Help me Plan a Swell Trip: Aug 21-23

[UNSTUCK]

As kind of a last activity before school starts, we want to go explore the Swell. We have never been there before. At this point it looks like it will be just our one vehicle on this trip (anyone want to join us?). We will be using our Nissan Armada as our exploration rig. It will be myself, my wife and our three kids ( ages 3, 8, and 9). We plan on tent camping those two nights.

So having said all that, what should we do? My kids are all about rock paintings, and anything relating to dinosaurs. It's more important on this trip to at least attempt to keep them happy than anything else. They know we will be doing a lot of driving, but I'd like to break it up as much as possible. Does anyone have a good route for us to take that will give a nice taste of the swell and hopefully let us see some rock art and other cool things? I'd like to keep the route as safe as possible, especially if we do end up going out on our own. Like mostly 2 wheel drive. Is that even possible? We wouldn't mind some short hikes to see neat things as well. With our 3 year old, it would need to be easy.

Anyone else looking for a last chance family outing before school starts? Want to join us?

 

[DAA]

I'd suggest the usual Wedge/Buckhorn trip/route. Camp the first night near the Wedge, drive Buckhorn the next day and stop to check out all the rock art panels and the dinosaur track. Can return to same camp, or camp south of the River if you'd rather. If you have time the last day you could go check out the rock art along the old RR grade by Cedar Mtn, or the old worker huts or whatever. Just tons of little stuff to see all over the place out there. Also tons of easy-easy no stress dirt road. That route with the Wedge and Buckhorn, most of it is oiled and all weather for just about any vehicle but in August, I honestly wouldn't hesitate to drive a Lincoln Continental through there and have in fact seen several such cars on that road.

- DAA

 

[Kevin B.]

If I wasn't working that weekend I'd be in. I'm pretty sure my boy knows at least one of your daughters from school, and I've been dying to get back into the Swell.

Goblin Valley is great for kids, make the hike as long or as short as you want and just let them run around and tire themselves out. No 4WD required. Swazeys Cabin is fun to check out, there's a couple rock art sites nearby that are fun too, all on good 2WD roads. North of the freeway is Black Dragon Canyon with some cool rock art, your Armada could make it in easy but we parked at the entrance and walked in the couple hundred yards or so to the rock art site, the boy had a blast. One place we haven't visited yet is the Cleveland LLoyd Dinosaur Quarry.

Almost everything in the Swell will be accessible to your grocery getter if the weather is decent, there are some rough roads but you probably won't hit anything too trailish unless you're trying (Devils Racetrack, Fixit Pass). If the weather goes south all bets are off, all that dust turns into mud real quick.

Here's some links:
http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/srs_century_tour/
http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/srs_northern_loop/
http://www.emerycounty.com/Travel/images/rockart/index.html
http://sanrafaelswellguide.com/petroglyphs-and-pictographs/
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/price/recreation/quarry.html

 

[UNSTUCK]

Sweet, thanks.

I have a few map books, but nothing with lots of detail of the area. Is route finding easy, as in just pick a road and go, or do I need to have some better maps to find these places you both listed? The dinosaur spots sound great!

 

[Kevin B.]

Pretty much pick a road and go. There's a motor vehicle map that lays out pretty much every open route down there, I think Emery County publishes it, I got mine from a gas station in Wellington. I bet Kurt has copies, or you're welcome to borrow mine.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I bet Kurt has copies, or you're welcome to borrow mine.

Lots of them, unfortunately I'm out o' country for another few weeks.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Kurt, don't you have friges that you rent? I though it might be fun to try one out this trip.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Give cruiseroutfitters a call, they can rent you a fridge. With Kurt out of the country, you'll be dealing with Bryce who is a great guy as well.

I highly recommend the wedge overlook for camping one night, head to buckhorn the next day to see the rock art, head across the swinging bridge, then drop down to Goblin Valley.

