Naturita to Gateway, Colorado

Potholes in Saucer Basin were black with tadpoles.

Hieroglyphic Canyon

The hanging flume ran water for miles along the cliffs to a mine.

⦁ Naturita has a supermarket and a Family Dollar but I could get no Verizon service. The library has wifi 24/7. Gateway has gas. A free campground is along highway 141 at mp 74.2.  Posted 2022.

⦁ W19 Road leaves highway 141 at mp 73.5. It goes 6 and a half miles to a T at the Dusty Mine. Either way goes to EE22 Road running on top of the mesa which connects highway 141 to highway 145. All this had just been graded but still not good for cars. Posted 2022.

⦁ PARK BENCHMARK el 6953 - EE22 Road leaves highway 141 at Uravan which is at mp 75.4. It runs over the mesa and on to highway 90. It was just graded but still not good for cars. Park BM and Bitter BM are along the way along with countless mines. Posted 2022.

⦁ SAUCER BASIN is west of Uravan. Loop hikes can be done in unspoiled portions. Only one road goes in and it's washed out. Take highway 141 to Uravan at mp 75.4 and go west on EE22 Rd for 4 and a half miles to road W16 el 6104. Take that and keep left at forks for .7 mile to a faint road el 5937. It goes a quarter mile to a drainage then it's a goner. I walked down it then took the fork west of point 5770. That ends then I went up a steep slope at N38 19918, W108 4925 el 6400 then on up to the rim at peak 6802. I walked the rim then descended the ridge just before peak 6700 reading 20366, 50182 el 6650. At 20552, 49972 I went left down an easy pathway on a steep slope. I stayed on the high ground to 21111, 49231 el 5950 where I dropped down into a main canyon. Deep potholes there had murky water and a million tadpoles. I went up the other side then along the west side of peak 6214 and on down along the east side of point 5514 and up on to a gooseneck of the Dolores River. I retraced back and took the road along the east side of peak 6214. At a fork el 5840 I could look up and see a class 3 gully to the top of that peak. I walked the road back and in half a mile the road crosses a slickrock drainage with a pothole full of clear water. Fortunate as I ran dry earlier. That took 8 hours, 9 minutes with about 2000 gain but nearly all easy. Nice pj forest and slickrock. Posted 2022.

⦁ HIEROGLYPHIC CANYON as one or two minor falls in the middle that block travel. The lower end is the best hike. Take highway 141 to Uravan at mp 75.4 and go west on EE22 Rd for a half mile and look for a faint old track going level into the canyon. It goes to the top of a fall and it's easy to stroll on up to the falls blocking the way at el 5600. It took 90 minutes but I wanted more of a hike than that. I retraced back to el 5540 and could see a route up to the east rim. I topped out at N38 20393, W108 45798 el 5800. Then I went to the next level at 20340, 45762 el 5950. I leveled off there and headed for the washed out road on the topo and followed it around a point and to graded road W19 at el 5750. I walked that to a fork west of USLM 20468 and went left along a canyon then dropped in and forgot to mark it. It's just a few feet before a side drainage at 21088, 43297 and that's the last entry point. The canyon hits the highway at mp 74 and I was camped at the campground at mp 74.2. That took 5 hours, 23 minutes with only 400 noticeable gain. Reversing this using a shuttle makes it even easier. W19 leaves the highway at mp 73.5. Drive in about 3 miles and start hiking around the point to Hieroglyphic. Posted 2022.

⦁ U18 ROAD leaves highway 141 at mp 76.1. It goes 10 miles to the Spring Creek Ranch then thru that to pavement near Nucla. At a T, I went left then right on CC Road to highway 141 then back to the start. It's a 42 mile loop, 22 of it is good dirt. Great for two wheelers when dry. Posted 2022.

⦁ ATKINSON CREEK has a good road. Turn off highway 141 at mp 77.5 and go up the canyon. Stay left on the main road and it will run above the river past the Club Sandwich Mine then come back down at Mesa Creek but it's 4wd by that time. It's 10 miles of dirt roads. Posted 2022.

⦁ JOHN CHRISTION GRAVE - turn off highway 141 at mp 82.2 and it soon turns into a jeep road that goes down to the grave. Rock house ruins are nearby. An ATV trail goes lower to an active claim. Across the river is a side canyon where a hiker trail goes up to the top of a fall. It looks like canyoneers are rappelling down thru a hole in the rock. But the river has to be waded to get there. Posted 2022.

⦁ CARPENTER RIDGE is a sub level of Martin Mesa. It's one of the rare areas around that bulldozers couldn't get at. A loop can be made by walking the road to the top of the mesa then down to it and out on a cowboy trail. Take highway 141 to mp 84 and turn on a high clearance road. Stay left at main forks for 2.7 miles to a fork el 5200. Right is 4wd for 5 miles to near the summit but a bad spot at el 6800 will stop most. It's a short walk from there to the summit. Left is R13 and it goes 1.8 miles on high clearance to a fork el 5500. Ebikes can make it. Left goes to the cowboy trail. For the loop, I walked the right fork up to N38 22497, W108 50560 el 6300 where I went straight up to shortcut a gooseneck in the road. I kept going to a dip in the road at el 6800. If skipping the summit, walk level to the rim at 21955, 51310 el 6800. For the summit, walk on up to el 6880 and take a faint track to the rim and up to the summit. Then walk the rim down to that point el 6800. A gully below seemed like a long shot but it is class 2 with one class 3 chockstone. Then it's just a matter of walking that level on down to a gooseneck of the Dolores River where the cowboy trail appears. It's a bit over a half mile to walk out to point 5514 on the gooseneck. The trail wraps around point 5776 and on to the start at el 5500. It took 6 and a half hours with 1500 gain to the summit and some minor gain on the cowboy trail. Easy terrain. On the drive out, there is a huge sandstone dome on the left near the highway. It has moqui steps up the SW side. Posted 2022.

⦁ P12 ROAD leaves highway 141 at mp 86. I stayed left at main forks and it took me along the North Fork of Mesa Creek and over into Blue Creek. I stayed right at the first main fork there on the creek and it took me up along the east side of Outlaw Mesa then I followed signs to Gateway. I hit highway 141 at mp 115.2 which 4 miles north of town at Castro Draw. It's a good high clearance road with some rain damage. It's so steep dropping into Castro that 4wd will be needed. 35 miles of dirt road. Both creeks had a clear stream. Posted 2022.

⦁ ROC CREEK has access across private land. The road in leaves highway 141 at mp 88.5 and goes nearly 3 miles along a murky stream to a private gate and the end of travel. I checked the big cave and found nothing. Posted 2022.

⦁ NO NAME SPRING comes out of a sealed cistern at mp 91.5. I tanked up there. Posted 2022.

