, 33725 and it took me down to the big valley. I went left of a dome down to a mega pothole at 42869, 33277 and might have made it down that canyon but used the right rim instead to walk above more huge potholes. I soon hit the flats and strolled back to the start. 5 hours, 16 minutes and 9 miles with 1700 gain. Easy grades. I put a track up and that's all that's needed most of the time. Posted 2026
11. IRON WASH, ERNIE CANYON LOOP - these two canyons cut thru the reef and a trail connects them on the back side. Turn off highway 24 at mp 141.6 and follow easy 4wd past Lost Spring to the TH at the mouth of Ernie. Then ride a bike nearly 4 miles to the mouth of Iron. It's an easy stroll up canyon then take Lone Man Draw to peak 5642. It's shortest to go up along the east side of the peak to the trail at N38 44969, W110 35446. But I went on past it to huge potholes and climbed up there at 44832, 35825 and then to the trail that goes into Ernie. 5 hours, 12 miles with 300 noticeable gain for the hiking part . I put notes on peakbagger on the track for peak 6196. This comes from the Steve Allen book but he didn't shuttle and had to slog miles of spongey sand between the THs. Count me out on that part, baby. All the roads are on the topo and not too soft for my Zizzo. LOWER LOOP - this one starts at Lost Spring and goes down Iron Wash and back up Ernie. From Ernie TH, I coasted on my bike down nearly 2 miles to a corral near the spring then walked on into Iron. Soon there is a slot and the left rim has a route down. I strolled on down thru a cottonwood forest then left to Ernie at N38 44883, W110 29594. Half an air mile up canyon is a tall, dark cliff on the right with faded petroglyphs at the far end. Then comes a big fall with a class 3 bypass on the left, or go downstream to an easier one up the opposite rim. The last thing is a minor narrows and easiest to walk the left rim. Then a closed road at 44011, 31475 goes to the Ernie TH. 3 and a half hours, 8.3 miles with 100 noticeable gain for the hiking part. This comes from Road Trip Ryan but he walked the road. I'm gonna start calling him Road Walk Ryan. This is an enjoyable hike only if you have a shuttle and cattle don't come back. Posted 2026
12. NORTH FORK IRON WASH - this is the next one east of Ernie Canyon and a good loop can be done thru both. Turn off highway 24 at mp 141.6 and follow easy 4wd past Lost Spring to the TH at the mouth of Ernie. I walked north on a closed road to high ground at N38 44099, W110 31515 then to 44344, 31873 south of peak 5060. I dropped down and on to the main fork and up it. Soon there is a slot with minor falls that is easily passed on the right. On up canyon there are easy boulders here and there then a fall at the 5760 line can be passed on the left. At the main saddle north of peak 6314 I went up the left side then on top went far right for an easy gully down. It's downstream all the way back and at el 5600 I stayed right to pass some drops. 6 hours, 13 miles and nearly zero strenuous gain. This is the best canyon loop I did. Iron has never had cattle, mines or dirt bikes. Posted 2026
13. OLD WOMAN WASH LOOP - I walked a mine road up the west rim then dropped into Farnsworth Canyon for the return. I came in from the west near the state park at point 5270. The first mile is graded then easy 4wd to the Farnsworth TH at point 5165. I locked my Zizzo to a sign and went on another 1.6 miles to Swazy Seep then walked north to the 4wd road shown on the topo. At the 5160 line I took a short detour to pictographs at N38 40928, W110 35667. Then I walked the main wash in front of the pics to get back on the road. It goes to the prospects west of point 5977 then I went NW to a class 2 gully at 41966, 37460. I went down trending left to a mine road that leads down to the wash of Farnsworth. Down canyon on the left at 40959, 37439 is a trail that goes up to good pics in a recess. The last thing is a narrows that can have one foot deep puddles that I straddled. 4 hours, 8 miles and 1000 easy gain for the hiking part. I went north back to the highway at mp 139 el 4886. This is an easier version of a Steve Allen hike and the easiest of the reef top hikes. All roads easy 4wd. Posted 2026
