Book Cliffs, Utah

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The class 3 route on the rim of Can BM is under the stick I'm holding. I tried descending another route slightly to the right but was turned back by ultra steep dirt.

The view from the Green River rim trail.

Upper Sulphur Creek

 ⦁ The Book Cliffs run for up to 240 miles depending on which website you read. The higher elevations are brushy and I avoided that. I was hiking in shorts unless otherwise noted. C

1. RANGE CREEK - the lower part has public access using the Little Park Road. The Horse Canyon Rd is paved to the mouth at a bridge then it's about a mile to a main fork el 6482 with a tiny stream. Left goes to the part of Range Creek where all the rock art is but needs a permit. Right goes 25 miles on easy 4wd to the lower part of the creek and there's just one main road to follow. Then it's 3 miles downstream on a road with sharp dips to the end of vehicle travel at a camp spot under cottonwoods at point 4443. It's a one hour stroll on down to the Green River. I could barely jump the creek. I saw a couple of minor petroglyphs. WATER - the spring 8 miles in at 6689 had a trickle and puddles. The next one in less than 2 miles at 6625 had a flow out of a pipe. It's best to drive up the wash for that one. Then in Turtle Canyon at N39 18705 W110 10476 there was a short trickle just below the 5200 line. Range Creek is a good clear stream and bound to be perennial. I wouldn't count on the others. I rode my 125 and it's one the best rides of all time. The road is hard packed with few rocks and then the last 3 miles along the creek had some minor sand and easy fords. I put a track on peakbagger under Cone Shape BM. If I had a time machine I would go back and ride the road to Big Horn Mtn. No cattle in decades. Much of the topo map is 80 foot contour lines. UPPER TURTLE CANYON is one of the best in the Book Cliffs. I parked along the road where the Big Horn Benches road branches off then dropped in and strolled up canyon. A peculiar boulder at 19860, 12745 has a pinyon growing out of it. Something's gotta give. The first water was at a minor fall at the fork SW of point 6602. More little falls had flows beyond there then at the end of easy travel is a 20 fall with a shower spring underneath at the 6400 line surrounded by towering cliffs and big conifers . I checked above but it's tedious so I turned back. 3 hours, 7 miles. The west fork looks good on the sat image. PEAK 6491 is at the south end of a pristine bench. I started up a drainage along the road at 19723, 13985 then along the west side of point 6521 and on to the east saddle of peak 6680 where I could see the bench. I went on past point 6482 then a class 3 break in cliffs at 17998, 14518 then thru the last cliff at 17825, 14822 also class 3. That took 4 hours, 6.4 miles. Perfect pj forest.  Posted May, 2024.
2. BOOK CLIFFS TRAIL - this goes up thru the cliffs north of Woodside as shown on newer maps. It accesses Smith Benchmark or even Saddlehorn. At mp 276.9 on highway 6 is a high clearance and ebikeable road that goes 3 miles to a guzzler el 5100. The trail starts just beyond at N39 18591, W110 18660 with a million cairns placed by locals. It goes up a steep ridge to el 5600 then left to a gap in the cliffs. It goes along the left side of the gap and on up to saddle 5958 then down a drainage and then the left bank. It hits Little Park Wash and that's all of it. I walked down the wash on OHV tracks and got on the left bank at 18218, 17475 to cut a gooseneck. I climbed out at 17617, 16885 then went south to 17339, 16898 and kept going up thru point 5813 then at the rim a peak is in the way. It's easiest to go up almost to the high cliff then level off and on up to Smith. I retraced back and stayed on the rim then down the ridge thru point 6162. The rim would be shorter back to saddle 5958 but rough. 6 hours, 10 miles, and nearly 2000 noticeable gain. The best version would be to descend the SE ridge to Trail Canyon as in the next hike below with a 12 mile shuttle. Posted 2024.
3. SMITH BENCHMARK el  6432 is on the rim east of Woodside and one of the best hikes on this page. A good route is up Little Park Wash then back down the long SE ridge. A graded road goes along the Price River from Woodside to Trail Canyon. A sandy ATV trail goes a mile up that canyon then left up Little Park Wash for a quarter mile to boulders. It's easy to walk on up canyon to the 4800 line where I cut a gooseneck then another at point 5022. At N39 15971, W110 15879 I cut another gooseneck. At 16195, 16187 el 5100 I went up the center of a ridge and topped out south of point 6077. I left my pack there and went to the summit. I circled around the right side of peak 6397 and over to the west rim then up it to the summit. No reg. I went back to my pack then on to the end of the ridge staying along the right rim near the end. Then I dropped left to a drainage at 15412, 15870 and down that to get below the high cliff. I went right on a shelf to get down and on to the saddle el 5450 connecting to the next mesa. Sheep were grazing in the saddle. I had the option there to drop down to Little Park Wash but that would likely take longer, so I walked up the ridge center to get on the next mesa near point 5630. I walked across it and east of point 5492 then north down a ridge at 15126, 14736. I went down another 100 feet then turned east down a ridge to hit bottom then back to the start. 6 hours, 38 minutes, 12 miles with nearly 1500 noticeable gain. But I cheated and rode the ATV trail in a mile. Near the summit I saw a cairn at 16108, 17225 el 6100. It marks an easy route down to point 5930 over the river. Then that rim could be walked and the high rim regained at point 5879. I might try that version next time. The area is pristine with no sign of cattle ever. Posted 2024.
4. TRAIL CANYON -a loop can be done up canyon to Joe Spring then west on a faded trail to Little Park Wash and back down that. A graded road goes along the Price River from Woodside to Trail Canyon. A sandy ATV trail goes a mile up canyon to the mouth of Little Park Wash. I walked on up Trail Canyon following ebike tracks. Along the way there is trail on the left bank at N39 15051, W110 13965 that goes for 6 minutes to the best preserved stone cabin I have ever seen. The ebike tracks ended up canyon at a 20 foot fall with a seep at the 4880 line. A bypass trail on the right bank is at 15676, 13797. I went on up and took the trail on the topo to the spring but it had only a dry trough. I then went west on the trail and took a shortcut to 16296, 14132 where I could walk NW along a canyon bench below the trail. I came to a fork and dropped to the creekbed then on upstream and got on the left bank just before the trail crosses. I followed it, meaning the line on the topo, up to the divide and to just before 2-66 where I cut left of the trail down a ridge to 17241, 15846. I went on to 17339, 16317 where the trail finally shows up and goes down the right side of a drainage to a cabin as shown on the topo. I dropped into Little Park Wash then down it. A gooseneck at 5322 can be cut but I daydreamed past it. The next one near peak 5492 can be cut but drop back at 15972, 15880. The next one to cut is at 5022 then the last is at the 4800 line. That took 7 hours, 13 miles and the 200 gain up to the divide is about the only strain the whole way. This measurement is from the confluence of the two canyons. I can cut to nearly 6 hours by skipping the spring and paying closer attention to the gooseneck shortcuts. No sign of cattle ever. Posted 2024.
6.  MOUNT ELLIOTT el 7142 has a jeep road most of the way but the Price River has to be forded. The road goes from Woodside along the river. Subaru types can make it to the ford. Any jeep that can cross can go all the way to the 6600 line east of peak 7059 then hike to the north saddle. Then go far left to get past the first cliffs then go right at the last cliff to get around to the west side. All class 2. I crossed the river on my 125 a few feet up from the ford. The flow was allegedly 44 CFS. An ebike would be in walk mode a lot but might be better than walking the 15 miles. Posted 2025
7.  LITTLE ELLIOTT MESA el 6775 has a trail out of Blue Castle Canyon to el 5300. It tops out on the rim a half mile west of Blue Castle Butte where the rim turns north. The west side river road is paved to N39 05107, W110 08834 where a 4wd goes left and drops into the wash on the north side of Blue Castle. I was able to ride my 125 a short way up the wash ( I could have got an ebike to the trail with some carrying ) then walked it until I was reading 450 feet from the trail which starts at 05525, 12827 el 4700. A gully there with cairns leads 450 feet to the trail. It goes up and bends left then back right up to 05355, 12898 el 5050 then to 05331, 12990 el 5200 where it goes up to the base of the rim cliffs then right along that to the top at 05332, 13106 el 5300. A million cairns are there now so GPS shouldn't be needed once on the trail. I strolled up the rim a third mile then left into a cove where I could see a class 2 route going up on the left and another route on the right. I chose the latter and topped out at peak 6168 but it's nearly class 4 with exposure, so the other route is better. It's obvious until a minor cliff near the top. One good route is at 05201, 13784 el 5900 then the route tops out at 05189, 13812 el 6000. For just the high point, stay low on the flats to get past peak 6419 then go up on the SE ridge of the peak. At el 6400 go along the top of a minor cliff band on the south side of the peak. Wait until almost directly under 05746, 15064 then go up to it and on up to the last cliff where a chute goes up, but I went left along the cliff base to a class 2 route up. No sign of humanity on the summit. Don't climb up the eastern half of the summit because that saddle in the middle is tough. It took 3 hours with 1300 noticeable gain to get to the mesa rim. I didn't go straight for peak 6775, but I crossed a canyon at 05319, 14340 to get to the west rim. That's the best rim walking along there. I went to a view of Cliff BM and could see that it's hopeless. If there is a BM out there it must have been flown in. On the walk back along the rim I nearly had a head on collision with a herd of sheep. There is no water on the mesa, so they have a long hike for a drink.  I then walked over and climbed peak 6775 and then on the descent passed by a 1961 BLM marker at 05377, 14485 el 6150 then near the rim there is camping gear at 05312, 14102 el 6100. It's been there over a year and needs to be brought down. I couldn't see his tracks anywhere. The tent and sleeping bag are in stuff sacks. On the trail down I saw more trash including a broken walking stick at the TH. I spent 10 hours total. Posted 2023.