⦁ SEWEMUP MESA el 7500 is the biggest chunk of real estate for miles and miles that bulldozers can't get at. The SE ridge is a cake walk in an easy pj forest. At mp 92.2 on the highway there is an obvious class 2 route up. It reads N38 28179, W108 52152 el 4800 and is marked with cairns that peter out before peak 5533. It's easy to walk either side of that peak. At el 5700 is a cluster of ponerosa pines and more are above 7000. A shallow saddle is crossed at 27500, 55295 el 6700 then the reg is at 28352, 56747. 7 hours, 11 minutes with 2800 gain. The easiest 2800 in the universe. No burn areas. Some tiny cacti stick to boots for the last half. Posted 2022.

⦁ Z6 ROADleaves highway 141 at mp 101.4 and goes up Salt Creek. It's maintained for the first 7 miles then easy 4wd for 2 miles where I stopped at el 6000 along Salt Creek. It didn't look hard to go up Sewemup Mesa. Bikes work on this road. Posted 2022.

⦁ JOHN BROWN ROAD leaves highway 141 at Gateway and is signed. It's maintained and goes steep up into ponderosa pines and on to the La Sal Mountains. Posted 2022.

⦁ 4.1 ROAD is high clearance and goes down the west bank of the river from Gateway. It goes past abandoned homesteads and ends in 13 miles at Cottonwood Canyon which was dry and sunny. Cottonwoods are along the road to camp under. Beaver Creek has the best camping and a clear stream. Mtn bikers ride this. Posted 2022. 

⦁ GATEWAY has a store with gas at mp 111.3. Posted 2022.

⦁ PARADOX VALLEY PETROGLYPHS - I visited 4 public sites along highway 90. For a minor one, turn off at mp 28.9 and go .8 mile on high clearance ( and mtn bikeable) to a fork. Go left then walk a short way to it at N38 12571, W108 39249. For the Shaman Panel, the best of them all, turn off at mp 24.7 and drive high clearance to a washout. Bikes and OHVs can cross then look for a fenced boulder at the mountain base. For the Shaman Panel, take the road along the base going east past the boulder. It ends at a canyon in less than half a mile. Several panels are a short way in, and the Shaman is first on the left. You must pass under a boulder walking on logs. Reading here is 15733, 42453. It's 2 miles if walking from the highway. A bike would help a lot. There is another minor site on the north bank of the Dolores up from Bedrock with a good trail . At the store in Bedrock, turn at the sign for the boat ramp. In a mile or so is a free campground with covered tables. The crude roads far right go to the TH in a fifth mile. Then it took me 65 minutes to walk to the site at 16823, 55408, just 10 feet off the trail and signed. The trail goes on up La Sal Creek. Next time I'll try walking down La Sal Creek from the highway and out to Bedrock. This was a pioneer route. Bikes not allowed. Posted 2022.

 

Dominguez Canyon NCA, Colorado

Sheep grazing in Escalante Canyon

Rock art in Palmer Gulch

Escalante Canyon

Dominguez Canyon

Dominguez Canyon

Gunnison Rim

Rock art in Triangle Canyon

Triangle Canyon

Little Dominguez. The slide in the center can be used to ascend up to the left to peak 6012. Star Mesa is right side.

Confluence of Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez

Bangs Canyon

The only submerged benchmark I've ever seen.

 ⦁ The Natural Atlas app has a free version that shows the trails with mileages. The peakbagger app is better for other details and I posted some GPS tracks on it. I had no trouble wearing shorts on every hike. The area is infested with bighorn sheep that are losing their fear of humans. Posted 2022.

⦁ DOMINGUEZ CANYON has a popular trail running up it. The best hike is to go up canyon and take a trail up to the rim then come back over Triangle Mesa. The graded Bridgeport Rd leaves highway 50 at mp 52 and ends at the TH, just beyond restrooms. The trail goes over a mile along RR tracks and past an old bridge then across a new bridge then up the canyon. It goes past petroglyphs then in another hour there are more petroglyphs but heavily vandalized starting in 1858. At N38 48122, W108 26164 el 5650 there is a sign for the Cactus Park trail. I went up that to the rim el 6200 and it leads to the closed road on the topo that goes to Triangle Mesa. I stayed along the north side of the mesa until the road topped out then went up the west ridge. The last cliff band has a tricky move but not hard to go up. I walked to the far side then down at 49445, 24078 el 6150 and there I had two choices. One is a class 4 route. For that, head for an easy chute at 49606, 23454 el 5600 then down to the last rim at 49479, 23060 el 5100. A gully is in view below but to get in you have to walk another 250 feet on the rim then drop and come back to a huge boulder with two class 4 routes down along it, maybe each 10 feet high. That's risky without a rope so I backed up and walked a cow trail on the rim to 50359, 22974 el 4900 and then straight ahead another 100 feet there is a stock trail going down to the road along the river. It's a tenth mile on the road to the old bridge. Signs along there say private but the BLM map and caltopo say it's public. A BLM sign is nailed to the old bridge. That took 7 hours but the detour to the class 4 route might have taken an hour. The noticeable gain might be 1000. Posted 2022.

⦁ TRIANGLE CANYON is what I call the one on the north side of Triangle Mesa. It turned out to be the best canyon hike. I started at the Bridgeport TH and went over the saddle south of peak 5293. I crossed the old bridge on the river and went a tenth mile downstream where a stock trail goes up to the left. Private land signs along that tenth mile are in conflict with the maps. Nearly a fifth mile down from the bridge is a bigger sign that says Escalante Ranch No Trespassing and that is likely the real entrance to private land. The trail goes to a minor saddle then up to the left to the next level and it's easy to work up to the saddle. I went thru and stayed right then down to the lower canyon rim. I walked it to the mouth then dropped in and came back up the creekbed. When I got into the deeper gorge, I hit a major boulder jam that stops cattle. But hikers can go around the left side and stroll up a pristine canyon. I wanted to walk the south rim back and the first exit I saw is at N38 49867,W108 24405 el 5300. I walked past it to a left bend then took an easy angle up and rim walked to a trail at 50390, 23654 that took me back to the saddle then I retraced out. Nearly 5 hours with 600 noticeable gain. No running water. A loop could be done using the Dominguez Canyon trail. I would start in that canyon and go up to the Cactus Park trail then almost to Triangle Mesa before dropping into Triangle Canyon. Posted 2022.

