ATV Adventures: Riding mild trails in The San Rafael Swell
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- The Slipper Arch at the east end of North Coal Wash in the San Rafael Swell.
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- Under the Eagle Canyon Bridges in the San Rafael Swell.
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- The Eagle Canyon Arch in the San Rafael Swell.
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- A view from the Wedge Overlook in the San Rafael Swell.
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- On the way to the Globe Copper Mine in the San Rafael Swell.
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- Lynn Blamires
The San Rafael Swell has ATV trails that are on a spectrum of wild to mild. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article on a section of trail known as “The Devil’s Race Track,” one of the trails toward the wild side of the spectrum. There is some amazing scenery on the race track, but it is not something you will even notice while negotiating this tricky track. Scenery is something you have to stop at viewpoints to enjoy.
Lest you think that all the trails in the Swell are on the extreme side, I would like to devote this article to the mild and scenic side of this marvelous spot in wild Utah.
Swasey’s Cabin and Eagle Canyon
Off exit 131 on Interstate 70, there is plenty of room to stage on either side. The trail is easy and marked to the cabin. You will appreciate the living conditions experienced here. Then the trail will take you down into Eagle Canyon, passing by the arch and under the bridges that allow I-70 traffic to pass over the gorge.
Justinsen Flats
From exit 116, the flats are on the south side. This camping/staging area gives another access to Eagle Canyon under the freeway north and to the Globe Copper Mine and other mining sites to the south.
The Lone Warrior panel and The Head of Sinbad pictographs
The Lone Warrior is north of Swasey’s cabin and the pictographs on the sandstone outcropping known as “The Head of Sinbad” are under I-70 and further north. Both of these have easy access and are worth seeing.
North and South Coal Wash
The Coal Wash trails are fast and fun to ride and feature massive sandstone walls and huge rock outcroppings. Take the Dutch Flat Road just south of Ferron to get to the washes. There are places to stage about a mile from the entrance. The washes split at a junction and North Coal Wash goes to the scenic Slipper Arch. It is best to turn around here because to make a loop you have to negotiate Fix-it Pass which is on the wild side. South Coal Wash goes on a fun but long track over the Eva Conover Trail to Eagle Canyon.
The Wedge Overlook
About 17 miles east of Castle Dale on a road marked 401 is a backcountry rest area. It features an information kiosk and covered picnic tables. We staged here and traveled south to the Wedge where we were brought suddenly to the edge of a 1,200-foot drop into The Little Grand Canyon where the San Rafael River can be seen flowing far below. A campground here is a popular place to rest, relax and enjoy views of the canyon and the glories of the night sky.
This is just a sampling of the easy but scenic trails I like to ride in the Swell. The Swell is also a place to extend the riding season because the best time to ride is in the spring and fall. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down and enjoy the mild side of the Swell.
Contact Lynn R. Blamires at quadmanone@gmail.com.