8. BLUE CASTLE CANYON - I started out the same as the Little Elliott Mesa hike as far as where the trail tops out on the south rim el 5300. Then I just walked the rim into the upper part of the canyon. One goal would be to take the left fork that goes to the rim south of peak 6410.   A longer hike would be to go up Middle Mountain. For that the canyon must be crossed to the far rim. Drop down to the creekbed at N39 06138, W110 14986 el 5650 then go upstream a tenth mile to an easy route that goes up to opposite rim but the final climb is a 15 foot class 3 crack which tops out at 06228, 15107 el 5650 . Then stroll down nearly a mile to a canyon and go up the creekbed until 200 feet from 06560, 13877  then go up to it and level off to get into the right fork. Then go up a slope to a stairway at 06480, 13798 el 5900 that leads to the top of the ridge then it's obvious up that to the rim at 06782, 13691 el 6400. Some old cans are there. I walked a fifth mile to the other side for a view then retraced back down to the class 3 crack and dropped in and decided to take a shortcut down the creekbed, the Hastings Cutoff so to speak. I came to huge boulders with an obvious grassy bank on the right to bypass them but couldn't drop back down until I got to 06278, 14358. I soon came to more huge boulders and passed on the right again, but it might work better to go up to the left and down around those. I kept weaving boulders and at 06256, 14047 I stayed on the left bank to a large cottonwood tree then dropped at that and crossed to the right side and then it was smooth sailing. It took an hour to get thru the boulders but nothing harder than class 3. Intermittent water was in there starting where I dropped in. And cottonwoods. I spent 10 hours with 1700 noticeable gain but that included the trip to Middle Mountain. I did a backpack in 2024 and posted it. Posted May 12, 2023.
9. LONG CANYON is blocked by private land at Gunnison Butte, but a route in goes thru the saddle west of peak 4666. The west side river road is paved to N39 05180, W110 08718 where a 4wd road goes up the bench.  In about 2/3 mile it bends left then walk to a wash at 06136, 08721. Follow the main channel to a steep slope at 06434, 08972. A game trail is to the left but dangerous.  Go up the slope then left to a trail up into the saddle then stay right a few feet to a trail going down a gully. Go on to 06751, 09082 to get down. A tiny stream was there. The source was the spring at the 4400 line coming out of the wall. I went on up for half an hour but this is backpacking country. It's hard to tell cattle were ever in here. Posted May, 2023. UPDATE - I returned May 20, 2024 and the spring was a slow drip. I went up canyon to the next spring and it was dry. Then the third spring had a useless seep. I went on to a main fork at the 4920 line. I went 5 minutes up each fork and it was slower going but still not hard. That took 6 hours and 13 miles. It's an easy stroll except going in and out over the rim.
10. ELLIOT MESA STOCK TRAIL - I was told about this by a local man but didn't hike it. The trail goes up from the Price River just before the Green River. On the topo a bowl can be seen west of point 5522. A trail can be seen there on the sat image and that is likely it. The only way at it without crossing water or private land is to go into Long Canyon then walk the bank of the Green River. Locals use to drive the bank but the rancher blocked it near Long Canyon. Posted 2024.
11. CAN BENCHMARK el 6826 is 13 miles NE of Green River. A stock trail goes up a north fork of Tusher Canyon and tops ouet between peak 6376 and peak 6355. It's easy 4wd up Tusher to a sunny camp spot SE of peak 5266. Cow trails go up canyon but the important one goes up a left fork at N39 06796, W110 01369 el 4800. It soon switches right then goes on up the left bank of the main canyon and tops out at a fence el 5850. Just past that is a right fork with a route up the right bank. I walked on around the east side of peak 6355 then down a minor ridge at 08617, 00380 el 5950 to get across a wash. No cattle impact beyond there. Remaining coordinates are W109. Then I walked up a ridge to peak 6304 and stayed on that level around to the north side of the peak at N39 09409, W109 59180 el 6200. I c ould see the summit rim and the class 3 spot is about center. I went up to a flat spot at 09246, 59088 then angled up left to the last cliff then right along the base and it led me to the class 3 crack. I topped out at 09201, 59079. The reg jar had no lid. That took nearly 9 hours with nearly 2000 noticeable gain. It goes parabolic for 300 or so to get on the summit rim. No cattle for years and not likely to come back. Where's the water? Backpackers would have to count on rain filled potholes. I saw a silty one el 5800 near the fence from rain a week earlier. It's going to be hard to find a better peak hike than this in the Books. Posted 2022.
12. SULUAR MESA TRAVERSE - an old road up Naylon Canyon is an easy route up then I cut thru the saddle north of peak 6834 to get down to a bench that I could walk around the north side of Can BM then down the stock trail SE of peak 6376. I put a track on peakbagger under Can BM. It would be easy to use ATVs for a shuttle up LH Tusher Canyon but I didn't have that option. So I left camping gear at the stock TH and rode my 125 up Tusher to Naylon. I could have drove a jeep as far as Cottonwood Spring. It had a fenced pool. I walked up Naylon with no sign of the road until a left fork where it's on the left bank. It goes bank to bank then up on top. I left it to cut thru the saddle north of peak 6834. I went thru the saddle then stayed left to get down then at the last cliff band I walked right to get to the easy bench. I just walked it around just above the 6200 line in a perfect pj forest. I went on past Can then down the sharp point SE of peak 6304. Then I walked that level around to the stock trail then down to camp. The next morning I walked 4 hours back to Naylon to get my cycle. 8 hours 19 minutes for the traverse. The app has it at 16.4 miles with 2200 gain but hardly any is strenuous, but a lot would be in reverse. WATER - Naylon had streams in every fork. Tiny streams crossed the road near the adits, but a bigger one was NW of peak 6466. Once I left the road I only found water once. It was small pools and seeps at the top of a dry fall where I crossed the east fork of Winter Camp Canyon. I forgot my GPS but it's near N39 09564, W109 57885. In April and May I wouldn't count on any water past Naylon, just as a precaution. And nearly all of that is bound to be seasonal. Cottonwood Spring may be perennial. Cattle were moved out of Tusher on April 29. They can't get into Naylon. Posted April 29, 2023.
13. NAYLON CANYON is pristine and as easy as it looks on the sat image. A loop can be made up the right fork and down the left. Jeeps can make it up LH Tusher Canyon to just past Cottonwood Spring (it has a fenced pool) where boulders block anything bigger than an ATV. It's not far to Naylon. I went up to a slot with a bypass trail on the right and then stayed right at forks. At el 6300 a big stream rises out of the creekbed. I went past that to a canyon on the left at N39 09899, W109 52938 el 6400. I went up that 100 feet or so then climbed out on the left and walked west on the lowest ground to the spring in the left fork. I passed thru a saddle at 09867, 53246 el 6550 then crossed a canyon, which had a stream. Then over the rim at 09901. 53618 el 6750 and down to a drainage at 09943, 53678. I walked that down and when it got steep I drifted to the right to get down upstream from the spring. I came to a tricky little drop which might be doable but a puddle at the bottom would soak my boots. A risky ledge is on the left and I saw later it might work to go higher and come back down to the ledge. But I went around to the west rim and down a gully and it had a stream. I got down to the spring on the left bank and it had a tiny flow. I walked on down that fork with a good stream and back to the start. 4 hours, 15 minutes with 200 noticeable gain. The pj forest here is as good as it gets and some big evergreens are thrown in for good measure. Boulders near the mouth keep cattle out. I was amazed at all the water but it must be seasonal because I can't see any on the sat image. Posted April, 2023.
14. TUSHER BENCH is what I call the pristine plateau between the main forks of Tusher Canyon. A quick route goes up out of the left fork and tops out near point 6005 and then a descent route is near peak 6230. I took the 4wd road up LH Tusher for a bit over a mile to the fork that drains down from peak 6230. Then I slogged up the main canyon for 105 minutes to the ascent ridge at N39 06477, W109 56510 el 5250. I went up then near the top bent to the right to get on the rim at the second saddle east of point 6005. Then I followed the topo to the soutt rim and walked it down to peak 6230. I walked level around the right side of that then down to a drainage at 05309, 58782 el 6100 then an easy ridge at 05442, 58692 to get down to the canyon floor. Cow trails lead down it to the start. 5 and a half hours, 800 noticeable gain. I saw hiker tracks on top. He likely came up out of the right fork. Posted 2023.