⦁ STAR MESA el 6580 - a good loop can be done ascending a stock trail out of Little Dominguez and descending the west side. I started at the Bridgeport TH and walked up Little Dominguez and got on the right bank at N38 48969, W108 22518 where a trail shortcuts a bend then meets the old road. The road goes past a cabin to a slide at 47975, 22187 el 5000 where the stock trail goes up. At the top of the cliffs it bends lefts and fades at a plateau el 5800. Obvious routes go on up, but I wanted to walk the whole summit plateau so I went to the east end then up to a break at 47179, 22436 el 6200 then stayed right of center and soon was on top. I strolled on to the high point and could see in upper Poison Canyon a natural tunnel, a very rare formation. I went on to the far end of the plateau then dropped down at 48197, 23745 el 6350 and on down to a closed road. I went left on that then down a ridge at 48041, 23820 el 6100 and bottomed out at the last rim at 47952, 24061 el 5550. Rocks are stacked there to get down a minor drop but too tricky for a solo hiker. A 20 foot hand line would have got me down off a tree. But I went upstream on the rim for a fifth mile to a trail going down a slope to the creekbed. The canyon soon opens up and a trail runs on the left bank and meets the Dominguez Canyon trail which goes back to the start. 7 and a half hours, 1500 noticeable gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ McCARTY TH to BRIDGEPORT TH - a one way hike can be done using the McCarty Bench then to Leonards Basin and up that to point 6012 then point 5916 and down to the river trail. I went up the McCarty Trail to el 5250 where a road branches right. I walked that a few feet where it tops out then up to a trail at N38 44475, W108 16408 el 5350. It goes along McCarty Bench to 44821, 16479 el 5350 where it crosses above falls and goes around the corner then up along the left side of a drainage to el 5400 where the bench goes on easy for over a mile. I skirted a drainage at 45335, 17620 el 5450 then on to a ridge at 45875,17848 el 5300 that has a game trail dropping to Palmer Gulch. I followed the topo to the invisible Gunnison Trail to get into the saddle el 5200 west of peak 5301. A faint road goes along that level toward Leonards Basin and then there is a trail on the left bank where the basin narrows. It merges into the creekbed and I went up it to 46726, 20645 el 5200 then got on the right bank. It looks like a stock trail at first and is easy to go on up to the saddle el 5800 south of point 6012. I had the option to drop down and left some to get into Little Dominguez, but I was feeling chipper for an old coot so I went up left of center on a sheep trail to point 6012. Then I walked the west  rim and down to a basin and up a drainage left of point 5905 and on to a reg at point 5916, the first sign of humanity I saw along the rim. For the descent, I used a crack at 49522, 22054 el 5850 then drifted left a little down an easy ridge to 49675, 22089 el 5400 and then straight down a broad slope. The last cliff band has a stairway at 50059, 22309 el 4850 then one more straight below it to get to the river trail. I had the luxury of a GPS track on peakbagger by Whiley Hall for the descent route. It took an hour along the river to get to Bridgeport TH. That took nearly 9 hours with about 2000 noticeable gain and mostly easy terrain. And it's the most unspoiled real estate I saw in the NCA. A bike can be used for the 16 mile shuttle because highway 50 has a wide shoulder. A solo hiker with a car and bike can set up camp along the Bridgeport Rd then leave a bike at that TH and drive around to McCarty and do the hike. Then the next day, ride over to retrieve the car. It took me 2 hours to ride a pedal bike. Posted 2022.

⦁ PEAK 6012, PEAK 5916 - I did these on the one way hike from McCarty TH but there is another option. Go up Little Dominguez and try the little canyon west of 6012. It has cliffs high up that can be passed by staying right. If that fails, there is a slide further up the main canyon, maybe 2/3 mile, that will work. I could see it from Star Mesa. That's the route I would choose and just make a loop over the peaks and down to the river. Posted 2022.

⦁ GUNNISON RIM - a pristine section of the lower rim can be walked one way from the Bridgeport Rd up upstream to the jeep trail near point 5243. I was camped on the Bridgeport Rd at a large camp area and walked from there. I left the road at N38 51148, W108 20962 el 4950 and followed very easy ground and ever so slightly gained elevation and came to the saddle el 5200 west of point 5372. Coming down that point would be another way to start this hike, but I wasn't camped up there. I dropped down to the 5050 level and easily walked along that. The only time I had to make a decision was at a spot el 5000 NW of point 5458. And I picked wrong. I went up to el 5100 but had to come back down in a draw. Staying along the 5000 line then up the draw should work better. I just followed rim the around to a basin below point 5243 then a little more to the jeep trail which is now OHV trail 78A. I walked up that to road #78 at point 5163. I had a bike there and coasted most of the way back to camp. The hiking part took 2 hours, 40 minutes with maybe 500 noticeable gain and not steep. This is one of the most pristine areas I saw in the NCA. I didn't even see cow shit in the basin below point 5243. How'd they miss it? Posted 2022.

⦁ DOMINGUEZ RIM - crude roads go all over this. At mp 58.3 on highway 50 there is a sign for Escalante Overlook. Westbound drivers have to go to mp 56.8 and come back. The high clearance road goes 2 miles to the rim. Left goes down to the Escalante Rd. Right goes to Palmer BM and then the road pulls away from the rim. The rim can be walked to peak 5454 and there is a game trail that drops down to a peninsula protruding from the rim. It would be easy to drop on down to the floor but I didn't see any point in that. Ebikes work on these roads and loops can be done using the highway because it has a wide paved shoulder. Posted 2022.

⦁ ESCALANTE Rd leaves highway 50 at mp 59.3.  It goes graded nearly 3 miles to the river bridge. 2 miles beyond that is the McCarty TH.  At mile 3.6 the Escalante Rim Rd goes left.  At mile 8.4 the road enters a long stretch of public land. At mile 9.3 is Potholes Campground, no fee. At mile 12.4 is a stream, the best water I saw in the NCA, reading N38 39215, W108 22244. At mile 15 is a ford past Escalante Forks where I turned back. I could have drove a car to the ford. Posted 2022.

⦁ PALMER GULCH is blocked at the mouth by a ranch. The easiest way in is to buy the ranch. If that's not feasible, the McCarty Trail can be used to drop in off the rim then walk down canyon and out on the McCarty Bench. I dropped in at N38 43613, W108 18688 el 6240 and into a side canyon below falls. A game trail at 43805, 18936 el 5750 on the far bank leads to a large bench below point 6255. Walking the ridge down between the forks would be fastest, but I wanted to explore upstream. I walked the bench and dropped to the creekbed at 43846, 19769 in a maze of balancing rocks. I strolled on down the easy, dry creekbed to a main fork el 5200 where long trails go bank to bank on down to an easy ridge at 45752, 18411 el 5000. That ridge leads up to McCarty Bench. I walked it to 45589, 17661 el 5400 then on to where the bench fades and then a trail drops a little and goes around the corner and crosses a drainage just above falls. Descending along that drainage would likely work but I didn't have a shuttle. I stayed on the trail until I met the McCarty Trail then back. 7 hours, 18 minutes and 1500 noticeable gain. This is the best hike in the area only as long as cattle don't come back. They were thick years ago as far in as the bench below point 6255. There is an old tree fence running across Camp Ridge at el 6200. It shows on the sat image. It's the longest I've ever seen. Posted 2022.

⦁ BOYCE GULCH NORTH RIM LOOP - the McCarty Trail can be used to get to the rim then loop back by way of point 5935. Go up the trail to el 5300 and look up at point 5935. There is a drainage to the left that looks good for the descent at the end of the hike. Stay on the trail until close to the north rim of Boyce then just walk it to the rim of Escalante then on to a wash at 43903, 16629 near point 5935. It soon goes over a drop so move right a little then down and back to the trail at the 5360 line. Nearly 4 hours and 6 miles. Noticeable gain is 1000 feet and on the trail. Easy terrain. Posted 2022, 2025.

