Impossible Hill

[MojaveRoad]

I am doing a trip from the Devils Kitchen Camp in the Elephant Hill area, south on the Ruin Park Trail and then east on Beef Basin Trail and out Cottonwood Canyon Trail to hwy 211. Somewhere along the way I read there's a real ball buster called "Impossible Hill", I am not sure if it is downhill or uphill in my direction of travel. Anyway, can someone who's familiar tell me if I can make it in my type of long wheelbased vehile (see signiture for stats), I can winch myself if needed....is there a bypass to this hill??

Thanks.

 

[Greg]

First off, welcome to RME!

It's uphill, as you will be driving in the canyon bottom, then climbing out. The climb out of the canyon has 2 options, one is Impossible Hill which I haven't seen, but I wouldn't recommend trying from what I've heard. It's the lesser-used route out of the valley. The more often used route climbs up Bobbys Hole Hill, which isn't too bad. Bobbys Hole Hill is the first climb you will see, Impossible Hill is further down the canyon, with a lesser-traveled 2 track leading to it.

You should be able to go right up it, based on the vehicle in your signature. The hill consists of loose sand and flat, football + sized rocks. If you are aired down and lock the rear-end, I think you will go right up.

When are you planning your trip, soon-ish? There's a lot of snow out here right now, could add some challenge to your proposed route.

I have some pics and a ride report from that area in October, let me see what I can dig up. This was a motorcycle ride, but I went up the route you're asking about. It was hard on a motorcycle, but a 4x4 would be much easier.-

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=69582


Here are some pics of Bobbys Hole Hill-

 

[MojaveRoad]

Excellent

Thanks for the quick reply. I am doing this trip in the middle of March. We start the White Rim the 15th, finish on 17th, then one night in Moab, then head into the Needles District and do Elephant Hill and spend the night at Devils Kitchen Camp, then our last day is the trip I described via Bobby's Hole and back out via Cottonwood Canyon Trail, then back to Texas.

Great hearing from you.

http://www.mojave-road.com

 

[Greg]

No problem! Sounds like a great trip, I'm jealous that you're hitting so many of the secluded hotspots of Southern Utah and mid-March is the perfect time of year! If you write a trip report, I'd love to see it get posted here!

 

[Stephen]

Here is a report on a trip to the area last Thanksgiving with a few pictures of Impossible Hill.
The route that you are listing doesn't sound like you will need to go up Impossible Hill. As far as I could tell it was an optional deal, but there may be a route that it is not. I'm not sure.

http://www.expeditionutah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1110

 

[OldGeezer]

Impossible Hill is optional. Most do it just to for fun. It's the right turn at the bottom of Bobby's Hole hill. You go down it, turn around and come back up. Then continue on your way to Beef Basin. Also, I think it will be too early in the year to exit via Cottonwood. Like Greg mentioned, heavy snow this year.

 

[MojaveRoad]

Do you think it will be OK, to travel it in mid March?

 

[Cody]

I did impossible hill over Thanksgiving in November. It's not too bad, just a loose climb, and is totally optional. I really want to know how far you can follow the road at the bottom. Old maps show it connecting around into beef basin, but the park service and any newer maps show it closed or non-existant. Given the park services track record with roads like this, I'm surprised they would keep Impossible Hill open as a side obstacle since it is essentially just a 1/4 mile dead end spur at this point. I'm not complaining, but if there is no road at teh bottom anymore why let people drop down?

 

[DAA]

A few years ago, I approached Impassable hill from Imperial valley via Cross canyon. The connecting road from Imperial to Impassable hill in the bottom of Cross canyon was extremely faint, but it was there. I can easily imagine not seeing it, if you didn't know it was there though.

I wasn't able to get through on the Cottonwood route a year ago in the last week of Feb. due to snow. Given how much more snow there is this year than last, if I had to guess, I would guess that it will still be a no-go in the area of Horse mountain and Boundary butte in mid March this year. That's a pure, wild azz guess though.

- DAA

 

[OldGeezer]

I doubt that the snow is going to melt off of the north slope of the mountain at 8200 feet in the next 4 or 5 weeks. I'd be prepared to backtrack over Elephant Hill just in case. Maybe a call to the forest service office in Monticello would be a good idea?

 

[MojaveRoad]

All Good Advice

 

[Cody]

A few years ago, I approached Impassable hill from Imperial valley via Cross canyon. The connecting road from Imperial to Impassable hill in the bottom of Cross canyon was extremely faint, but it was there. I can easily imagine not seeing it, if you didn't know it was there though.

that's interesting. I was under the impression that the Park Service officially says no road exists down there, but unofficially can't do much about people using the road they don't officially recognize since they are very unlikely to be caught.

 

[DAA]

<shrug> It's not in the park. <shrug>

- DAA

 

[cruiseroutfit]

that's interesting. I was under the impression that the Park Service officially says no road exists down there, but unofficially can't do much about people using the road they don't officially recognize since they are very unlikely to be caught.

<shrug> It's not in the park. <shrug>

- DAA

The routes exit Canyonlands into BLM and Glen Canyon NRA. Sorry for the cross-post but you can both read the latest here:
http://www.expeditionutah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=666

The GCNRA routes seem to be in a 'Rincon' limbo, old travel plans being enforced somewhat sporadically and often in the face of the RS2477 & county claims of the routes.