15. TUSHER TO COAL CANYON - that's a decent cycle or ebike ride going up Tusher then along the bench to Coal and down that to town. When Coal opens up there is a roading going right a short way to boulders with good petroglyphs. The dirt part of this is about 25 miles and 7 or 8 for the paved part, all public roads. Posted 2023.
16. TOM FARRER TRAIL - this is an old road that can used to access the south rim of RH Tusher Canyon then the rim is easy. I went as far as peak 6541 then dropped down but likely could have gone to Sid BM and descended the Whiley Hall route, but that would be a monster shuttle. I posted a track on peakbagger under peak 6520.  I parked about 3 miles up RH Tusher where the descent canyon comes in on the right then pedaled a bike up canyon nearly 8 miles to the trail. First I walked up Ute Canyon for 10 minutes to a falls in a narrows and filled up bottles. I then followed the trail to the end near peak 7036 then stayed in the creekbed to a slot. There I walked the right rim nearly level until merging with the top of the main rim el 6400. I went on to a break in cliffs at N39 04588, W109 55197 to get in the saddle south of peak 6673. Then I easily walked along the east side of peak 6755 then just south of peak 6541 I dropped off the rim at 03291, 56864 el 6500. I walked the next level to 03417, 56994 el 6350 then down a slope at 03670, 57256 el 6200 then to 03811, 57384 el 6050 where I went straight down a broad ridge. I dropped thru rougher terrain at 04029, 57436 el 5600 but could have walked easier ground a tenth mile to the right of it. Once at the bottom I walked the right rim of the canyon then dropped in but there must be a way to stay on the rim almost to the road because cattle can't use the creekbed due to minor drops. I arrived at the start after 6 and a half hours of easy hiking with 1500 gain according to the app but nothing very steep. 11.4 miles is the mileage. I was lugging long pants for nothing. The roads are easy 4wd but an ebike would be a better shuttle vehicle. A stream was running down the road for miles from Cow Spring.  Grazing in RH Tusher is light.  Posted May, 2023.
18. UPPER HORSE CANYON - the Farrer trail out of RH Tusher can be used to make a loop. I walked it to Tom Spring where an upper trough at N39 06056, W109 52014 had a tiny stream out of  a pipe. I kept going down the valley to a slot el 6400. There I walked the right rim nearly level until merging with the top of the main rim el 6400. I stayed near the 6400 line to a point at 04426, 55033 el 6300 then dropped down and went right to a minor ridge at 04326, 55047 el 6200 where I went down and across a drainage. I went higher and on to the last rim at 04112, 54995 el 6050. I dropped down to the right then back left to hit the main creekbed of Horse, just above a minor fall. I walked up canyon and had a series of easy boulder jams. It smoothed out in 20 minutes and I went on to Cub Spring where there is a shiny new trough but not operational yet. It might be a wildlife project. I only found potholes with rain water where the topo shows the spring. I went on up canyon to the fork before Cub Valley at 05260, 50940. Fresh bear tracks were everywhere. I strolled up that fork and then up to the rim at 06054, 51097 and on to an old road that shows on the topo as a pack trail that leads back to the Farrer trail. 7 and a half hours and the 800 gain at the start was darn nearly the only noticeable gain. Good pj forest and easy creekbeds. I got light scratches weaving sagebrush in Farrer Valley. This is a 15 mile cake walk. Posted Oct, 2023.
19. RATUS BENCHMARK el 7919 sits on the east rim of Showerbath Canyon. It's nearly 20 miles of easy 4wd up Tusher Canyon to Showerbath. I went up the second fork on the right reading N39 08172, W109 50545 el 6400. In half an air mile I came to a fork el 6600 which is east of peak 7090. I took the left fork but should have gone up the ridge between forks as that's what I wound up on. At el 6750 I went left around cliffs then back to center and at el 7000 I walked level to the left to look for routes, but no I should have stayed on that same ridge. It goes parabolic up thru 07694, 49576 el 7300 then tops out a third mile south of peak 7601. Then it's a stroll to the summit block. A 5 foot climb on the left side is the safest but tricky for a solo hiker. A gator hook and etrier makes it easy. I then retraced back past peak 7601 and dropped into Ute Canyon and had an easy walk along an intermittent stream with bear tracks. At 06818, 50626 el 6850 there is a trail that bypasses some rough stuff. At el 6650 there is a wide trail on the left bank that looks like a road. It soon leads to a big drop where I started following the topo up to the Farrer road. I went up to a trail at 06733, 51463 el 6600 that leads to a flat. At the end of the flat I went up a trail at 06733, 51463 el 6700. It fades but it's easy on to a slope at 06741, 51122 el 6650 that leads up to the road el 6750. I walked that down and if I had an ebike waiting it would have saved over a mile of road walking, but nope. That took 6 hours with 1700 noticeable gain. No GPS track for this because peakbagger has never heard of it. Grazing in Showerbath is light and none in Ute for years. Showerbath Spring had a safe looking flow just above where the topo shows it. It needs a funnel. Posted May, 2023.
20. SAL BENCHMARK el 7216 sits between forks of Horse Canyon. The road into lower Horse is for OHVs and a jeep might be too wide. A jeep can come in from Coal Canyon which is rough or Tusher which is easy 4wd. For all that driving I would take a weekend and do Sid Benchmark too. There is a track on peakbagger for that one. I walked up the west fork of Horse to a narrows el 5400 with falls. It can all be passed on the left but I prefer to climb the first little fall then make a hard left up to the bypass. I strolled on up canyon then up a clean slope at N39 03536, W109 55358 el 5650. I went up to a game trail at 03276, 54898 el 6500 thats lead to the main rim. Then I stayed right around a minor peak and came back to center and was able to stay on center all the way to the summit at 03992, 53200. 8 hours, 1600 noticeable gain. Easy terrain. No cattle past the narrows. No GPS track for this because peakbagger has never heard of it.  Posted 2023.
21. SID BENCHMARK el 6520 is on the west rim of Horse Canyon. I made a loop up the canyon then back on the rim to the BM then down the canyon south of peak 6364.  I put a track on peakbagger under peak 6520. I walked up the west fork of Horse to a narrows el 5400 with falls. It can all be passed on the left but I prefer to climb the first little fall then make a hard left up to the bypass. It's easy on to the main fork el 5840. Just before that I could see a likely route up to the next level, but passed on it and went on to a minor narrows where I started up and easy ridge to a break at N39 04095, W109 55025 el 6050. I went on to another break at 04127, 55262 el 6350 then straight up to the last break at a little drainage el 6500. I then walked the easy rim using the topo to navigate. At 03271, 56698 el 6500 I dropped to a lower level then down a little more to 03241, 56683 el 6450 where I could walk on toward peak 6364. I dropped again at 02666, 57244 el 6350 then walked the center up and over the west part of peak 6364 and encountered the only class 3 of the hike,  maybe 12 feet high. At 01959, 57447 el 6250 I dropped down then went far right on a ledge to get down. Then made a hard right to a crevice for the last bit. All that should be bypassable by skirting the west side of the peak. Once down into the saddle, I saw old cans. Then I took a side trip to the BM and came back and started down the canyon south of peak 6364. Where it makes the big drop over the rim, I walked left a few feet to a break then down to the next cliff at 01751, 57348 el 5850. I walked level on top of that for a tenth mile to a slope in plain view. Upon arriving there I found cairns that led me to a ridge at 01663, 57191 el 5700 where I could see the rest of the descent. That took 8 hours with about 1000 noticeable gain. 80 minutes of the total was the side trip to Sid. I got a head start by riding my 125 as short way up the canyon to the confluence with the descent canyon. Posted 2023.
22. BUTLER CANYON - a loop can be done on a stock trail that starts along the river road  south of Butler and goes to el 5300 then an easy ridge goes on to the top of Suluar Mesa, then drop into upper Butler and down it to the big drop and then north a little to a stock trail to get back to the river road. The trail starts near the river road at N39 08206, W110 05771 el 4150. But first I went 3 miles on up the road and left a bike. I came back and went up the trail to the first plateau. It resumes there at 07998, 05585 el 4800 and goes to the south side of peak 5459 and ends. The reading there is 07863, 05244 el 5300 in the event of reversing this route. It's easy to stroll around the south side of peak 5647 then up the ridge at 07588, 04407 el 5400. Go on up to the next little cliff then stay left of center to get up then it's obvious up to the last cliff band. Just go left and merge into a drainage that has an ancient shovel. Soon it's the top and I stayed to the right then headed for 07440, 03285 el 6100 where I could get at the south rim for a view.  Then I headed north across the mesa and saw a lot of ancient cow shit. They must have used the trail that I took for Can BM. I dropped off the rim into Butler at 08163, 02877 el 5950. I angled down to the left then down to an easy ridge 08284, 02753 that leads down to the creekbed. Soon a dry fall is in the way but an easy gully goes left around it. I started seeing signs of recent cattle and then a lot of cattle remains. I kept going down canyon to the next drop. I took a trail on the north rim and dropped down a class 3 break at 09214, 03976 el 5100, but I could see a class 2 route off the south rim a few feet upstream. I went on down canyon on cow trails to the big drop and there a trail goes over the rim to get at the stock trail reading 09547, 05504 el 4750 that goes down to the road. It's easy for people but too tricky for cattle. 6 hours, 2000 noticeable gain for the hiking part.  Nothing harder than class 2. A pedal bike works for the shuttle. I saw inscriptions on the ascent trail that looked to be dated 1949. I found out about that trail from a geocache site. It wouldn't be a bad hike to go up to the mesa top then check out one of the south points. It took me 2 hours to get to the top. Posted 2023.