⦁ SOWBELLY MESA has an ancient trail dropping into Boyce Gulch. A good one way hike can be done by starting up the McCarty Trail. I walked that trail then veered off to a stairway at N38 42818, W108 19057 el 6300 that put me into upper Boyce. I went upstream and stayed left in the next fork and hit the north rim of Tatum Gulch at 42280, 19156 el 6300. I strolled the rim awhile then cut over to the ancient trail at 42855, 17621 el 6050. It angles down a tenth mile toward the road, then fades, so I dropped straight down a little and had no trouble getting below the cliffs and found the trail again. I stayed on the easy bench just below el 5600 using game trails and hit the real trail again at 42907, 17002 el 5450. It goes down a ridge to the creekbed then it's a half a mile to the mouth at the Escalante Rd. I had a bike there and coasted 2 miles back to the McCarty TH. 4 and a half hours and the only strain is the first 1000 feet gain up the McCarty Trail. Good pj forest. Posted 2022.

⦁ LITTLE MESA is a rarity because it still has 5 roadless miles. I made a loop up the Dry Mesa road then down Little Mesa. I parked at the petroglyphs el 5050 at the north end and walked the road to a fork el 5300. It's ebikeable to there. Left goes up Dry Fork and is not motorized. I stayed right to el 5950 then left the road and walked level on a faint trail for a quarter mile to a point at N38 40520, W108 17386 el 5950. I dropped there to the creekbed of Tatum Draw and strolled up to 40137, 18135 where I could easily go up to the mesa top south of point 6578. Then I had a super easy walk to point 6020 then descended on a spotty trail at 42382, 16110 el 5750 then to a stairway at 42503, 15589 el 5300 just above the start. 5 and a half hours, 1200 noticeable gain. 2 hours was road walking but that could be cut in half by riding an ebike to the fork in the road el 5300. Cattle were on the mesa years ago but where's the water? Posted 2022.

⦁ UNAWEEP CANYON WEST RIM - a one way hike works here. I coasted on my bike from camp near mp 149 on highway 141 down to a pullout at mp 151.7. A trail goes from there upstream along the cliff base and soon there is a class 2 sheep route going up and to the right and tops out on the rim south of point 5130. It's a ledge about 3 or 4 feet wide. I walked the rim to a canyon cutting thru with a descent route at N38 56096, W108 30148 el 5600. There is a route down by hugging the left wall to get past the boulders. I wanted a longer hike than that so I walked the low bank of the canyon until I merged into the creekbed. I went up that passing a multitude of deep holes where sheep get water. One had tadpoles. There is a minor fall at el 5800 that can be passed on the right in a crack. I kept going sometimes stepping up on the bank to pass a cluttered section then at el 6020 I exited up the left slope and hit the rim at el 6400. I strolled down that to a sheep route at 55313, 30574 el 5950. It goes down to the right then back left to a slide that goes the rest of the way down. I walked on to 55372, 30012 el 5450 then to camp. 5 hours and all the gain is super easy but for maybe 400 feet. This is a lot of pristine country to be so close to a major city. Posted 2022.

⦁ NINEMILE HILL EAST RIM - I walked one way from Cactus Park on the near pristine rim to point 5336 then on to an easy route down the west rim east of point 5247 on highway 141. The high clearance Cactus Park road leaves the highway at mp 145.2. I went 4 miles on it then left on road #31 for a fifth mile and parked. I walked up the road to where it goes hard right then went straight up to the mesa top and down to the east rim. I followed the topo and had a simple walk until one canyon that has a hard to find crossing. I dropped in at N38 54515, W108 28356 el 5700 then went downstream a few feet to an easy exit. I strolled on down to point 5336. Sheep hang out there and have a route down at the end of the point on the north side. I retraced back a little and crossed the next canyon at 55728, 27605 el 5300 and filled at a pothole there. I went up to the low north rim and found cairns. I followed those along the slickrock rim until I merged into the right fork of the canyon. I went higher there and on to another trail with cairns at 55659, 28594 el 5550. That soon leads to a main road and a road forks from there on the high ground toward the west rim and then I dropped left into a drainage. There is a class 2 route down the rim where the  drainage pours off at 55961, 29091 el 5450 and it is bolted with a rope hanging down. It's overkill. I went down and stayed on the right side of the drainage and hit highway 141 at mp 149.3. That took 6 hours, 15 minutes with hardly any strenuous gain. Bikes can work for the 9 mile shuttle. The highway has no shoulder but traffic is light. Staying on the rim all the way down to point 4674 on the highway would work too. Posted 2022.

⦁ BANGS CANYON - I went up canyon staying left at main forks and came back on the Tabeguache Trail. That's a jeep trail that starts at mp 52.8 on highway 141.  I walked it to the first switch where a foot trail goes left and that's better to get on the ridge. I went over the ridge then down the left side of a drainage on a game trail and on to the mouth of the canyon. That's private, but once in I looked up and saw a likely route  on BLM land north of point 5066, at about N38 58612, W108 29144. A cow trail goes up canyon and there is a camp with an old stove at 57971, 30352 el 4900. At el 5000 the left bank has a trail and I stayed high to a trail at 57558, 31068 el 5100. That took me across to the west bank then I walked to a minor crossing at 57527, 31244 el 5200. I kept going south and merged back to the creekbed at a main fork NW of point 5690. I followed the south fork using the west bank and weaved back to the creekbed west of point 5690. I could look up and see a slickrock rim el 5600. I walked up a ridge to the right of it and topped out at a class 3 crack at 56719, 31359 el 5600. Then I rim walked to an easy crossing at 56162, 31319 el 5800. I was low on the rim for the last tenth mile to that. Then I loosely followed the 5800 line until I had a straight shot to the jeep trail north of point 5760 and it leads back. 6 and a half hours and the gain is super easy except for maybe 400. Cattle have been gone for years but the south fork will always be pristine. It's the main attraction with all the slickrock. Posted 2022.

⦁ GIBBLER MOUNTAIN el 7628 - a loop can be done over the peak then back in Farmers Canyon. A 4wd road runs between the two. Take the graded Dominguez Rd to el 7941 and turn NE for about 5 miles and park. It's a tedious road but cycles and ebikes can thread a lot of the bumps. Walk to the jeep trail that goes to the south ridge then go up and over the summit and down the north ridge. I went to a break at N38 50279, W108 30856 el 7050 then down to the flats and on to ATV trail #16 at 50428, 31637. That leads to a drainage south of peak 6927 and it goes down to the floor of Farmers. After checking out the big drop, walk the creekbed upstream and when it bends away from the east bank there is a game trail on the east bank to follow then just go back to the start. Nearly 5 hours with 700 noticeable gain. A lot of good pj forest especially on the summit. Cattle have been gone out of Farmers for years but if they come back I would skip it. It's starting to look natural again. The road goes on 5 miles to highway 141 but steeper. Posted 2022.

