Kanab's Vermilion Cliffs

Here's some great hikes not a 5 minute drive from downtown K town, Utah:
The Bunting Trail has a steep uphill grade to the Vermilion Cliffs rim with some petroglyphs to see.
The Squaw Trail, another rim trail, has the best view of the Grand Staircase.
K Ridge Trail to Tom's Canyon Trail, not my fave but a great workout.
The Mansard Trail: like the Procession Panel in Bluff, the reward here took 3 or 4 attempts to find. Like PP it was stunning & worth the effort. The formation east of Mansard is also worth a look. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AND STEEP ROUTE FINDING WITH NO ESTABLISHED TRAIL.
The Solaredas Trail, reminds me of the Colorado Nat'l Monument area (we found some Moqui Steps).
These are all about 2-3 hours total out and back. All are steep and I would rate them moderately strenuous, except for Mansard which is harder.
If you are hanging around Kanab, it has an incredible amount of homes listed on the Heritage Council. Please respect private property and persons.
Throw your vitamin D3 in the garbage here. Blue skies and sun every day! Just watch the forecast for afternoon flash floods in July, August, September. And they CAN happen any time of year. I was in a flash flood in October-not supposed to happen.

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More Archaeological Finds For Finding

Prehistory of Perry Mesa: The short-lived settlement of a mesa-canyon complext [sic] in central Arizona, ca. A.D. 1200-1450 (The Arizona archaeologist)
I have indeed been lucky enough to find these sites:

No other clues forthcoming. You will find them if you're sincere.



GAZING,

Rochester-Muddy Creek Petroglyphs, rock-art, SW of Moore, Ut. (5*)

Sego Canyon, rock-art, NW of Thompson, Ut. (5*)



HIKING,

1. The Citadel, cliff dwelling ruins, SW of Blanding, Ut. (5*)

2. Perry Mesa (Agua Fria N. Mon.), mesa top ruins & rock-art, N of Phoenix, Az. (4 1/2*)many trails

3. Hardscrabble Wash, rock-art, N of St. Johns, Az. (4*)

4. Cannonball Mesa, mesa top ruins, W of Cortez, Co. (4*)can be biked

5. (Lower) Fish Creek, cliff dwelling ruins, SW of Blanding, Ut. (4*)

6. Cliff Dweller, old mine & rock-art, SW of Green River, Ut. (3 1/2*)

7. Owl Creek/Fish Creek Loop, cliff dwelling ruins & natural arches, SW of Blanding, Ut. (3 1/2*)

8. El Morro National Mon., pioneer rock-art, E of Ramah, N.M. (3 1/2*)

9. South Mountain Park, rock-art, S Phoenix, Az. (3 1/2*)

Available For Itinerary Management And Support

Backcountry in the GREAT BASIN DESERT, U.S.A. Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico included with epicenter of the COLORADO RIVER BASIN of southern Utah. Ancient American Indian Archaeology and Art, HIKING, MT. BIKING, Geologic Astonishments not available to traditional tourists.
THE BEST HIDDEN GEM GOLFING!

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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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"PERFECT KIVA", (Slickhorn #1)

Follow the directions for Slickhorn #6 hike, but take the first clearly defined track west (this will be about 4 mi. from the pavement) after bearing south where the Government Trail turnoff goes north. This westbound track (right) takes you to the trail head and primitive campsite at "First Fork" of Slickhorn Canyon.
This kiva is indeed perfect, although the ladder is replicated. Can't have everything. 700 years will do that sometimes.
There is no maintained trail into First Fork, which will head you in a southwesterly direction. 15 minutes brings you to a pour-off which can be detoured to the left via a shallow side canyon. A mile past this easy circumvention there is another pour-off, this one not so easily negotiated. Here, climb to a bench just below the mesa top on the south side of the canyon. Look for cairns. When you are on the bench, look across the main canyon and downstream for a large sandstone monolith. This monolith is your landmark for descending back to the main "First Fork" canyon. Look for cairns again. (If you are short of clues, perhaps Rangers have knocked cairns over. I can't blame them, sorry.) Now, 200 yards downstream from the monolith, look for the trail up to "Perfect Kiva Ruin". You will not see the site from the canyon bottom. IT'S SWEET!
We turned back here, but hiking 1 1/2 miles more down canyon brings you to "Second Fork". There are several small ruins there I heard, including a fine granary.

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