23. GREEN RIVER RIM TRAIL - a one way hike can be done with a bike shuttle. The river road runs north from Green River town along the east bank for 18 miles. Pavement ends halfway at a pay campground then it's decent dirt the rest of the way with some dispersed freebie camps. I left a bike at the end of the road then came back 3 miles to the trail at N39 09783, W110 05829 el 4200, just north of Butler Canyon. It goes up the left side of a canyon then tops out on the rim at 09547, 05504 el 4750. The trail goes along the rim nearly level. The most interesting part is in the middle where the plateau narrows to a few feet wide, not for the squeamish. But you can step up a little higher for safety. At 11750, 04469 el 4550 is where it drops to the end of the road. That part is on the topo. 3 and a half hours for the hiking part with 550 gain at the start being the only strain. The rim can be walked on to Rattlesnake Canyon then back on the river trail. But that's best done as a separate hike by starting along the river in case there is an issue with brush or an encroaching river. I did that years ago.  Posted 2022.
24. HATCH MESA el 5586, at the mouth of Floy Canyon, is in pristine condition dotted with juniper. No cattle ever. There is an easy 4wd road on the east side running north toward point 5470. A car can make it to that road and ebike the rest. At the end of the road it's obvious how to go up a steep game trail. I strolled over to point 5419 and could see a likely descent route there. A cairn marks where to start down. But that's for some other time. I rim walked to point 5586 then down the skinny SE point. When a cliff blocked me, I dropped left thru some boulders to get down and had an easy route to a ridge at N38 56781, W109 56236. I walked it down then crossed the flats back to the start.  3 hours, 15 minutes and 400 noticeable gain. Nothing scary. This is an easy way to see Utah the way Mother Nature made it. Posted 2023.
25. HORSE MESA el 6091? has a stock trail out of The Basin.  It starts at N38 59337,W109 54967 el 5150. A 4wd road leads to it from the main east side road. Once on top I walked across a neck then up a game trail at 59834, 55511 el 5550. It cirlces around to the NW side then it's obvious on up. I retraced back to the main mesa and walked to the south rim at 58657, 56238 then left to point 5498 and on a little more to a viewpoint then back. I spent 4 and a half hours with 1000 noticeable gain. No cattle for decades on the mesa and there weren't many. The roads are ebikeable. The main east side road has some sandy spots. Trough Spring is a bunch of useless seeps trashed by cattle. Posted 2023.
26. FLOY BENCHMARK el 6377 is north of Horse Mesa. I walked the south canyon to the saddle el 5700 between the BM and peak 5975. I could look up and see a route right of center. I went up thru N39 01173, W109 54093 e 5900 then on to the saddle behind the summit then up. It was only 90 minutes to the BM but  I needed a longer hike than that. I kept going up the main ridge staying low left on easy shelves then up a break at 01754, 53666 el 6450. I then walked right to the rim then up that to peak 6752. I went west around it but looking back the east side looked easier and shorter. Just past that peak is a low fin. I walked the right base then at a second one I walked the left base then up to a class 3 crack at 02481, 53006 el 6600. It's 8 feet high and the hardest obstacle I encountered. I kept goint up the rim thru point 6791 then at the el 6800 line I leveled off to the right and on to the west rim of the canyon draining south from peak 7132. I could see a class 2 descent route off the east rim so I circled over and at 02769, 51179 el 6750 I dropped left to get past a cliff. I followed the rim on down then took a right turn to a break at 02605, 51279 el 6600. I dropped down then walked 200 feet to the right to a drainage then down the left side of it to 02658, 51316 el 6450. Then I resumed going right but only slightly dropping to a shelf at 02728, 51271 el 6400. In another 100 feet I dropped down a gully and soon the left side is easy in trees. At a minor drop there is a stairway on the far left side of the creekbed. Then I leveled off to the right along a cliff base then down to 02782, 51442 el 6100 to get to the easy canyon floor. I strolled on down smooth sand to the road following bear tracks then had a mile of road to walk back to the start. It's an 8 hour hike and then another 20 minutes on the road without a shuttle. I would have had a bike shuttle but didn't know I would make it. There is about 1500 noticeable gain but rarely steep. This is a crazy walk on the wild side. Easy 4wd access and ebikeable. Posted 2023.
27. CRISTMAS RIDGE el 5855 is a mesa at the mouth of Floy Wash. A one way hike is easy. I took the easy 4wd road up Floy to Thompson Pass and locked a bike to a fence then retraced back down Floy for 3 miles from the pass to an obvious ridge with a class 2 route, just a little north of point 4881. I went up that then wandered down to peak 5565. It has an easy stairway at the east end. Then I rim walked north across two necks then up the high point and on to the pass. 3 hours and the only strain is the 600 gain up from the road. Cattle have been gone for decades. The stock trail goes up the canyon east of peak 5565 but is useless because the road in is bad. Posted 2023.
28. CRESCENT CANYON has 3 named forks. I went up the right fork and came down the middle fork. The direct road into the canyon is for jeeps. The bench road coming from Thompson Canyon is easy 4wd. Cow trails start up the right fork and there is an essential one at el 5700 that cuts left across a gooseneck. I went on up the main canyon to a fork el 6400 then up between the forks to a  cliff at N39 02173, W109 45081 el 6500. I walked right along the base until I  could easily go up to 02152, 44988 el 6650  then walk level to the left for 250 feet then up a ridge. Cow shit there told me I was home free. I walked the ridge to the top then took a side trip south to a point at 01653, 44553 el 7050 for a view. I then walked north along the east side of peak 7118 to a path thru sagebrush at 02839, 45031 el 6950. To get in the middle fork, I stayed high then made a hard left to 03469, 45245 el 6850 and dropped in. I took a chance on getting thru it because I had enough daylight to back out and try the next arm. I had no issues until way down it drops into a deep slot but it's easy to walk the right bank a few feet to get down. Another slot past that has a long trail on the right bank then it's bank to bank on trails back to the start. 8 hours with 1000 noticeable gain. Just enough light brush on top made me resort to long pants. Cattle were on the plateau years ago but I couldn't find their route. They sure didn't go up the canyons. Two Pepsi cans were north of peak 7118. Where's the water? Show me the water! Posted 2022.
29. DEER POINT el 7386 is on the east rim of Crescent Canyon. I made a loop up the main fork then down the middle fork. Jeeps can get to the confluence of the two forks and OHVs go another mile to a boulder jam. I walked from the confluence along a small stream that rises at the spring on the topo el 5900. The flow was intermittent beyond there and by 6500 it was dry but I soon left the creekbed on a game trail at N39 04790, W109 45887 el 6600. There's more than one way up but I went on to 04805, 45799 el 6700 then up steep to 04770, 45773 el 6900. In a few more feet I was on a ridge. I went up it to the last cliff then left to a class 3 climb that tops out at 04760, 45705 el 7050. I soon saw that I could have gone another 150 feet along the cliff base to class 2 routes up. I went on to 04764, 45413 el 7250 then on to the summit. I then walked SW to 04316, 45372 el 7300 to get down to a lower level and eventually down to the 7200 line to get around to the main ridge that leads to peak 7118. I dropped to that ridge at 04102, 45323 el 7150 then just before peak 7118 I took a right turn to 03469, 45245 el 6850 and dropped into the middle fork. I had no issues until way down it drops into a deep slot but it's easy to walk the right bank a few feet to get down. Another slot past that has a long trail on the right bank then it's bank to bank on trails back to the start. The middle fork had little water.  8 hours with 800 noticeable gain. This is a better hike than the right fork loop and no long pants needed. The main fork would make a good destination for backpackers to set up a base camp and try for Renegade Point. When I was in Thompson Canyon at el 6150 I could see likely routes up to Deer Point. Posted May 19, 2023.
30. BOOK BENCHMARK el 6828 is 4 miles NW of Thompson Springs. The high clearance bench road coming out of Thompson Canyon is the best road. I rode my cycle 6 miles on it then could see an obvious route to the SW saddle. The ridge is easy on up until crags get in the way. It's best to stay low on the left under those until 200 feet from the summit which is at N39 00010, W109 46199. No reg. 2 and a half hours, 1000 gain. Posted 2022.