⦁ RIM TRAIL is a 4wd road near the Divide Forks Campground on the Uncompahgre Plateau. A car can make the Uranium Rd to el 8968 then ebike the rim road. It goes 6 miles to a TV transmitter near Plateau Benchmark. Take a TV and watch some football. Posted 2022.

The farmer in Farmers Canyon looks like a chef

Lizard Head Wilderness Area

Sheep Mountain el 13188

Lizard Head el 13113

View along the Lake Hope trail

Rock Of Ages Mine

Navajo Lake

Female riders turning back on the Calico Trail

⦁ Dolores has a Family Dollar and small grocery but it's only a dozen miles to the Walmart at Cortez. Rico has gas. The USFS topo maps on apps such as peakbagger are essential to see hiking trails and road numbers. A map of motorized routes can be downloaded by searching " san juan national forest mvum". That map also shows private land. Posted 2022.

⦁ GROUNDHOG RESERVOIR ACCESS - to get there from Dolores, go north on 11th Street and pavement ends in 15 miles. At mile 31 there is an RV park at the reservoir. The road goes on 3 more miles to the national forest boundary where it's FR533. I pulled a camp trailer on up it to el 10660. A car could make it. A spring comes down to FR533 where FR428 branches off at el 10428. Light mosquitoes were everywhere, even the summits. Posted 2022.

⦁ GLADE BENCHMARK LOOKOUT el 9264 is 20 air miles north of Dolores. I made a loop ride on my XT350. I rode north out of town on 11th Street to mp 16.9 then left on FR514 for 10 miles to FR510 forking to the left. I took that for nearly 8 miles to the lake. I came back to FR514 and went on another 2 miles to a main fork where FR521 goes left to the river bridge, but I stayed right on FR514 for 8 miles to FR493. That goes 3 and a half miles to the lookout but is high clearance. Visitors are allowed when the lookout is occupied and there is a bald hill next to it as a view option. I returned to FR514 and went right on it and it looped down for 17 miles to the river bridge. I rode up the river for 11 miles to McPhee Dam. A left fork goes to the top of the dam but is gated. A lot of camps are along the river and no cattle for years. I made a U-turn at the dam and came back to the main road where I had 2 choices. Either take FR521 back or cross the river and ride the highway. I took the latter choice and went across the river to a T then left to highway 666 and back to town. I could have drove a car on everything except FR493 to the lookout. Posted 2022. 

⦁ GROUNDHOG MOUNTAIN el 12165 has an easy south ridge. I parked at a good camp spot on FR534 where the USFS topo shows FR534.A forking to the right at el 11100. I walked that closed road for a fifth mile then went up an open slope to get on the ridge. I came to a rock field and went around the right edge. Near the summit a crag is in the way. I went along the right side of it then cut along the left side of another one behind it then walked a hiker trail up the center to the reg at N37 50098, W108 13107. 3 hours, 1100 gain. Posted 2022. 

⦁ LITTLE CONE el 11981 has an easy south ridge but private land has to be crossed. I took FR618 from FR611 for 7 miles to a road shown on the USFS topo with a locked gate. I walked that road to a logging area el 10700 and took a left fork to a game trail at N37 55110, W108 05707 that led me onto the south ridge. I went up thru an uncluttered forest to a clearing at 55205, 05505 and on to the reg. That took 4 hours, 15 minutes with 2000 gain. The private land is dormant but that might change. Cars could make it to Lone Cone guard station then ebike the remaining 6 miles on FR618 which is easy 4wd.  Posted 2022.

⦁ LONE CONE el 12613 has an easy north ridge. A hiker trail comes to it from FR612 and summitpost has info on that. I got to it easily from the end of FR534.I. That 4wd road had been cleared to a camp spot at the end el 11100 but I parked at a fork el 10900 where the road turns rocky. I walked to the end of the road then north from there on easy grades to N37 53531, W108 15610 then 53564, 15502 to get on the north ridge and up. 3 hours, 1700 gain.It's nearly all talus but no sliding. Cars can make all but the last 3 or 4 miles then mtn bike the rest. Posted 2022.

⦁ BLACK MESA el 11600+ has an easy 4wd road all the way shown as FR611.A on the USFS topo. It goes from FR611 for 4 miles and there is only one road to follow. Some bumpy little rocks are along the way. Posted 2022. 

⦁ DUNN PEAK el 12595 has easy terrain and hardly any talus. I could have drove a car in from Groundhog Reservoir to FR616 near Fish Creek. Then FR616 is high clearance for 3 miles to where it starts descending the other side and a closed logging road el 10800 branches off to the right. I walked that to N37 50068, W108 08333 then turned left on a game trail and on to another trail at 50334, 08042. I zigzagged up the grassy slope and came back left thru 50382, 07936 then more zigzagging to a flat spot on the county line at 50585, 07868. It's easy from there to the reg. When I saw how easy it is to descend down Fish Creek, I strolled down to the north saddle el 12100 then down a drainage on tundra. I hit an elk trail at el 11800 and followed it to a spring at 50727, 07273. Going on down the creek to FR611 would be preferable but I didn't have a shuttle. So I walked to 50349, 07455 and went straight down to a flat el 11200 then right to a trail at 50132, 07498 then down to an ancient road at 49930, 07710. I walked that less than a fifth mile to the road shown on the topo and walked it uphill back to the start. 4 hours, 15 minutes, 2000 gain. If all I had was a car, I would walk up FR616 then over the peak and down Fish Creek. FR616 is ebikeable but turns into a bad jeep road as it descends down the north side. Posted 2022.

⦁ LONE CONE LOOP - I rode my cycle for 55 miles on good roads around Lone Cone. I started at camp 10660 and went north up FR611 for 2 miles to a pass el 11029. That part is  high clearance then I could have drove a car for the rest of the loop. I followed FR611 to the forest boundary then stayed left on main county roads to Groundhog Reservoir and back to the start. Posted 2022.

⦁ STORM PEAK, ANCHOR MOUNTAIN - these two 12000+ peaks are easy from the south using the Priest Gulch Trail. FR545 departs highway 145 at mp 29.6 then it's 14 miles to FR592 and that soon goes to the trail el 10600 like the topo shows. I could have drove a car the whole way. That hike took 4 hours, 21 minutes with about 2000 gain. These peaks are easy tundra. Posted 2022.

⦁ ROARING FORK ROAD departs highway 145 at mp 38.6. A car can make the first 7 miles then it's easy 4wd for 12 miles on to the Scotch Creek road. It goes down to the highway at mp 44.3 but it's a tougher road. The main road goes 5 miles down to FR578 along Hermosa Creek. Going left there leads 14 miles back to highway 145 at mp 53.4. That stretch has the best scenery.This is one of the best dual sport cycle rides. FR578 is to be improved in late 2022. Posted 2022.

⦁ BLACKHAWK MOUNTAIN el 12681 is an easy one using the Colorado Trail from the Scotch Creek road. That 4wd road leaves highway 145 at mp 44.3. It starts out rocky but smooths out. At el 9600 I had engine trouble and had to turn back. I did this before in 2004.