On the map below, that's green --> orange --> brown --> black

Every kid should visit Goblin Valley at least once in their young life. I'll bet they love it. Another AWSEOME hike near to Goblin Valley is Little Wildhorse canyon. It's a slot canyon, but non-technical. Just keep an eye on the weather.


You're going to need a map to find most of these locations. A few are marked but most aren't.

Here's my favorite resource:
http://www.sanrafaelcountry.com/Maps/MapRevised2009.pdf




Reds canyon loop is my favorite area, but it'd be boring for kids. It's gorgeous scenery, but not much for the little ones to do.


Another fun route is to continue south to connect with the northern section Capitol Reef then heading out via fish lake. Or you could go to Joe's Valley Res and climb over skyline drive into Ephraim. Tons and tons of options out there.

 

[audiofreak97]

I did a Goblin Valley/Buckhorn trip a couple years ago with the family and it was great. Little things to stop and see on the way and the kids found a way to keep themselves entertained making things out of the shapes in the sides of the cliffs as we drove. Did the trip in an Oldsmobile Intrigue...

 

[UNSTUCK]

I like your route Steve. We would want to hit the dinosaur quarry up north as well. So maybe drive to Cleveland and do the quarry first and then follow your route south. Or is it better to start at Goblin Valley and head north, finishing at the quarry? If I was off road that whole route, do I need to worry about fuel? If I went north to south, is there fuel by Goblin Valley?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'd recommend googling some fun car games for the kids, because they'll be doing a lot of seat time.

It's too bad you won't have a guide out there. There's lots of cool stuff you'll drive right past without knowing it. The swell is best seen with a guide to point out the sink holes, MK tunnels, Matt Werner (butch cassidy) inscription, dinosaur footprint, old mines, etc. That's ok, you can always go back and learn more.

I'd recommend going North to South. It'll take 3 hours to get from Magna to the quarry, and the kids will probably be ready for a break by then. Then head to the wedge that evening for camping (but I wouldn't get there too early as the kids will get bored after 2 hours). The drive to Buckhorn is scenic and short from the Wedge. Maybe a 30-45 min drive at most with some cool scenery. From there to the bridge is very short (10 min).

From the bridge to Goblin Valley will be a few hours. I wouldn't camp inside the state park of Goblin Valley. It'll be crowded (if you can even get in) and I think it's something like $18 to camp there. There's a road about 1/2 mile north-east of Goblin Valley (it's the road to Little Wildhorse). About 1 mile down on the left (the south of the pink road to little wildhorse) there are lots of free undeveloped areas to camp. No toilets, water, or showers. Just have your fire in an existing pit and stay on the existing dirt roads.

You could spend 3 days in Goblin Valley alone, kids can't get enough of this place. Playing hide and seek or capture the flag inside the valley of the goblins is awesome. There are some fun short hikes through some dirt slots in the park. Personally, I get bored of Goblin Valley after an hour, but I could hang out in Little Wildhorse all day. Little Wildhorse is the hike that got me interested in hiking again. It's a really fun one and can be done with little children (though it's 8 miles for the round trip through Bell Canyon).

Your only fuel in the area is in Huntington, Castle Dale, Ferron (I think?), and Green River. I can do the whole thing on one tank, but it's common sense to bring an extra 5 gals. I don't know how thirsty the armada is or how long the range is for a tank of fuel. You'll be driving at 20-40 mph, so you should get decent MPG.

 

[UNSTUCK]

That's good to know about fuel.

I think I like the idea of going north to south, unless someone says otherwise. If that is the case, can I just camp anywhere I find a spot or only in designated camp grounds? Should I try for specific camp grounds? Toilets would be nice, for the ladies. I'd like to be at the dinosaur quarry by 5pm on thursday, if not sooner. So I'd be looking to camp right around there that night. Maybe even set up camp then head to the quarry. I have no idea how far south I should plan on getting to by friday night, but I'm thinking pretty close to GV. That way we can spend the morning there and then hit the road home. We can be home late Saturday if we want so we can play all day if need be. I wonder if that's to much driving on friday? We don't want to be rushed to get anywhere.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Kurt, don't you have friges that you rent? I though it might be fun to try one out this trip.