31. THOMPSON SPRINGS is at exit 187 with a truckstop. Old pavement goes a bit over 4 miles into Thompson Canyon to the Sego Canyon rock art site. Water is pouring out of a pipe a tenth mile before it. A half mile past the rock art is a 3 way fork. Right goes up Sego Canyon. I went 9 miles up that graded road for a good view near peak 8083. The middle fork goes graded for 2 miles up Thompson Canyon then it's high clearance for nearly a mile to the end. I took a one hour stroll up the right fork. It's pristine. The left fork at the 3 way goes up on the bench and on to Crescent Canyon then down to the old highway but takes a jeep to get thru unless it gets graded. I made a loop on  my cycle and came back to Thompson Springs on the old highway for a total of about 26 miles. These roads are bikeable but the hilly bench road needs a high powered ebike. Posted 2022.
32. THOMPSON CANYON is a long one but a one way hike can be done using the Sego Canyon road to get at the head of the canyon. You get to hike a good canyon and ebike another. Leave a 4wd at the end of the road el 5950 in lower Thompson then ride an ebike 3 miles back down to the Sego road then 11 miles up that to a secret jeep road at N39 08871, W109 43190 el 8500. Hide the bike around there then walk the jeep road to the rim of Thompson then down an elk trail at 09133, 43787 el 8250. It goes down a ridge and at a minor cliff it goes to the right around it. As usual with game trails it splinters. At 08963, 43949 I dropped down to the right and hit a major trail and walked it to the creekbed. Soon a stream appeared and some thickets. I got on the left bank at 08722, 44006 and walked 100 feet then cut over to the right  bank then back down at 08697, 44041. In another 400 feet I hit a good trail on the left bank that took me to a main fork el 7400 and it had a stream. It was mostly clear sailing on down with an occasional fallen tree or branches to step over and a lot of stream jumping. One trail not to miss is on the left at 07592, 44336 then one on the right at 07156, 44471. A half mile befoe the lower TH is a fence with a gate on the right bank. That keeps cattle out. 4 hours, 17 minutes for the hiking part and nearly all downhill. The app has it at 8.3 miles. Occasional light brush kept me in long pants for the first half. I barely avoided wading and so sturdy wading shoes might be the best footwear. All the roads are hard packed with few rocks. The start of this hike goes a short way into tribal land but I doubt they are going to care. With a bike hidden, no one will know anyone is in there. Avoid in hunting season.  Posted May, 2023.
33. SAGER CANYON - I made a loop up canyon then over Sager BM and down the next canyon to the west. The road comes in from the old highway like the topo shows. In 4 miles there is a T and the topo shows to go right, but there is a newer road by going left. In 1.7 miles the newer road goes steep up Sager and meets the other road. Either way takes a jeep unless it gets graded. I walked up canyon to the left fork at peak 6892. I didn't trust it so I went past that peak and started up at N39 03831, W109 39865 el 6450 and angled up left to 03788, 39890 then topped out east of peak 6892 then skirted along the north side of it then merged into the left fork. I climbed out of the left fork so I could walk easy ground to the north side of peak 7378 then on to the south side of Sager BM. I went up the south gully but it's way easier to use a gully at 04163, 40862 el 7400 to get on the south ridge then stroll to the south gully and up to the reg. I then walked to the rim at 04073, 40902 el 7300 and dropped into the return canyon and that turned out to be a cakewalk. At el 6900 I hit a short slot with several drops up to 4 feet but easy. That can be passed on the right bank if floods block it. At the mouth I got on the left bank at 01337, 38566 el 5650 and walked a trail for a fifth mile then it goes left thru a minor saddle then along the base back to the start. 7 and a half hours with about 1000 noticeable gain. The app has it at 14 miles. I used long pants in the left fork due to light brush. This is a top notch wilderness adventure. The upper canyons have tall evergreen forests. For a short hike just go up Sager for an hour to a cottonwood grove and the start of the tall evergreens. Posted 2022.
34. NASH WASH is a very long canyon and not grazed anymore. The road in departs highway 128 at mp 42.8 and goes 15 miles to the Cunningham Ranch, acquired by the state in 1991. A car would make it that far but morons have plowed up the road in a few places by driving it wet. The road ends 2 and a half miles past the ranch at a corral just past Bull Canyon. It has a stream and plush cottonwoods. A trail goes on and on and best for backpackers. Bull Canyon had a stream and an easy 4wd road. I took that and stayed right at forks to a plateau el 6300. I could see the ridge to peak 7950 might go, so I went up staying left around every obstacle except one. Just past peak 6761 there is a game trail running low left. Then it goes to a higher level at N39 06380, W109 35421 and on to 06554, 35329 el 6800 which is the only time where I went right around cliffs. At el 7350 I went far left to 07378, 35045 el 7400 then straight up and on to the summit. 5 hours, 40 minutes, 1700 gain. Nice forest. Going on to Elba BM might need long pants. On the return I found that peak 6761 can be passed high on the east side but there is a risk of sliding into an abyss. All the oil wells in the area looked kaput. Posted May, 2023. 
35. TEPEE POINT ROAD- the road along that bench had just been graded almost to Big Hole then an ATV trail goes on . It's shorter to take the road into Dry Canyon and a newer road connects out to the bench. I strolled up Big Hole for half an hour. It had a tiny stream and no cattle. A herd of bighorn sheep was hanging around. It's about 7 miles along the bench from Dry Canyon to Big Hole. It's ebikeable. Posted June, 2023.
36. DRY CANYON has an easy creekbed. ATVs go a long way up it. I parked my XT350 at peak 5534 and strolled up canyon to peak 6273 where I could see an easy route up that peak. I started up an easy slope at N39 06102, W109 27906 el 5750 and went up to the peak then walked the rim back. A cliff just before peak 5754 forced me down the ridge east of peak 5534 reading 06913, 25627 el 5720. I stayed on center all the way down. 4 hours and the only strain was the 500 gain up to the rim. I could see from the rim that I could walk the ridge out to peak 5993 then down the north ridge into Swedes Hole but that would need a shuttle. This is so easy it makes pie look hard. NORTH RIM - I was back a few days later and walked up canyon then up a side canyon and up the north side of point 6154. Forget that. I saw a better route. I should have gone up the rim from peak 5761 and on to point 6401. Then up the ridge and there's a class 2 route right of center reading 06734, 28346 el 6550. It angles up to the right and there are various ways up the final rim. I walked on to peak 6920 that has survey junk and a reg. I kept going on the rim staying on center then at el 6400 there is an 8 foot class 3 drop. Below that I dropped right at 07711, 27526 el 6250 to get past a cliff. I got back on center then took a ridge SE of point 5945 reading 08035, 26166 el 5800 to get down. I stayed on center then near bottom moved right a little to get down the last cliff then came back to center. 5 and a half hours, 1700 gain. This is the best rim walk in the area. No cattle on the rim. Not even elk tracks above 6400. I'll be back to do it right.  Posted 2023.
37. COAL CANYON is one of the best canyons in the Book Cliffs and has light grazing impact. ATVs go up to el 5450. I rode my 125 that far and walked up along a small, clear stream. At the next  main fork both arms were running. I stayed left and followed the topo to the rim on the north side of peak 6881 reading N39 05920, W109 31671 el 6400. Along the way at 07137, 29472 el 5740 was the last good water that day. I only saw traces after that. At the fork el 5800 it turns pristine. An elk carcass was along there. At the rim,  I could see a route up peak 7331 so I went up along the right side of a drainage at 06101, 31511 el 6500 then up to a stairway at 06173, 31463 el 6650. I then worked my way up to the east end of the summit ridge el 6900 then strolled over the summit. On the way up at el 7000 there is an elk trail right of center. It was soon obvious how to walk the rim to Turner Park. At 06866, 32056 el 7200 I went down a drainage to a slightly lower level then walked on to a drainage at 06809, 31575 el 7050 that leads down to Turner. I was soon on the left bank and hit an elk trail at 06835, 41481 el 6900 coming down from the rim. It would be better to find that on the rim and come straight down it. It leads to the park where I got on a minor ridge at 06981, 31222 el 6700 then down to an elk trail at 07372, 30679 el 6250 that leads down to the main canyon where elk drink at the top of a fall. A trail drops around the right side of the fall then there are a few more minor drops then I retraced back. 8 hours, easy walking until the rim then 1000 feet up to the peak. I was lugging long pants but never used them. Just walking to the rim and back is a good one. Peak 6881 looked easy. Backpacking is an option but June and later will have carpets of dry grass making for a major fire hazard. Posted June 4, 2023. NORTH FORK - I went up that a couple days later along the west side of peak 5962. I stayed right at the main fork west of peak 6272 then I came to a thicket but could walk the right bank a short way to a small waterfall. It's class 3 up that then I hit another thicket. I goofed there because I couldn't see that I could walk the left bank for 200 feet to pass it. Instead, I went up a class 3 crack at 09079, 29406 el 5950 then moved left into a drainage. Then up the left side of that then back to the right and weaved up to the rim el 6050. I then circled south around peak 6716  to check out the huge dry fall on the east side of the peak. Then I walked to peak 6272 and down a break at 08364, 28752 el 6200 then made a hard left to a class 2 gully at 08338, 28667 el 6050. Then I dropped off the rim west of peak 5962 at 08183, 28636 el 5850. About halfway down there is one more cliff band and I walked left along that to an easy slope down. That took 4 and a half hours with 200 noticeable gain starting from el 5450. A couple of spots needed long pants. The stream was running the whole way but I noticed a decrease in flow at the starting point from 2 days earlier. I might skip this if cattle ever come back. Posted June 6, 2023.