⦁ ELLIOT MOUNTAIN el 12340 is on the west rim of the Dolores River. One way hikes can be done from the Calico TH el 10250 then down to the river on the Wildcat Trail, Burnett Creek Trail or the one I used, the Horse Creek Trail. Ebikes work for the 10 mile shuttle. FR535 leaves highway 145 at mp 53.9. It's a decent road for 5 miles to the TH. Some cars make it. A restroom and dispersed camping are there. The trail goes up along the side of Elliot making for a short side trip to that peak. It then goes over Sockrider Peak but there is an option to skirt that one. Upon approaching the saddle north of Calico Peak there is an option to walk level to the left and hit a trail that goes down the fork east of peak 11375. I took that route and hit the main trail at N37 42496, W108 04657 el 10500 and walked it down to FR423 then to the highway at mp 48.8. That took 6 hours, 48 minutes with about 2500 gain. A creek flows near the start but no more water until Horse Creek. I filled on the trail at 42700, 03817 el 9900. The Rico ranger station, open on Saturdays, should be consulted to make sure no private land issues crop up. A new house is at the end of FR423. Posted 2022.

⦁ TELESCOPE MOUTAIN el 12201 is the best tundra peak around. FR496 is high clearance and open as far as the fork with FR496.A el 10850 and both are closed beyond there. I could have drove a car the first half mile up FR496 then ebiked the rest. I walked up FR496.A to a faint road forking right at el 11200. I went up that to an elk trail at N37 43541, W107 58890 then to another at 43489, 58986. I leveled off there for a stretch then up to a trail at 43527, 59212 el 11600. I followed that down a clearing to 43497, 59329 el 11500 where an old manmade trail exits deadfall. It goes to 43497, 59490 then to the saddle el 11450 that is NE of peak 11727 then over that peak and then it likely drops down to Rico. But it's easy to go on up to the summit. 3 and a half hours, 2000 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ FLATTOP MOUNTAIN el 12098 is super easy. An ancient road goes part way. Turn off highway 145 at mp 53.4 and go 5 and a half miles on FR578 to a meadow el 11300. Walk across it to the road at N37 43658, W107 55587. Go on to 43993, 55882 then over a minor peak and the road will fade in deadfall. Elk trails run right of center through that then there is a trail at 44436, 56416 that leads into the open and then the summit is at 44723, 56890. No reg. 2 and a half hours, nearly 1000 gain. The only headache is wet grass. FR578 is to be improved in late 2022. Posted 2022.

⦁ BLACK FACE el 12147 has a trail over it to use as a one way hike. The Lizard Head Trail starts at Lizard Head Pass el 10200. It's shorter to park east of the restrooms and use a trail there that connects to the main trail. Then just follow the signs over the summit and down to a bike stashed at the Cross Mountain TH then it's an easy bike ride for 2 miles back. I did this in reverse because I had a pedal bike. 5 hours for the hike with about 2500 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ LAKE HOPE el 11900 is a popular hike. FR627 is a decent high clearance road and ebikeable that goes to the TH el 10700 like the USFS topo shows. There are small camp spots along that road. It took me 90 minutes to walk to the lake with about 1400 gain. I followed the trail on past the lake to the divide el 12445. I could see that the 13er north of that point is a class 2 rubble slope. Posted 2022.

⦁ ROCK OF AGES LOOP - a good loop can be done in the Lizard Head Wilderness starting at the Rock of Ages TH as shown on the USFS topo. The Elk Creek Trail can be walked around to Navajo Lake then up to Rock of Ages Mine and back to the start. Take highway 145 to mp 77.5 then turn off and follow signs for 8 and a half miles to the TH at the end el 10200. 4wd is needed at some spots but any car can go halfway then ebike the rest. Subaru type cars were at the TH. No camping allowed there but there are several small spots along the last half of the road. I went up trail to the sign for Elk Creek Trail and walked it around and on past the lake then at el 12200 there is a new trail branching right but no sign there. I walked it a short way to get water then came back and walked the trail up to the mine then over and back to the start. That took 7 hours, 25 minutes. The app has it as 12.5 miles with 3700 gain. I would trust the water from the numerous streams. There is a gushing spring on the trail at about N37 51906, W108 01711 then another about 100 feet before the junction with trail 406 that goes to Woods Lake. Posted 2022.

⦁ WHIPPLE MOUNTAIN el 11922, in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, has a trail most of the way. Turn off highway 145 at mp 75 and follow the road 8 miles to the sign for the TH el 10600. The last 2 miles need 4wd and the last mile can be tricky for cycles when wet. Which is why I made a U-turn at the TH with a storm brewing. Posted 2022.

 

Mancos, Colorado Area

The road to Rush Basin

Helmet Peak

Steam engine at Rush Basin

 

