Goblin Valley/Capitol Reef/Swell Trip

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
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What a trip... :cool:

Saturday: We left SLC around 6:00 and pulled into Goblin Valley ~9:00, not bad considering the 20mph speeds up Spanish in the snow. Craig & his wife had already set up a great camp just south of Temple Mountain.

Sunday: We headed off to check out the Hidden Splendor Mine and some of Reds Canyon, we were hoping to connect Hidden Splendor with Factory Butte, but despite the EVIDENT roads that have been there for 50+ years, it is a WSA now :-\. So, we trekked back to HWY24 and headed down to Hanksville for some fuel. After some grub at Blondies we left Hanksville and headed to Cainville on 24, from there we were back on dirt heading north on Cainville Wash. Passed a couple of those troubled youth groups with handcarts, the Bentonite Hills (really cool colors!) and made out way to Capitol Reef via the east entrance. We stopped to check out the Lower & Uppers South Desert Overlooks & the Cathedral Valley area :cool:. We tried to make it over the HWY72 via 1000 Lakes road... but got stopped by a couple feet of snow. Craig & I did give it a hell of a try :D So, we ended up goingn north on Cathedral Valley road and via dirt all the way up to I70. It was getting late so we hit the pavement and called it a night in Ferron.

Monday: Topped off the tanks in Ferron, and headed right into the Swell via Horn Siver Gulch. Headed north in search of the "dangerous river crossing" on the San Rafael River... could get ugly in some rain. :) Proceeded north to Clevland (Quarry was closed :-\ ), checked out the Desert Lake Waterfowl area, Victor Cemetary, & Mounds and headed back the Wellington for a late lunch & a soda. Spent an hour or so in Helper at the antique store (museum was closed :-\ ) and bombed back to SLC.

Gas: ~50 gallons
Miles: ~600

40's RULE! :cool: & Epperson's 70 was great too ;)

A couple of shots (more will be on my website)
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
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Sandy, Ut
A couple of pics... :D
 

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cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
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Sandy, Ut
TimB said:
Cool trip! That's one of those that shows you just how much more there is to see

Yup... :cool:

Now I want to get down and see some of the Arapeen trails to the West of Ferron/Emery.

I could easily spend a week exploring the area between I70 & Hwy24... :greg:
 

TimB

Homesick
Location
Weatherford, Tx
How did you like Reds canyon? I heard it was great but did not make it in there due to weather. That is supposed to be the most scenic part of the swell..... has to be spectacular if that is true.
 

Herzog

somewhat damaged
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Wydaho
cruiseroutfit said:
Yup... :cool:

Now I want to get down and see some of the Arapeen trails to the West of Ferron/Emery.

I could easily spend a week exploring the area between I70 & Hwy24... :greg:

Great trip report!

I'm a little familiar with some of the Arapeen trails. Some of them are too narrow for 4x4s (atv's only) but there are still quite a few of them to explore. Very cool trails.

Maybe we should plan something soon for those trails.
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
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TimB said:
How did you like Reds canyon? I heard it was great but did not make it in there due to weather. That is supposed to be the most scenic part of the swell..... has to be spectacular if that is true.

We didn't get to see the entire loop, only the souther portion... it was amazing though. We went through Mckay Flats and then came back to head down to the Hidden Splendor mine. Craig & his wife Daryn (sp?) did the entire Red Canyon loop Saturday before we arrived, they loved it.
 

cruiseroutfit

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Sandy, Ut
Herzog said:
...Maybe we should plan something soon for those trails.

I'm down, though I think many of the trails will be snowed in until summertime. We got up to a couple feet of snow ~ 9000 feet, many of the Arapeen trails look about that elevation.

I've got a couple Moab trips coming up this spring, I am planning on coming through the swell at list one direction each trip to see something new.

Furniture Canyon is the next place I would like to see. Greg and I camped ~1 mile up the Canyon, and it was getting fun then (small ledges, etc)... Not sure what the remaining milage is like. I think it will connect back to 6/191 (not looking at a map)
 

cruiseroutfit

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Sandy, Ut
Greg said:
Great report Kurt, I was sad I missed out. I'd be intrested in a future trip to the area.

I am planning to get down there again in the next couple of months, mabey skipping another planned Moab trip in March (not sure yet).

I honestly have more fun just exploring at random then doing trails in Moab.. There are still a couple of great trails on my hitlist in Moab though... :confused:
 

Greg

Strength and Honor!
Admin
What are those, more wild horses?

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I dig this pic, the dark clouds & the sunny mesa totally contrast each other. :cool: -

PIC%20071%20(Small).jpg
 
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Brad J

Registered User
Location
Woods Cross, UT
Kurt,
What kind of vehicle is Craig driving? It looks kindof like an early Montero but I've never seen a Toyota like that before. Looks like a great trip:)
 
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