38. SPRING CANYON has loop possibilities. I went up canyon then back on the north rim. I parked near the mouth and hit a small stream in half an hour from the start. I stayed left at a main fork el 5600 and soon came to cottonwoods. Not far beyond there the thickets became too tedious so I went up on elk tracks at N39 09654, W109 28751 el 5700. I walked upstream 200 feet to a break in the cliffs then up to 09700, 28774 el 5800 and then walked right and weaved up to the last cliff at 09691, 28660 el 5950 and topped out near point 6042. I then circled over to the north rim and stayed just below the 6400 line until it was easy to get on center near peak 6483. Then I dropped to a lower level at 09970, 27338  to get past peak 6546. At peak 6303 I turned south to a break at 09405, 26808 el 6200 then drifted left for 250 feet to a cliff with lots of breaks then down a slope to the last  ridge at 09102, 26974 el 5800. Near the bottom I went left at 08979, 27008 el 5450 to get down then back to the start. 7 hours and the 300 gain to get up to the rim was the only strain I had. This whole area is lightly grazed but not recently. I would skip it if cattle are in. I saw a million elk tracks around peak 6303. Posted May, 2023.
39. FLUME CANYON is an easy one. I made a loop up canyon and back on the east rim. The road comes in from exit 214 and goes 13 miles to a main fork at a steel corral. Go right then left at the next fork and on to the mouth in Diamond Canyon. I walked up canyon for 100 minutes and came to a tiny stream at el 5800. Water seeps out of the base of a cliff and so it was not all from storms 3 days earlier. A narrows is right after that with a dry fall that's easy to pass. At the top of the fall I could see a class 2 exit route. I started up a ridge at N39 13375, W109 24822 el 5900 and went up until I bumped my nose on a cliff band. I went right along that to get past it then directly up toward the rim cliff band and bent to the right to the top at 13345, 24610 el 6350. I then weaved to a drainage at 13452, 23964 el 6450 and on to slickrock at 13457, 23716 el 6500. I turned south there and had a thinner forest with less weaving. I went over peak 6515 to 12941, 23760 el 6450 then 11884, 24222 el 6450 then at peak 6448 I suspected cliffs so I stayed level on the left side on a faint game trail. I was reading 11597, 24351. The trail trends downhill a little to flat ground behind the peak then I came to a minor cliff before peak 6248. I walked left around that and had an easy flat then dropped to 10894, 24686  and walked the base of a cliff to the descent point on the rim at  10837, 24894 el 6150. It's at the first saddle south of peak 6248. I dropped below the rim then walked the cliff base north for nearly a fifth mile to a ridge west of peak 6248. It goes down to a minor cliff with a route on the right side. Then the ridge splits and I expect there is more than one way down. I went down the drainage in the center at 11008, 24978 el 5750 then drifted left to 11017, 25060 el 5550 then hit bottom and back out. 6 and a half hours and the only noticeable gain is the 600 climb out of the canyon. Cattle were in the lower canyon years ago but that is nearly recovered and I saw no other sign of humanity other than invasive plants like tamarisk. Boulder jams kept cattle from going very far. This is the best hike in the area. Antone comes in second and Sulphur is third, both being longer hikes. The other fork at the steel corral goes up Cottonwood Canyon for nearly 7 miles to the end of the road. Cars can get to some camps then muddy fords need 4wd. It had a good stream and so did Diamond  with no cattle. These roads are good for bike rides. Or just hang out and read a book. There should be plenty to choose from. After all, it is the Book Cliffs. Posted October, 2022. In June 2023 the road at Flume Canyon had a deep trench cut by a flood. ATVs are getting around then it's a good road with one more trench and a bypass around that and then ends at Halfway Canyon. I didn't see any hiking possibilities but it's a good ebike ride.
40. SULPHUR CREEK has a pristine south rim to make a good loop. The road comes in from exit 221  on I-70 like the topo shows. Cars could make all but the last 2 miles then bike it. An abandoned ranch is at the mouth and a faint road goes past it on the far right bank for a tenth mile. I parked and dropped into a trench to get under a fence then up canyon on cow trails. After an easy 3 hour stroll I went up an easy ridge at N39 15112, W109 22164 el 5800. It broadens and I moved left a littel and on up to the top. I stayed on the high ground to 14343, 22419 el 6500 then to peak 6524. I skirted it on the east but that backfired. I should have gone over it. At peak 6485 I had to skirt to the east to 13917, 21602  el 6350 to get down a cliff. Then to 13785, 21542 el 6300 and back to center and on to peak 6318 with a view and old cans. Then I dropped NE to a skinny ridge and to 13168, 20059 el 6100 where I dropped down a minor cliff then moved back to center. I went on down over point 5804 then at el 5600 dropped left down an easy ridge at 13065, 19252 and retraced back. That took 8 hours and the only strain is the 600 gain to climb out of the canyon. Good pj forest.Cattle were in the canyon years ago but didn't wander much past the 5400 line. The land owner could block this. Posted 2022.
41. ANTONE CANYON has a huge plateau on the west rim. The road in is the same as to Sulphur Canyon then a road runs along the base to Antone. A faint road goes from a stock tank at the mouth but is washed out in half a mile. I rode my cycle a little more then walked cow trails up the main canyon. At el 5500 a minor fall blocks cattle but it's easy for hikers to go on up canyon. I climbed up at N39 14087, W109 23298 el 6150 and soon I could see a decent route up to my left. I went up and on to peak 6642 for a good view. Then I stayed on the high ground to peak 6262. Here's the route I walked in case of phone failure - to 13483, 22952 el 6550 then 13257, 22896 el 6400 then to a point at 13135, 22692 el 6350 with a view and old cans. Then to 12577, 22452 el 6250 where I turned left and went over peak 6262 then to a ridge at 12599, 21476 el 6200. It runs level then bends down to the right. I stayed on center to a big cliff near the bottom and went left to get to the creekbed then out. Good pj forest here too and some firs or some such in upper Antone. That took 7 hours and the 500 gain out of the canyon was the only strain and it's not bad. Posted 2022.
42. DRY CANYON is a tributary of Westwater Creek. The south rim has miles of pristine pj forest that's easy to walk . I made a loop using the road up canyon. The road comes in from exit 227 on I-70 like the topo shows. I parked at the 5400 line. A car could make all but the last two miles and bike the rest. I walked up the road almost to peak 6317 then cut south of that peak to N39 15274, W109 20274 el 6300 where I could see peak 6404. I circled south of that peak by dropping down a class 3 crack at 15126, 20064 el 6200 then down to 14980, 20006 el 6100. There I angled down to the right then back left to get across a drainage and then on to the rim. I followed the topo to peak 6403 then north to a point at 14980,18510 el 6200 then down the ridge to the start. 5 and a half hours with super easy gain but for maybe 300 which is regular easy. It's borderline for shorts. Posted 2022. NORTH RIM - I was back in 2023 and walked the north rim. I parked a mile and a third up the canyon where the road was realigned around a pillar. I strolled up the road for 90 minutes then went up the right side of a drainage at 16399, 21215 el 5950 to get on top of the rim. I walked on to point 6187  at 16670, 20639 then to 16652, 19388 el 6300. At peak 6377 I stayed low left then over peak 6465. It has a reg in a plastic jar that won't last. I then went over to the rim and down a stairway at 15811, 18174 el 6200 then straight down to a cliff then right a little to a stairway at 15751, 18197. I kept going down the ridge then right a little to 15556, 18129 el 5500 to get down a  cliff then back on center to bottom. 4 and a half hours and no strenuous gain. Good pj forest, no cattle, no brush issues and thousands of prickly pear blossoms, mostly the yellow variety. Posted June, 2023.
43. HAY CANYON, EAST CANYON - a 50 mile loop can be made using maintained roads. I went up East for 16 miles or so to the divide. It was dry but the spring at el 7900 had ice water coming out of a pipe. Just downhill are shady camps in aspen. The divide road runs 16 miles or so to Hay then that road goes 16 miles back to the confluence with East. The only water in that canyon was where the stream rises at the spring where Hay meets Westwater but trashed by cattle. The roads were hard packed except the first 7 miles of East had sandy patches. No sign of cattle in East. With an ebike I might try going up Hay to see if I can make it to the rim. Posted June, 2023.