• Mancos has a Family Dollar and small supermarket but it's only 20 miles to the Walmart at Cortez. The USFS topo maps on apps such as peakbagger are essential to see hiking trails and road numbers. A map of motorized routes can be downloaded by searching " san jaun national forest mvum". That map also shows private land. Posted 2022.
• SPILLER PEAK el 13123 has a class 2 route out of Rush Basin. FR567 is miles and miles of rocky road. It's risky to drive a jeep in the last few miles because turnarounds can get scarce. The road ends at el 11800 then a trail goes up to the left to two lakes. It's easy from there to the south saddle el 12500 then up. ALTERNATE - a jeep road goes to el 11700 on the west side of peak 12201 as the USFS topo shows. I wouldn't take a jeep past the last switchback at N37 25454, W108 06725 el 11700. A mine trail goes on up to the top of the ridge to a T. Right can be used to run the ridge to Helmet Peak. Left runs along the south side of peak 12201 to Rush Basin lakes. It fades but but resumes at 25489, 06517 and goes on down. Or go over peak 12201 and down to the lakes. It's obvious from there to the south saddle of Spiller. Backpackers could use the trail to get to the lakes. The big one had a good outflow and all snow was gone in late July.SECOND ALTERNATE - drive part way on FR567 then walk on up to Spiller then walk back down to the lakes and follow the mine trail under peak 12201 and on to a junction at 25240, 06918 which is a few feet NE of point 11522. Either drop down on a trail there to FR567 or go on to Helmet then try going down the south ridge. Posted 2022.
• HELMET PEAK el 11969 has a 4wd road to el 11200 on the south ridge. FR322 runs past point 10951 then crosses a talus field. It forks there and the left fork goes to the south ridge and levels off. Turnarounds get scarce beyond there. Posted 2022.
• MADDEN PEAK el 11972 has an easy SW ridge with a trail to point 11455. FR316 starts out smooth then it's high clearance to el 10200 where it's closed a bit over 8 miles in from the highway. I just walked the closed road and ignored right forks and it took me up the ridge. On the descent, I retraced to el 11500 and dropped down a grassy slope to Starvation Creek. Springs are gushing out of the talus el 11200. I walked on down to FR316 shown on the topo at el 11100 and walked it back. 3 hours, nearly 2000 gain, all easy. The closed road is open to pedal bikes but steep. Posted 2022.
• CENTENNIAL PEAK el 13062 has trails all the way. Roads are graded to FR346 then it's high clearance and mtn bikeable for a mile and a half to the Sharkstooth TH el 10900. The USFS topo shows the trail going up to the north ridge el 11936 then hiker trails go from there. Just above 11200 on the trail is a big spring gushing out of the talus. 4 hours, 2200 gain. This is a wuss 13er. Posted 2022.
• HESPERUS MOUNTAIN el 13232 has an easy route up the long NW ridge. Ebikes and cycles can ride up from Transfer Campground on ATV trail #631 to a fork near point 10331. Stay right on #175 then left on #169 to the creek crossing and park at el 10100. Walk across the creek then left on #621 to a clearing at N37 27635, W108 06394. Walk that to another clearing at 27573, 06463 then go up on high ground for 300 feet then bend right for 250 feet to timberline. Zigzag up talus to get on the back side of the NW ridge where it's an easy forest. Stroll on up to the steep part at el 12000 where a class 2 hiker trail goes right of center then back to center and up to the summit. At 26687, 05554 there is an option to take a less steep right fork. 5 and a half hours, 3100 gain. High powered ebikes can come down trail #631 from FR350 but will have to walk down rubble from 10500 to 10400. ATVs can't go beyond trail #175. The USFS topo shows all.Posted 2022.
• WEST MANCOS TRAIL #621 - I did an 11 mile one way hike down from the Sharkstooth TH to Transfer Campground. I followed graded roads to FR346 then parked and walked a mile and a half on that road to the TH then followed signs all the way. I had one shin deep wade at el 9300. Near the end I filled at a spring at N37 27702, W108 10449. Crystal Creek comes after that and was the last good water. Then comes a good view at 27988, 11338. That took 5 hours, 10 minutes with noticeable gain of less than 500, mostly near the end. The USFS topo shows the trails. SHORT VERSION - walk up the trail from Transfer to trail #173 then up that to the rim and back on ATV trail #631. All trails are open to pedal bikes but way too bumpy for me. Posted 2022.
• BURRO MOUNTAIN el 11560 has an easy ridge from Windy Gap. Deadfall is a minor nuisance and that thins out as it goes. I descended by way of FR350.G but it has trees across it too. I could have drove a car in on FR350 except for the last mile. A 20 mile loop can be done around this mountain on an ebike. Starting where FR350 meets FR561, I would begin on the latter and go clockwise. Posted 2022.
• MENEFEE MOUNTAIN el 8867 has an easy 4wd road all the way. Turn off highway 160 at mp 61.4 and go nearly 3 miles to a fork. Right goes nearly a mile to the high point. Left goes 2 and a half miles to Menefee Peak el 8824. These roads are good for bikes when dry. Posted 2022. 
• WEBER MOUNTAIN el 8202 has access from the east. Take county road 41 out of Mancos to the end of pavement and go on nearly 5 more miles to a BLM display with sunny camping el 6550. A car could have made it. I walked the fence and crossed the creek to a road high on the far bank. It soon enters private land but not fenced or posted. I stayed far left on an overgrowing road then up a ridge at N37 15391, W108 18749 el 6600. At 15544, 19046 el 6900 I leveled off to the right and on to 15630, 19118 el 6900. I stayed on the high ground up to 15703, 19252 el 7050 then up a steep ridge to 15679, 19570 el 7400. From there I moved right then up to the crest at 15741, 19802 el 7900. I had an easy stroll to the summit cairn at 16647, 20014. No reg. 4 hours, 1700 gain, some light scrub oak. Not the cleanest pj forest but not bad. If the private land becomes an issue, then going staight up to peak 8135 would get around it but more gain. Posted 2022.
• CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN el 12388 has a hiker trail up the NW ridge. CR 124 is paved to Mayday then cars can make the next 4 miles then it degrades and is 4wd by the time it gets to the saddle el 12000 next to Snowstorm Peak. There is a small turnaround at the saddle but the road is private beyond there. The trail leaves the road at the upper edge of brush el 11700. All but cycles have to park sooner at a main parking area el 11600. Short hike. Snowstorm is tough to go up unless walking the private land. Posted 2022

Abajo Mountains Area, Utah

Dark Canyon

Scorup Cabin

Tuerto Canyon

Ancient stove

Indian Benchmark

 ⦁ Blanding and Monticello each have a Family Dollar and supermarket. Blanding has a bigger supermarket but both are closed on Sunday. I didn't have any trouble with brush on the 10000+ peak hikes. Posted 2022.

⦁ ABAJO PEAK el 11360 has a good road all the way from Monticello. It turns to graded dirt at Loyds Lake and goes 11 miles to the summit as FR87. At 2 and a half miles along the way is where camps under the pines start at el 7900 with a Verizon signal. At mile 5.3 el 8750 there is a good spring on the left. Any ebike that can make it up can use OHV trail #52 to cut over to North Creek Pass then coast back to town. That trail starts where the topo shows and goes over peak 10660 where it gets rough. But an easier dirt bike trail skirts around the east side of that peak and and comes back to the OHV trail. SOUTH PEAK el 11122 can be climbed from Dickson Pass el 10452. I went up over peak 10988 on good but steep terrain. The final 300 feet has a game trail switching up it and topping out a few feet west of the reg. I retraced back to the north saddle el 10752 then walked level to the left on a trail then down to N37 48867, W109 27555 and on to the road at 49088, 27803 el 10350. That descent route is rocky soil and OK for downhill travel but I wouldn't care to go up it. That took 103 minutes with nearly 1000 gain. This peak has better views than Abajo. Posted 2022.

⦁ MOUNT LINNAEUS el 10969 can be done as part of a loop including peak 11010 and peak 11014. Take the maintained FR79 to FR354 which is easy 4wd and mtn bikeable. It ends at the Shay Ridge ATV trail el 10300 shown as #27 on the topo. The topo also shows trail #454 starting there but it's a fiction. It's easiest to follow the ATV trail to the south side of peak 11010 and climb that then go south on an ATV trail following a fence. It soon becomes a foot trail and skirts peak 110014 but it's an easy detour to that summit. Then the trail goes over peak 10998 and fades but it's easy to walk the bald ridge down across trail #15 and on up to Linnaeus. Trail #15 can be used for the return. It had a tiny stream crossing it in the next gully west of where the topo shows a spring. It's a 3 hour hike with about 1000 gain, no brush. Only peak 11014 had a reg. Posted 2022.

⦁ HORSEHEAD PEAK 11209 is a twin peak with both summits the same elevation down to the foot. I can't recall another such example. There are three ways up. Going up from North Creek Pass starts the highest but is steepest with talus. A second way is up from FR79 on a grassy slope into the main saddle between the summits. I went a third way up an east ridge. I walked FR5002 to the end then up the ridge thru a pleasant forest. At el 10900 I veered right to N37 51379, W109 28270 and leveled off over a talus field and on to the north summit. Then I went to the south summit and retraced back down. 2 and a half hours, 1500 gain, no brush. This is the best of the summer peaks in the range. Nearly pristine. The pipeline on the topo seems to be a fiction. Posted 2022.

