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A few questions about Lockhart Basin?

sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I'm planning a trip that involves Hurrah Pass --> Chicken Corners --> Lockhart Canyon --Lockhart Basin --> Needles District all in one day. We'll leave Moab in the morning and camp at the end of Lockhart Basin Trail near Needles Outpost. We're all in built tacomas with 33-35" tires with excellent drivers, and we're not afraid to drive fast on washboards. :D


Based off my research (traildamage.com, Charles Wells book, and other websites) I am guessing the following travel times: Let me know if I'm way off base on any of these.

1) MacDonald's --> top of Hurrah Pass: 1 hr

2) Top of Hurrah Pass --> middle of Chicken Corners trail (where Lockhart starts): 1-2 hours

3) Beginning of Lockhart --> end of Lockhart: 6 hours

4) Plane Crash Debris --> end of trail: 2-3 hours

4) Therefore, MacDonald's --> Needles Outpost: 8-9 hours.


Does that sounds about right?



A few questions:

- Lockhart Basin trail intersects Chicken Corners in the middle. Is it worth driving to the end of Chicken Corners and back? Any fun driving or cool scenery on the second half of the trail?

- Is it worth the side-trip down to the fiver overlook on Lockhart Basin Trail?

- Are there any points of interest/short hikes that we should try to squeeze in for this day? I have the wells book, and it estimates 6 hours to drive the Lockhart Rd. Does that seem accurate to you guys?

- It looks like Lockhart Basin Trail is 37 miles long. I hear after you get past the first tough spot it's pretty easy going. Is it possible to travel at 30-40 mph, or is it all baby-head 10 mph stuff?
 
Last edited:
TRD270

TRD270

Emptying Pockets Again
Supporting Member
Location
SaSaSandy
Off topic and no help. But does one have to have a Toyota now to go on Steve's guided tours?
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
sixstringsteve said:
I'm planning a trip that involves Hurrah Pass --> Chicken Corners --> Lockhart Canyon --Lockhart Basin --> Needles District all in one day. We'll leave Moab in the morning and camp at the end of Lockhart Basin Trail near Needles Outpost. We're all in built tacomas with 33-35" tires with excellent drivers, and we're not afraid to drive fast on washboards. :D


Based off my research (traildamage.com, Charles Wells book, and other websites) I am guessing the following travel times: Let me know if I'm way off base on any of these.

1) MacDonald's --> top of Hurrah Pass: 1 hr

2) Top of Hurrah Pass --> middle of Chicken Corners trail (where Lockhart starts): 1-2 hours

3) Beginning of Lockhart --> end of Lockhart: 6 hours

4) Plane Crash Debris --> end of trail: 2-3 hours

4) Therefore, MacDonald's --> Needles Outpost: 8-9 hours.


Does that sounds about right?



A few questions:

- Lockhart Basin trail intersects Chicken Corners in the middle. Is it worth driving to the end of Chicken Corners and back? Any fun driving or cool scenery on the second half of the trail?

- Is it worth the side-trip down to the fiver overlook on Lockhart Basin Trail?

- Are there any points of interest/short hikes that we should try to squeeze in for this day? I have the wells book, and it estimates 6 hours to drive the Lockhart Rd. Does that seem accurate to you guys?

- It looks like Lockhart Basin Trail is 37 miles long. I hear after you get past the first tough spot it's pretty easy going. Is it possible to travel at 30-40 mph, or is it all baby-head 10 mph stuff?
Click to expand...


That is a lot of questions!

I don't think McD's to Needles will take 8-9 hours, but I could see 6-7... depending on how many stops you make. If you decide to see Chicken Corners, it will add at least an hour to your trip. Is it worth seeing? That's up to you... it's basically a very scenic overlook on the side of a cliff, you cling to the cliff to reach the best view point.

Once you enter Lockhart Canyon proper, you will slow down pretty good.... for quite a long way, you're going to be creeping along, not much 30-40 MPH for quite awhile. There are a lot of ledges along the way, it's pretty rough. I would say to expect that most of the trail will have you running around 10-15 MPH, with sections where you can bomb down the road at speed.

No hikes I'm aware of, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Down towards the South end, there is a road down to the river that I always wanted to see... but haven't yet.

Have you seen my old report from 2 yrs ago thru Lockhart? Here - http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?83781-Lockhart-Basin-May-2011

The report is thin on pics, so if you want to see the photo album with more pics, it's here - http://greg-catherine.smugmug.com/T...-2011/17271872_kRbm4H#!i=1311387608&k=4W9qrqg
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Thanks for the info guys. Are there any places to camp on the trail? I know there's a camp at tail end, near needles! It I'm wondering if there are any spots to pull over and camp, maybe near the plane wreckage?
 
R

roverrocks

Active Member
Location
Montose,CO
The Jackson Hole Trail is a scenic loop trail off of the Chicken Corners Trail at the bottom of Hurrah Pass on the west. Makes a very scenic loop to the north just below the high cliffs of Hurrah Pass and Cliff Hanger. This is an option for the good scenery as well if you have the time. It is an easy 4x4 loop off of the Chicken Corners Trail.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I wish I had a week off. In the fall I hope to do a 6 day trip starting @ strawberry and going through the swell, through moab, to needles, to elephant Hill to Beef Basin to Bear's ears, and mixing in some hotel rock somewhere in there. If only I could get paid to do this...
 
jentzschman

jentzschman

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy, Utah
sixstringsteve said:
I wish I had a week off. In the fall I hope to do a 6 day trip starting @ strawberry and going through the swell, through moab, to needles, to elephant Hill to Beef Basin to Bear's ears, and mixing in some hotel rock somewhere in there. If only I could get paid to do this...
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great trip.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
yeah, i do tend to cram too much stuff into each trip. I think it's the ADD. I hate sitting around at camp for 4 hours before the sun goes down. I like to explore as much as possible.
 
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