44. DEMAREE CANYON has a newer gas road around the head of it but not maintained lately. Take highway 139 to mp 19.5 near point 5436. Drive up a canyon on easy 4wd with some erosion. At N39 28410, W108 51977 el 7250 is where boulders have blocked all but two wheelers. A turnaround is a few feet before it. I was able to ride my 125 on to peak 7481 then the road drops across a canyon and on to peak 7416 where I stopped at about 12 miles in from 139. The road gets worse there and goes down steep. Ebikes might work as far as peak 7481. There are good views. The gas company might fix this road because a well near the end looked operational.  I put a track on peakbagger under peak 7619. The Natural Atlas app shows this road. Posted 2023.
46. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN el 8330 has a newer road along the east side then up the south ridge but it's gone to hell. At mp 33.2 on  highway 139 is an easy 4wd road that goes to a main fork. Right goes private into South Canyon. Left goes along the east side of the peak but soon has deep ruts  then boulders next to peak 8064 where jeeps stop. Two wheelers and ATVs can get to the south side of the peak where a road at N39 32205, W108 49974 el 7250 branches off to the right and goes up the south ridge. I could have rode an ebike that far. I rode my 125 to the end of the road el 8050 then followed pathways thru the brush to survey junk on the summit. Hikers without the right wheels can try the north ridge. Whiley Hall put up a track for that on peakbagger. I kept riding south on a left fork to the end of the road near peak 7041. I tried the right fork and barely made it to the end just past peak 7579. A road there drops down to South Canyon but it's unused too. Dry troughs are along the road all the way to peak 7579 but they forgot to bring cattle out. The Natural Atlas app shows these roads. Posted 2023, 2024.
47. DOUGLAS PASS has dirt roads up to the divide but only the east one is public. It goes nearly 3 miles to a main fork next to peak 8780 on BLM land. Right is less graded and goes for 7 miles on the divide staying above 8000 feet to a main fork. Both forks go a mile and a half to the end of public travel. The left fork near peak 8780 goes nearly 2 miles to an FAA installation then an OHV road goes all the way down to highway 139. It's a good road as far as the east side of Scare Mountain then gets too narrow for jeeps. Deep ruts in places make it tricky for all but two wheelers. I rode my 125 on down to Brushy Point then stayed right on down to Pollock Canyon then down that to  county road 27. It's 26 miles from the pass to the county road but a car can make the first 5 miles. It took me 3 hours but on a mtn bike or ebike would be 4 or 5 hours and would need a second car at the county road. Then it's 22 miles back to the pass. The only good water I saw was a tiny stream on the north side of Scare Mtn. I put a track on peakbagger under Dome BM and Brushy Pt. It's the best ride I found in the Book Cliffs for cycles or bikes. There are plenty of camp spots on the divide with a Verizon signal. No sign of grazing  on the divide even though there are a million stock tanks. These hard packed roads are good for all two wheelers. UPDATE - a road forking right north of peak 8376 is the best way down. Few rocks. I'll use that to reverse this loop on my 125. Posted 2023, 2024.
48. COUNTY ROAD 128 is a good loop ride. It leaves highway 139 at mp 57.8 and goes up Philadelphia Creek then bends south. I just stayed on the main road and it took me to East Douglas Creek then I followed that to the highway at mp 54.8. It's 28 miles of dirt road. A Subaru type vehicle could make it. An ebike would need power for the first 16 miles then there is little uphill after that. I had a Verizon signal to keep me oriented. Good views. Posted 2024.
49. CATHEDRAL BLUFFS el 8715 has county roads the whole way. County 122 leaves highway 64 at mp 28.9 and goes 14 miles to county 103. Any car gets that far but 103 had mild ruts. But in less than a mile on it is a good camp spot with Verizon. Then an ebike could make the remaining 10 miles. A Subaru type car could make 103 all the way. I put a track on peakbagger.  Posted 2024.
50. TEXAS MOUNTAIN, OIL SPRING MOUNTAIN - these two can be done going one way on easy 4wd. At mp 52.8 on highway 139 is where county road 116 goes up Little Horse Draw. At mp 4.7 on 116, at the 6400 line, is the road that goes up to Texas Mtn as the topo shows. At the base of the peak the road splits. I stayed left around the east side and then a road branches off to the summit. I kept going around the east side and met the west side road which is more used. It goes on to Oil Spring Mtn then I hiked up the south ridge. A gorgeous forest is on top and easy to walk as far as the high point then gets brushy. I retraced down and rode south on the high road then at point 8665 I dropped into Missouri Creek. That's an unused road and only good for 2 wheelers.  I was lucky no trees fell on it. The creek had a good flow but heavy cattle and horse impact. Same for Red Cedar Spring and from there I went on back to the pass south of Oil Spring Mtn then took the road down to West Creek. There is a public easement thru the private land to get to highway 139. There is a Verizon signal most of the time making navigation easy. These roads are good for 2 wheelers. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2023.
51. WHITE FACE BUTTE el 7003 is in pristine condition. I followed county 116 from mp 52.8 on highway 139. At mp 12, I went left on county 111 to county 109 then to the peak. I could have made it in a car. There is a tedious road along the east base then the NE ridge comes into view. I went up that and wandered around on the plateau. It has a perfect pj forest with a few big conifers thrown in for good measure. The summit has survey junk. 3 hours, 600 noticeable gain. This is a little jewel. County 109 soon meets the road that goes to Baxter Pass, but a crossing there on Evacuation Creek is tricky for cars. The stream there was the only water I saw. Posted July, 2023.
52. PEAK 6760, PARK MOUNTAIN, RABBIT MOUNTAIN - I made a loop to all these peaks on maintained roads but some crossings have sand.  I followed county 116 from mp 52.8 on highway 139. At mp 12, I went left on county 111 to county 109 then at mp 11.4 turned right on a lesser maintained road to get to the north side of peak 6760. I made a horshoe loop on the rims. I started up at N39 47788, W109 03296 el 5900 to get on the west rim and strolled on to the summit then down the east rim. At el 6600 I thought I was coming to a drop and so I went left around it but I think I could have stayed on center. I went on down to the final ridge at 47622, 02970 to get down. 3 hours, a little over 1000 gain. This is a top notch rim walk. The forested canyon I circled look like a good hike too. I kept riding west on the road to the main road along Evacuation Creek, which had the only water I saw, and turned right to the Park Canyon road. I went up that 5 miles or so to the state line where a good road goes up to within about a mile of Park Mountain summit. That's an easy stroll. I retraced back to the main road and turned right and on to the Rabbit Mountain road . It's just north of point 6081. I followed that over the mountain, skipping the side road to the summit, and bottomed out at county road 23 where I turned right and shortly hit county 116 to get back. I rode more than 80 miles on my XT350 but it's easy. Some roads are on private land but not posted. I had a Verizon signal making navigation easy. I put a track on peakbagger under all 3 peaks. Posted July, 2023.
53. BIG SALT WASH - 16 Road goes out of Fruita up the canyon to a locked gate just past Lapham Canyon. A car can get there. There are creekside camps along the way under cottonwoods. I rode up Lapham on easy 4wd along a clear stream to the west ridge of peak 8320. I walked the ridge over the summit and down the north ridge. I hit some light brush mostly on the lower part of the north ridge. Most of this peak is in a burn area. I then rode south on the main road to an overlook past peak 6852 and came back and then down Post Canyon which is the steepest. That's 25 miles of hard packed roads that an ebike could do. No cattle in the whole area for years.  I put a track on peakbagger under peak 8320. Posted June, 2023.
54. COAL GULCH is a mountain biking hotspot. Natural Atlas shows the trails, some are motorized. 16 Road is the direct way in from Fruita. I went in on 18 Road and cut over to it. The BLM has campgrounds along 18 for mtn bike enthusiasts. The road up Coal Gulch is good and I could have drove a car nearly to the main fork at el 6000+. Left goes to a gas well and turns bad. Right goes easy 4wd up to Ross Ridge then down to a point where a motorized trail drops into Lipan Wash just past point 6701. The road gets ultra steep down to the point. I didn't see much hiking potential here but with an ebike I could ride up Coal then down the motorized Sarlacc Trail or maybe into Lipan but that's a long one. The bottom 2 miles of Sarlacc is open to ATVs. I rode my 125 up it to the rim. Mountain bikers are cheating by driving to the upper Sarlacc TH then coasting down. LIPAN WASH TRAIL - I went back later and rode up the trail up from the mouth then walked to where the trail exits up to the ridge. I saw a lot of dirt bike tracks there. Here's what riders would encounter if dropping down off Ross Ridge near point 6701. The trail hits the creekbed and there was a minor stream. At the 5560 line the stream goes over a 20 foot drop. Bypass trails are on the right bank, the higher one being the safest. Those trails merge and go down a rough stairway about 50 feet long that stops most dirt bikes. 3 riders could rope bikes down then there is nothing else to worry about. Mountain bikers have dry sand to deal with below the drop but it gets firmer toward the mouth where a trail crosses. Left goes shortly to a dirt road which is how I rode in. Posted June, 2023.