14. PEAK 6286 is on the east rim of Old Woman Wash west of peak 6016. I went directly to it on a Hall track then looped back by way of the Iron Wash Rim. The best road in leaves highway 24 near mp 139 and is easy 4wd. I parked north of peak 5002 and walked to a ridge at N38 40912, W110 34352 and up to 41266, 34924 then to the right of peak 5531. An easy way down there is at 41514, 35333 then I went to point 5565 then point 5889 and on to the summit. I then went SE down a drainage and south of peak 6016 and on to smooth ground at 42687, 35998. I walked that past the top of the F on the topo and on to the rim at el 5820. I went down the rim past peak 5738 then south down a drainage at 42429, 34723. There is a drop where it meets the main canyon but there is an easy way down far left. I went down canyon to a gorge then turned up a fork to walk the west side of the big cliffs and then up at 41847, 35069 and over then walked down the rim of a canyon on my right. I stayed on the easy rim until domes forced me into the creekbed where a narrows starts. It was flooded so I went up west of peak 5261 and then down by way of the Mormon Tanks and on down to the road and back. 6 hours, 10 miles and 1900 gain. This is the second best of the reef top hikes. Posted 2026
15. ROUGH BENCHMARK el 5257 is on Big Wild Horse Mesa south of GV State Park. The road in comes down from the north in Wild Horse Creek and has a lot of sharp dips that might stop jeeps. OHVs and ebikes have no trouble getting on the mesa next to Wild on the topo. I started there and walked around the right side of the peak then on to see how far I would get. It cliffs out north of peak 5218. I came back and went over the peak then down at N38 31115, W110 44644 and then west to the rim of Rough Canyon and back. 4 hours, 7.7 miles and no steeper than RR tracks except for the 150 gain up the peak. ROUGH CANYON is what I call the one north of the peak and is good to do on the drive out. The wash at 31400, 45985 goes into the narrows where minor falls are. Two are 4 feet high and I scooted backwards up those then on past peak 5253 for a view at the rim. It took 2 hours and nearly 5 miles to get there. No sign of humanity here and I STAYED OFF the banks to keep it that way. I saw no way up the rims. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 5562. Posted 2026
16. HUNT DRAW is west of GV State Park. I did a loop up canyon and back over the west rim. The road out of the state park is paved to Little Wild Horse Canyon then easy 4wd for 9 miles to Hunt. I walked up it into a shallow gorge with one fall that has a trail on the right. The canyon opens up and I went left to a wash at N38 34060, W110 53204 and over a divide then down a gully at 33980, 53487 to get into a main wash. It has one fall passed on the right using a narrow ledge. That ledge can be avoided by going up 20 feet or so. I went on down then left up a side canyon at 33067, 54683. It bends left then ends and I started up but then I saw I could just stay low on an easy bench. Then I went up a gully at 33273, 54363 and up to a saddle and should have gone thru but I went up along the nasty ridge to the next saddle and thru to lower ground and on up to the high peak labeled peak 5291 on peakbagger. Then I went to 33203, 53659 to get into the canyon running parallel to Hunt and on down to the road and then had less than a half mile back. The best bentonite is in that canyon. 6 hours, 11 miles and 600 noticeable gain but only 300 gain if skipping the peak which I will do from now on. It's not the highlight. I put track on peakbagger. Posted 2026
17. STRAIGHT WASH is a dull hike but can be spiced up by starting on top of the Swell and walking down the east rim. I camped at mp 148 where the wash passes under highway 24. Then I rode my cycle up I-70 to exit 131 then took a paved road on the north side that goes east to an underpass. Its turns to dirt there and Subaru types can make it nearly a mile past Hyde Draw Reservoir. From there I walked to the closed road that goes to Grease BM. I went over the peak then to N38 48889, W110 31517 then to a wash at 48659, 31694 that leads to the rim just down from peak 6388. I went down it to the steep part and took an easy drainage down at 48079, 31537. I resumed down the rim then at 47779, 31512 I dropped left into a wash for a short way then back on the rim. At 47597, 31387 there is a hiker trail running down the right side of a wash. The wash opens and I lost the trail. It likely goes over to the rim but I merged to the rim anyway and went on down and cut across a gooseneck then out thru the gorge to the 4wd road. I walked it a bit then took the wash to camp. 5 and a half hours, 10 miles and the only strain is the 200 up the peak and that can be skipped. The trailheads are 40 miles apart but I was heading west anyway. I rode my Zizzo from the interstate to retrieve my cycle. This is way too easy but that can be remedied by going in reverse. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2026
