Some Great Geologic Hikes I'll Let You Find

'cause getting there can be half the fun:
(towns referenced can be found on most atlases, with populations large enough to list)

Little Wild Horse Canyon/Bell Canyon (8 mi. loop, 5*)
N of Hanksville, Ut. on BLM land.
Stay hydrated. Very arid, roads impassable when wet.
Lovely narrows in LWHC. Goblin Valley St. Pk. is too cool and nearby.
TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/lwh.htm
www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/swell/little.htm

Round Valley Draw (4 1/4 mi. round-trip, 4*)
S of Tropic, Ut. in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
A 15 foot drop is involved. We didn't make the descent.
What we saw of the narrows was sweet. See Grosvenor Arch in the area.
TRY: www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/round_valley_draw/canyon.html
http://www..zionnational-park.com/round-valley-draw.htm (use URL)

No Thoroughfare Canyon (8 1/2 miles each way, 3 1/2*)
W of Grand Junction, Co. in Colorado National Monument.
As the name suggests, no trail, follows watercourse. Very long out-and-back day hike, or use shuttle.
A great bushwhack reveals some of the oldest rock on earth.
TRY: www.gjsentinel.com/rec/content/sports/stories/2009/05/04/050309_haggerty_www.html
www.americansouthwest.net/colorado/colorado/national_monument.html

Pollock Bench (5 1/2 mi. loop, 3 1/2*)
W of Fruita, Co. on BLM land (Black Ridge Wilderness).
This was a five-star mountain bike ride, but now is hiking only, boo hoo.
This whole Colorado River Gorge area is special.
TRY: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca//recreation/hiking/pollock.html
www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-colorado-national-monument-colorado-sidwcmdev_069137.html

Crag Crest (10-11 mi. loop, 3 1/2*)
N of Cedaredge, Co. in Grand Mesa National Forest.
Winter-like storms any time of year. Afternoon storm danger.
Good cross-country skiing available.
TRY: www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/recreation/trails/grand_mesa/crag_crest.shtml
www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151802/crag-crest.html

Spencer Trail (2 1/4 miles each way, 3*)
Near Page, Az. in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
A trudge uphill then down, in an arid environment.
The hike starts at historic Lee's Ferry. Great views at the summit.
TRY: www.toddshikingguide.com/Hikes/Arizona/GrandCanyon/Canyon19.htm
www.azcentral.com/travel/hiking/articles/2009/06/09/20090609hike0612.html

Wheeler Geologic Area (shortest option 17 miles, including WGA loop of 3.2 miles, 3*)
NE of Creede, Co. in Rio Grande National Forest.
Was formerly a National Monument, but was too hard to get to (& grueling as a day trip).
The amphitheater is swell indeed.
TRY: www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151493/wheeler-geologic-area.html
www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm

NOTE: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DISCREPANCIES IN HIKING MILEAGES. QUOTED DISTANCES ARE AS I REMEMBER HIKING THEM.

Here's 2 additional hikes I don't remember, but I did 'em:
Crack Canyon.TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/crack.htm
The Chute of Muddy Creek. TRY: www.climb-utah.com/SRS/thechute.htm

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"PERFECT KIVA", (Grand Gulch)

pictured: "Perfect Kiva", Bullet Canyon
article here on Ezine

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"ARCHAIC BUTLER WASH"

pictured: vandalized "Wolfman Petroglyphs"

This area held one of the greatest caches of artifacts in the southwestern United States. Alas, that brought pot hunters. Much of what was saved became (dis)located to museums. Astonishingly, there is still enough in situ that we can still inhale the spirit of the place. Due to the unprotected nature of this Bureau of Land Management land, I'm not going to tell exactly how to get to these places.
The Butler Wash area is very disorienting and rewarding. Here's what I recommend: Stay at the Recapture Lodge in historic Bluff, Utah. Make some friends there. You will be among people with outdoor interests and the owners are very knowledgeable. If they sense sincerity they may help you find these great sites.
It took me 3 tries to find the "Procession Panel"4*. It entails a 6.6 mile drive north up unimproved Butler Wash Rd. (San Juan Co. #262, impassable when wet), which is 4 miles west of town. Then turn 100 yards west to the trail head above Butler Wash. It's then a 1 1/4 mile hike each way to the petroglyph panel.
It took me several tries to find "Eagle's Nest" ruin. Wow, what a testament to paranoia and guts that is!
The hikes into the 2 "bowl" sites are as rewarding as the grand finales.
Although access trails are short to sites, the Butler Wash area is very dangerous. Orientation is difficult and it is very arid. No potable water is available. Be careful and be aware of precise landmarks.
This is a no-fee area unless you take a guide. Please consider a guide if you are not back country savvy. The problems are the "no trail" slickrock and many intersecting wrong turns in the wash. A guided San Juan River trip is the only way to take in the "Desecration Panel".
HERE'S SOME GENERAL MILEAGES TO SOME OF THE BEST STUFF:
Monarch Ruins(4*)-Access to the trail 7.2 miles north of Rt. 163 on Butler Wash Rd.
Eagle's Nest Ruins(5*)-Access to the trail 8 miles N of 163 on BWR.
Wolfman Petroglyph Panel(4*)-Access to the trail 1 mile N of 163 on BWR.
Fishbowl Ruins(3*)-Access to the trail 1 mile N of 163 on BWR.
Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel (on the confluence with San Juan River)(5*)-Access to the trail on Rt. 163, just west of the wash. This is simply a 2 mile walk and bushwhack each way, heading south in Butler Wash. Besides the great panel at the end, there are some ruins on the way.
"Airport" Petroglyphs(4*)-Located on the sandstone bluffs facing the San Juan River. Access about 1 mile east of Butler Wash, at the airstrip.

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