55. ADOBE CREEK has a steep stock trail, the North Soda Trail, up to the east rim. Gjhikes.com has info. I used it to make a loop around the rims. 21 road goes paved to a gas plant then graded to the turnoff just south of point 5105 shown on the topo. The rest is high clearance and ebikeable then the last mile past point 5405 might need 4wd. The TH is at N39 15658, W108 33939 el 5650. The trail goes up canyon bank to bank then at half an air mile before it climbs up to the rim it goes high and hilly on the right bank. It's easier to stay in the creekbed for that last half mile then the trail starts up at 16308, 33305 el 5900. It gains 1400 to the rim but it's not all steep except for the last 1399 feet. Then it's a stroll to peak 7412. I could see across the canyon that I could descend from peak 7383 so I circled over to it on trails and roads that hadn't had a vehicle since God was a baby. Once on the peak, I dropped to an elk trail at 16349, 34046 el 6950. I took a  complicated route to it but should have gone more direct. Then comes the one and only cliff with a class 3 break at 16316, 34068 el 6850. Once down that I circled NE on a nice juniper plateau to the last ridge at 16331, 33680 el 6550 then down it to 16377, 33491 el 6350 and hit bottom where the trail starts up the east rim. That took 6 hours with nearly 2000 noticeable gain. Dirt bikes turn back before the trail makes the big climb but I saw mtn bike tracks all the way to the rim. It's so steep that even coasting down would be no fun even if there's a decent route to the top from some other trail. The trail is in a V that collects rocks. I can't recall a trail as steep as this one. And the Tellerico Trail isn't a decent route either for a mtn bike loop. Maybe the trail is being use to practice for the Rampage competition. I posted a track on peakbagger under peak 7412. The TH is on private land and might get blocked some day. I saw no water except for a stock tank on the rim. Posted June, 2023. 
56. HUNTER CANYON has a motorized route thru it but the middle part is for rock crawlers.  21 Road is paved to a gas plant on BLM land then a good dirt road goes on to the mouth. Mtn bikes can make it on up to the first 2 main forks then rock crawlers take over. At the gas well shown on the topo is where a real road appears again and goes up to Ross Ridge. The main forks would have the best hiking potential but are blocked. I walked up the first one for 5 minutes along a tiny stream to a boulder jam then just past that is a 20 foot fall with dripping springs on the wall. The second fork soon has a large undercut then shortly a 10 foot fall. It might be bypassable but not easy. Posted June, 2023.
57. TELLERICO TRAIL is a dirt bike trail that goes from the Grasso Mine to Corcoran Point. I walked up it then down a horse trail to Corcoran Mine then back along the base for a loop. 25 Road goes north out of Grand Junction and turns to dirt. A car can make the first 2 miles or so then it's high clearance thanks to morons driving it wet but it's mtn bikeable. There's parking near the mine then I just walked up the road a short way and the trail appears on the left bank. It soon goes up to the left and is easy to follow. Once at the summit, I retraced back down the trail and got on the horse trail at N39 14092, W108 31152 el 6850. It goes down an easy ridge to 14504, 31310 el 6100 then bottoms at a creekbed. I walked a trail on the right bank but stayed high until I saw dirt bike tracks in the creekbed. Well heck, it must go thru. Nope. That yahoo must have come down the way I did because boulders made him turn back. I went on down and the worst I had was a 5 foot drop. I hit the road near the mine and should have stayed on it to a hilly dirt bike trail at 13745, 32734 el 5400. It was going my way so I walked it then got off at 13492, 31691 el 5550 and kept going back to the start. 5 hours and the app showed 2200 gain and 8 miles. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2023.
58. MOUNT GARFIELD 6765 has a popular trail up the south side but an easier route goes up out of Coal Canyon. I made a grand loop and put a track on peakbagger. Take exit 45 at Cameo and drive north thru a shooting complex and the road turns graded and goes to the Coal Canyon TH with a restroom and some camping spots. 4wds and mtn bikes can go on up Coal Canyon at least 3 miles to point 5402 and on that day I could have drove a jeep to the 5520 line. Then it's easy to walk the creekbed to a horse trail at N39  08263, W108 23739 el 5600. It goes up a drainage then in a tenth mile up on the high right bank. At el 6250 or so I Ieveled off to the left to a class 3 break at 08007, 24316 and dropped into a pristine canyon. I went up to a saddle north of peak 6484 on the main rim where a trail drops down to Moulton Valley by way of point 5554 . It had animal tracks but not hiker tracks. I walked it up to the peak then retraced back to the saddle and saw a class 3 crack above that would get me on the rim to continue west. It's trickier than the other break. I walked on 2.33 air miles to a saddle el 6550 and turned down that canyon. But it's cluttered so the ridge down thru peak 6541 might work better. I hit the main creekbed of Coal Canyon then went upstream to a tiny stream at point 6069 where boulders put an end to OHV travel. I went on to a fork on the right at 09909, 26500 el 6100. After a few feet up that I climbed left onto the rim and went up the ridge and came to a cliff at el 6500. I went right around it and on up to the last cliff below peak 6744. I stayed low left around it then up a class 2 break and up along the west side of peak 6744 then hit the Ute Trail. I walked that and it takes a huge detour at point 6794 but there's a shortcut trail wich I missed. It goes on to the Hoodoo Trail at 09416, 25222 el 6650 and that took me back down. I lost the trail near the bottom and found it again. Then it stays high above the creekbed of Coal Canyon for miles but it's hilly and I saw no point in it so I dropped to the creekbed and back to the start. 9 hours, 2000 noticeable gain, 15 miles. It took 100 minutes to get to the summit of Garfield. Next time I'll return down Coal Canyon because I was not impressed with the Ute Trail. The TH for Hoodoo is at 08200, 22854 el 5650. Posted June, 2023.
59. MOUNT LINCOLN el 6661 has routes up the SE side and the west ridge, the latter being the quickest. I used the same road as above up Coal Canyon for about 3 miles beyond the restroom to a maze of forks just north of point 5402. I parked and walked the leftmost fork heading toward peak 5725. At the 5600 line I cut around the north side of that peak to get on the west ridge then up to the summit. The reg is on the BM el 6649. I then made a counterclockwise rim walk loop out to the north end. One cliff along the way has a break at N39 08781, W108 20822 el 6050. One the return I dropped off the west rim at 07958, 21216 el 6500 to a game trail below that took me back to the west ridge. 5 hours, 1300 noticeable gain. The whole plateau is in pristine condition with a good pj forest. This is my favorite hike in the area as I like pristine. I put a track on peakbagger. I saw no sign of humanity on the west ridge. Posted 2023.
60. SPRING CREEK is a pristine canyon with a good stream and easy to walk. It's the best canyon I've found around Grand Junction. Natural Atlas app shows the trails I used and so does gjhikes.com but not as detailed. I started at the Coal Canyon TH and walked up Main Canyon then took the Spring Creek Trail. The trail goes up the south fork but I left it and went up the north fork which has the stream. Horses can't go far up it anymore. Soon I came to minor falls and bypassed on a game trail on the right bank. I went up to the fork that has the big fall shown on the topo. That fork had a stream. I went up that and came to a minor fall that would be class 3 but exposure to an 8 foot drop caused me to chicken out. I backed up and got above it on the west bank but that didn't work. I resumed going up the main canyon and came to problem boulders that I passed on the left bank reading N39 10846, W108 23923 el 5800. I went on up to an exit point at 10731, 24313 el 5900 that would put me on the next ridge west of peak 6445. I climbed up on the bank and found game trails galore and looking at the sat image later figured game animals might be using a gully in a side canyon to my right. But I didn't know that then so I went up steep to the left thru 10700, 24270 then topped out at 10686, 24233 el 6200. I then followed horse trails up the easy ridge almost to peak 6792 where I leveled off around the north side and hit the Spring Creek Trail at 09321, 24667 el 6600+. I went down that and at about el 6100 is a tricky fork. Right goes to a spring but left is the way down. 8 hours and the 400 gain out of the canyon was the only strain I had and that could be ameliorated by finding the game route. Reversing this would backfire because the trail is steep. I wore shorts but the upper canyon is borderline for that. I picked up 5 ticks in that section. I barely avoided wading and so sturdy wading shoes might be best. Just going to the fork with the big fall then retracing back would be good enough for most. I saw no sign of hikers in there. Posted June 16, 2023.
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    Naylon Canyon had a lot of water.

    
    
    
    
    

    

    Floy Canyon has some practical jokers.

    
    

    

    Horse Mesa

    
    

    

    Thompson Canyon

    
    

    

    Mt Garfield seen from the west. A forgotten trail can be seen in the saddle.

    
    

    

    Balanced rocks in Spring Canyon

    
    
    
    

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.