A No-Snorkel Reef in January- The San Rafael Reef of Utah

[roverrocks]

Were you able to take the "shortcut" trail from rt24 west into Goblin? The trail that goes past Molly's Castle? When I was there in Oct I turned off 24 and started heading west on that trail, got to the stream crossing the one I believe shown on the map about of a the third of the way to Goblin. There was a pretty large puddle there, with no way of telling the depth and how soft it was beneath, I tucked my tail b/w my legs and turned around.

When I got to the part entrance the guard told me they'd just pulled a Jeep out of there a week or so ago. So I problably made the smart decision, but would've liked to make it across.

Here's a photo from somewhere just north of Goblin. Fun trails up there, beautiful scenery!
View attachment 208208

Yes, I took the Molly Castle 4x4 cutoff the next day at dawn. Here's Molly's Castle at dawn from different directions plus a view of entering the Goblin Valley State Park from the 4x4 route which was frozen and hard.

 

[NYCOH]

great pics! been looking forward to exploring this area for some time now!

 

[ROKTAXI]

overrocks, did you happen to continue past that wood cabin (second to last picture) to a shelf road that leads to a cool mining site? That road then continues to the main road (Temple Mtn.)

 

[roverrocks]

overrocks, did you happen to continue past that wood cabin (second to last picture) to a shelf road that leads to a cool mining site? That road then continues to the main road (Temple Mtn.)

I only went about 1/2 mile beyond the cabin as the temperatures were warming up and the road starting to get muddy. I don't like to tear up wet roads or trails. I have been up there in the past when dry plus have gone around Temple Mountain on the 4x4 trail around the north slopes of the mountain. Earlier in the day I had come up the trail on the SW side of Temple Mountain as it was dry with little snow. Went by some mine sites on the SW but went in none of them or close as I worry about radiation. Here is one picture I took of a mine site on the SW side of Temple Mountain on my Jan. trip.

 

[ROKTAXI]

We had to pick our way around a rock fall as well as move some rocks. Does this look familiar? Lots of stuff in that area. Hopefully no health hazards???

 

[roverrocks]

We had to pick our way around a rock fall as well as move some rocks. Does this look familiar? Lots of stuff in that area. Hopefully no health hazards???

View attachment 209636

That is definitely the N/NW side of Temple Mountain in the background but I can't remember that structure for sure from the past. I did not get that close to the Mountain in January on that side. There were other side trails as well leading off the main road going in that would have led to where that site probably that I did not take. My memory is not what it used to be. I'd be real careful about getting near any mine site in that area as they were Uranium sites. Great looking mine area in your picture.