⦁ TWIN PEAK EAST SUMMIT el 11012 has a dirt bike trail up from the north saddle. It's not legal to ride but that doesn't stop anybody. Dirt bike trail #20 starts where the topo shows and goes to the north saddle then it's easy to follow the outlaw trail on up. I walked from the summit directly east down near the treeline but that's too steep. Use the SE ridge. That took 70 minutes with 1000 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ JACKSON RIDGE el 11164 is an easy climb from the OHV trail that connects North Creek Pass to FR87. The ridge from Cooley Pass has no issues. I started at North Creek Pass and it took me 90 minutes with 1000 gain. Posted 2022.

⦁ SHAY MOUNTAIN el 9989 has a bad ATV trail all the way. A paved road goes to Foy Lake (shown as Spring Lake on the topo) then FR104 is a major dirt road that goes on to FR5082 then to FR5081 and that ends at the Shay Mountain ATV Trail el 8350. I walked it to N37 55525, W109 33369 el 9500 where a closed trail goes on up. 3 hours, 1700 gain. 4wds and ebikes can easily make the 6 miles of dirt road from Foy Lake, but only when dry. The lake has dispersed camping and a restroom.  Posted 2022.

⦁ TUERTO CANYON has a trail that is accurately shown on the topo. Cars can make it to the TH el 8100 on FR95. I walked the trail to a good stream el 7800 in the canyon. There are good camp spots under the pines along there. I came back by way of the trail in Trough Canyon. The only significant strain is the 600 gain back out of Tuerto Canyon. No recent cattle is one of the main attractions but that could change. Dirt bikes might show up on weekends. Posted 2022.

⦁ ATV trail #16 connects FR79 to FR84. I rode my 125 up FR79 then cut over to FR84 on the ATV trail then down to the highway and back to Blanding. I could do this on an ebike but would have to walk some rocky patches on the ATV trail but most are downhill. Posted 2022.

⦁ HAMMOND CANYON has two trails as the topo shows. A loop can be made down Posey Trail #116 and back on #12 and using a bike for a 5 mile shuttle.Trail #116 starts slightly north of where the topo shows and goes down to the stream el 6100 in Hammond Canyon with spectacular views along the way. It crosses to the far bank and is spotty, sometimes just in the creekbed. At N37 41896, W109 45163 there is a trail forking to the right. That goes to a ruin and is why most people come down the trail. It's a heavily used trail beyond there up to the TH. A gushing spring is near the ruin fork at 41981, 45288. Stay on the trail until reading 400 feet from it and cross the stream and go at it from the east. It took 6 hours, 9 minutes to walk from TH to TH with no side trips except to the spring. The gain is a bit over 2000 but a big chunk is along the easy canyon bottom. All roads and trails are on the topo but the trails are not exact and there are signs and cairns.This is one of the best trail hikes in the state.ONE WAY VERSION- starting at the #12 TH and walking all the way down to an exit near point 5710 is easier but less scenic. Below the junction with the Posey Trail there are animal trails on down along the stream. Near the exit point there is a trail on the far right edge leading to a game trail at 40460, 40263 el 5800. I went up and stayed left of peak 6228 and curved to FR5311 that leads to point 6188 on the south rim road where my cycle was parked. That took 6 and a half hours with 400 easy gain at the end in a nice pj forest. The app has it at 12.5 miles. I might have made it all in shorts but biting flies were out for the second half. Horses have been in the lower part but not lately. Posted June, 2022.

⦁ DARK CANYON has trails in the upper end that can be used for one way hikes. A shorter one is down trail #25 thru Horse Pasture then up trail #6 to The Notch TH. A bike can be used for the nearly 5 mile shuttle. Trail #25 runs way higher than the topo shows and a mile or more can be cut off. It runs past the end of FR5161 el 8500 and on north by a spring. FR5161 is a fiction but that route can still be walked down from FR5160 which is easy 4wd. Game trails drop off it at N37 47204, W109 47734 el 8550 and a route weaves down to the trail at 47219, 47827 el 8450. It may also be possible to find a route thru brush and hit the trail at the spring. Once on the trail it goes down and meets trail #6 at the Scorup Cabin and that goes up to The Notch. I didn't check for water around the cabin but Drift Trail Canyon had a tiny flow and next was a better flow along the trail at a fork east of point 7330. It took nearly 4 and a half hours for the hiking part. The 700 gain at the end plus a few trench crossings are the only parts that aren't easy. A lot of itchy grass is along the trails. Posted June, 2022.

⦁ DRY MESA BENCHMARK el 8835 has a game trail up the SW ridge from point 8201. FR108 runs 18 miles to it. It's maintained but has sand. The trail starts at N37 46442, W109 56648 and goes up the ridge staying right of center. The ridge levels off at el 8600 then there are paths left of center. I went to 46687, 56301 then 46773, 56141 then 46891, 56034 and walked under the pines to the BM at 47226, 55932. No reg. 96 minutes, 600 gain, very light brush. Nice hike. The road goes on another 3 miles to an abyss at Warren Canyon but not maintained. RIG CANYON is on the east side. It's an easy 20 minute stroll down that trail to the rim with a view of the canyon. Cooper Spring is kaput. Posted 2022.

⦁ FR79 is a major dirt road that can be used to drive over the mountains from Blanding to Monticello. Take 100 EAST out of Blanding. It goes paved for 8 miles. At mile 13 is Nizhoni Campground. At mile 22 is the first pass el 9691. At mile 27 is North Creek Pass el 10312. Then it's downhill to the paved North Creek Rd el 8500 at mile 31 then down to Monticello at mile 36. I could have drove a 2wd pickup all the way that day. Most of the route is good for ebikes. Camping is not allowed above el 8400. Posted 2022.

⦁ MONTEZUMA CANYON has a good dirt road down it for 35 miles. Take highway 191 to mp 66.6 about 5 miles south of Monticello. Turn on an improved road that runs for nearly 17 miles down the canyon where it becomes a graded as needed road. At mile 24 ruins and rock art start appearing including the Three Kiva Pueblo. At mile 35 there is  T at the improved Perkins Rd. It goes nearly 19 miles to pavement at Blanding. I wouldn't count on taking a car thru but I could have that day. An ebike could coast down the first 35 miles then power up for the Perkins Rd. I didn't see any water not polluted by cattle but a cabin in the lower end had the best looking water crossing under the road. Posted 2022.

⦁ NORTH CREEK ROAD goes paved out of Monticello and cuts across the north side of the range to over 8000 feet then down to highway 211. Campgrounds and dispersed camps are along the way with a Verizon signal. One ebike loop ride is to ride up to Monticello Lake then turn right and coast down to highway 163 on a good dirt road. It's 3 miles back to town on a skinny shoulder. That loop is about 20 miles. Posted 2022.