TRAIL DESCRIPTION

This famous and historic trail is in southern Utah on the east side of lake Powell. The trail is about 30 miles in and the same back out for 60 miles of fantastic 4-wheeling. The trail is rated as a 4 (vehicle modifications and top driving skills needed) by the Red Rock 4- Wheelers. Most of the route is on sandstone, either the slick rock form or it's weathered and windblown sand grains. The trail is very remote and offers the chance for some quiet and solitude. The scenery is as superb as the 4-wheeling.

DIRECTIONS

The trail head is about 75 miles west of Blanding on Hwy 276 or about 10 miles east of Hall's crossing on the same Hwy. The trail leaves the highway along a fence line on the west edge of a small air port and heads SW for about 30 miles toward Lake Powell. It ends about 2 miles from Lake Powell at a point opposite the "Hole in the Rock". Between the highway and Lake Canyon there are some forks in the trail. A good rule of thumb is to always stay right at these forks.

SCHEDULING

A gas stop at Hall's Crossing is recommended before starting the trail. A minimum of two days is recommended for doing the trail, one day in and one day to get back out. Start early if you want to hike down the last 2 miles of the trail to Lake Powell. If much hiking and exploring is planned three days would be better. Do not attempt to do this trail alone. A 30 mile walk out for help through this rugged desert terrain could ruin your whole day not to mention the possibility of your life.

HISTORY OF THE TRAIL

The trail was constructed by Mormon pioneers during the winter of 1879- 80. In contrast to most new trails this one was built from west to east rather than from east to west. The trail was to be a "short cut" between Escalante and Bluff. At that time the only alternative routes between those points ran clear to the north through Green River or clear to the south through Arizona. The Mormon's wished to establish a colony in the four corners vicinity which had become a hide out for lawless indians and whites. They expected their mission to take about 6 weeks which would have put them in Bluff before winter. Instead it took 6 months including a very vicious Utah winter. The biggest obstacle was getting down the west side of the Colorado River which was accomplished at the Hole in the Rock after months of blasting and road building hand work. The trail there dropped at approximately a 45 degree angle for a quarter of a mile or about a third of the distance down to the river and was bare ly wide enough for their wagons. The total drop was 1,800 feet in less than a mile. The road on the west side of Lake Powell which will take you to the actual Hole in the Rock is described in another report titled "Hole-In-The-Rock-Road" on the Travels and Trails Webb page. The pioneers did not ferry the Colorado and begin the section of the trail to the east until late January. The river froze over completely a few days after the last wagons were ferried across. The section of the trail on the east side of the Colorado now known as the Hole in the Rock 4WD trail was opened by the Mormon Pioneers in February of 1880.

The trail the Mormon Pioneers opened was very rugged and difficult even by their standards. It was only used for about a year when a better route to the north through Hall's crossing was discovered. The story of the Mormon Pioneer's struggles and determination makes for very interesting reading. The book "HOLE IN THE ROCK" by David E. Miller is highly recommended reading before doing this trail and makes a nice reference to have along on the trail.

THE FRACTURED AXLE CLUB

The Fractured Axle Club is an informal group of 4-wheelers from all across the country that met on on the Prodigy Offroad BB and talk vehicle build ups and plan trips there. We began planning this trip in the spring. We have been getting together to do at least one trail each year for the last three years. Join us on the Prodigy Offroad BB and say hi if you get the chance. We maintain a FRACTURED AXLE CLUB subject there but are active in many other subjects too.

TRAIL REPORT

We met at the ruins of an Old Spanish Fort overlooking Lake Canyon about 7 slow and rough 2WD miles south of Hwy 276. There is a very nice campsite in some cottonwoods just below the fort for anyone that would like to camp near the trailhead.

Our Trucks

Sudie Drops Lizard's CJ-7

An Obstacle that can get you Tippy

Blasted Rock Cut

Up Grey Mesa

The Chute

Not too far past the Chute we heard a loud snap as CRACKER negotiated a steep downhill slope on a sandstone fin. It was the U-joint in his left front axle. CRACKER was keeping up the Fractured Axle Club tradition.

Cheese Camp

The Light was fading as we got to the end of the 4WD trail and set up our tents at Cheese Camp. The Mormon Pioneers gave the camp this name because of all the excitement stirred by the auctioning off of 40 pounds a cheese that was delivered to them here. One can continue on foot down the original trail to lake Powell and see some of the more rugged areas they blasted and then winched their wagons up. Scars in the sandstone from the ropes they winched with can still be seen. One can see the actual Hole in the Rock from Cheese camp. The view would be much better from the end of the hiking trail.

Back down off Grey Mesa

Flatlander's Bronco II

Hall's Crossing

We got back to the highway in plenty of time to drive to Hall's Crossing, fill up on gas, air up our tires, and use their facilities which were very welcome after being on the trail for two days. Then we headed for Arch Canyon and Hotel Rock which was a little over an hour's highway drive to the east. That trip report with pictures and background information is elsewhere on the Travels and Trails Webb page.

HOLE IN THE ROCK VIDEO