Absolutely: http://cruiseroutfitters.com/rental_gear.html

 

[sixstringsteve]

Can I just camp anywhere I find a spot or only in designated camp grounds? Should I try for specific camp grounds? Toilets would be nice, for the ladies.

It's all BLM land, so you can camp anywhere you want. Obviously don't drive over bushes or off-trail, but you can find some cool spots tucked up in there. BLM camping is some of my favorite type of camping.

For campgrounds with vault toilets nearby, you'll want to camp at the Wedge Overlook (pit toilets) and Goblin Valley (flushing toilets). If you don't camp at a toilet spot, I recommend TreadLightly! and leave no trace camping, where you bury your poop and pack out the used TP (or burn it). You'll find vault toilets at the Wedge Overlook, Buckhorn Panel (no good camp spots right next to the toilets, but some good spots withing a few hundred yards), Swinging Bridge may also have toilets?

I'd like to be at the dinosaur quarry by 5pm on thursday, if not sooner. So I'd be looking to camp right around there that night. Maybe even set up camp then head to the quarry.

I've never been to the quarry, but based on the map it looks like the Wedge Overlook campground is less than 45 min away. There's LOTS of camping at the Wedge Overlook and the views are great. It's going to be a busy weekend, at the end of summer, so it may take a little more looking to find a spot, but they have tons of spots. You'll want to camp at the Wedge, it's an awesome place.

I have no idea how far south I should plan on getting to by friday night, but I'm thinking pretty close to GV. I wonder if that's to much driving on friday? We don't want to be rushed to get anywhere.

You'll have no problem making it to GV Friday night. I'm guessing maybe 3-4 hours driving total on Friday, but remember you'll be stopping every hour for some cool views. I don't consider 3-4 hours of driving a day too much when you're doing backcountry travel.

In fact, you could probably make it to Goblin Valley by noon on Friday if you book it. That'll give you more time in the park Friday and Saturday. What are the ages of your kids?

 

[UNSTUCK]

Good info Steve. My boy is almost 3, my two girls are 8 and 9.

We will plan to camp around the Wedge thursday night. Sounds like I better set up camp first then head up to the quarry so we can get a good spot. If it will only take 3-4 hours of driving to get to GV, that will give us lots of time for exploring. Do these roads have markers for points of interest along the way, or are we left to books and maps to point that stuff out. I would hate to drive by something cool and miss it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Do these roads have markers for points of interest along the way, or are we left to books and maps to point that stuff out. I would hate to drive by something cool and miss it.

For some things yes (buckhorn, wedge, sinkhole) and other things no. You won't have freeway exits or big signs pointing to stuff. It's the backcountry, and most of it is what looks like a bunch of random dirt roads. With enough research and time down there with someone who knows the area, you'll learn which dirt roads take you to the cool stuff. Unfortunately, you're probably going to drive by some cool stuff, but that just gives you an excuse to go back at a later time. I've driven through here about 15 times and every time I discover something new.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Dang, I was really hoping for big freeway exit signs. I'm real impressed with this thread. I have my route basically mapped out in a day and know what to expect, for the most part. Now I can spend the next week or so looking into the smaller details.

Kevin, I'll hit you up for that book if that's still okay. And Kurt, I'll be calling to get a fridge. We may want to discuss good items to put in it. I've always kind of kept it simple with food on camp outs. This could open many new options for the kinds of food I can bring along.

Which reminds me, what about fires out there? Fire pits at the camp sites or no fires at all?

 

[sixstringsteve]

There are no fire restrictions that I know of. Most spots that look like camp sites should have a rock ring.

 

[CobraNutt]

Sounds like these guys have you covered already! Have a fun trip! I'm planning a trip to the swell sometime this fall before it gets too frosty.

 

[UNSTUCK]

Now if I could just talk them in to leading the way.