Arizona Strip / Grand Escalante / Canyonlands / Bear Ears - 15 day Solo Adventure - May 2025
- Thread starter bashinate
- Start date
bashinate
Member
Days 4-5 May 15-16
Total Mileage : 417
By the time the truck was fixed it was mid-day in Hurricane. I weighed my options and decided to head out to Gold Butte Whitney Pockets area for the night as I had never been there.
It was a beautiful area but already too warm for my liking. I started on a hike and quickly backed out from the heat. I ended up poking around and just relaxing at camp for the remainder of the day finding a nice spot just north of the main whitney pockets area.
I got up at sunrise and made my way back over to I-15. In St. George I got breakfast and went to see the Mormon Temple. I am not a mormon but just wanted to see the building.
I headed to Kanab and jumped on a trail headed out into Grand Escalante. It was a fun route and I ended up finding a nice camp up in the paria area with amazing views. I didn't take many pictures these couple days.
I will get all the gps tracks for each day uploaded at the end for anyone that is interested.
Total Mileage : 417
By the time the truck was fixed it was mid-day in Hurricane. I weighed my options and decided to head out to Gold Butte Whitney Pockets area for the night as I had never been there.
It was a beautiful area but already too warm for my liking. I started on a hike and quickly backed out from the heat. I ended up poking around and just relaxing at camp for the remainder of the day finding a nice spot just north of the main whitney pockets area.
I got up at sunrise and made my way back over to I-15. In St. George I got breakfast and went to see the Mormon Temple. I am not a mormon but just wanted to see the building.
I headed to Kanab and jumped on a trail headed out into Grand Escalante. It was a fun route and I ended up finding a nice camp up in the paria area with amazing views. I didn't take many pictures these couple days.
I will get all the gps tracks for each day uploaded at the end for anyone that is interested.
bashinate
Member
I did hole in the rock on this trip. First time I had been to the end. I'll get to that part shortly.
bashinate
Member
Thankfully it was just really bad wheel balancing. They rebalanced everything and I was back on the road.
bashinate
Member
Day 6: May 17
Day Mileage: 133
Total Mileage: 550
Today I had planned to do some hiking. I packed up and headed over to house rock valley road and to the wire pass trailhead. I was hoping to be able to hike a ways into buckskin gulch.
Just doing wire pass to the wash and entrance of bucksin gulch was beautiful however as soon as I got into buckskin gulch it was full of water. I took off my shoes and socks and tied them onto my pack and kept going. Most parts were only about knee deep at worst but still very cold. After crossing several I encountered a big group who said they had gone as far as it getting to chest deep water. After hearing that I decided to turn around and try the other side. Unfortunately after talking to some others the other side was the same with deep water. I would have to return on another trip.
I refueled and grabbed some supplies in Big Water and headed out to Stud Horse Point. I had driven down the highway many times but had never ventured off on the western side of the highway away from Lake Powell.
It was a fun short trail with beautiful views of Lake Powell and surrounding area. It was extremely windy again. I then headed back to the highway and went over to the "new wave" trail or I think as its actually named the beehive trail. I can see why its called both. Very nice easy short hike. I then carried on my planned route and started down Nipple Butte Trail from Big Water. Not very far in a Chinese couple in a rented SUV waved me down. They were trying to find the big white hoodoos trail. They could barely speak english and were clearly very lost. I explained that trail was very remote and rough. It then sounded like they were actually trying to get out to white pocket. They asked where they could rent a SXS. I said I wasn't sure exactly but probably in Big Water or Page. They carried on their way back out to the highway. I was glad to see them turn around since they weren't in a 4x4 vehicle.
I planned to take the Nipple Butte trail and find somewhere to camp as it was getting later in the day. The following day I planned to head towards Croton Road and take it up to Left Hand Collete Canyon Road over to Hole in the Rock Road. I had done Smoky Mountain Road on a previous trip so had planned to take a completely different route. I took a side spur off Nipple Butte over to what looked like would be a nice overlook area to camp.
It was definitely that all the way at the top of the Mesas. It was Haycock Point at the end of Haycock Point Road. Of course it was very windy and supposed to be very windy over night. I found a flat spot about a mile back in away from the ledge that I hoped would be less windy. I was wrong. It was probably the windiest night I have been in a roof top tent. I didn't sleep at all and I was worried it was going to collapse. I survived but I would not want to do that again. Lesson Learned.
Day Mileage: 133
Total Mileage: 550
Today I had planned to do some hiking. I packed up and headed over to house rock valley road and to the wire pass trailhead. I was hoping to be able to hike a ways into buckskin gulch.
Just doing wire pass to the wash and entrance of bucksin gulch was beautiful however as soon as I got into buckskin gulch it was full of water. I took off my shoes and socks and tied them onto my pack and kept going. Most parts were only about knee deep at worst but still very cold. After crossing several I encountered a big group who said they had gone as far as it getting to chest deep water. After hearing that I decided to turn around and try the other side. Unfortunately after talking to some others the other side was the same with deep water. I would have to return on another trip.
I refueled and grabbed some supplies in Big Water and headed out to Stud Horse Point. I had driven down the highway many times but had never ventured off on the western side of the highway away from Lake Powell.
It was a fun short trail with beautiful views of Lake Powell and surrounding area. It was extremely windy again. I then headed back to the highway and went over to the "new wave" trail or I think as its actually named the beehive trail. I can see why its called both. Very nice easy short hike. I then carried on my planned route and started down Nipple Butte Trail from Big Water. Not very far in a Chinese couple in a rented SUV waved me down. They were trying to find the big white hoodoos trail. They could barely speak english and were clearly very lost. I explained that trail was very remote and rough. It then sounded like they were actually trying to get out to white pocket. They asked where they could rent a SXS. I said I wasn't sure exactly but probably in Big Water or Page. They carried on their way back out to the highway. I was glad to see them turn around since they weren't in a 4x4 vehicle.
I planned to take the Nipple Butte trail and find somewhere to camp as it was getting later in the day. The following day I planned to head towards Croton Road and take it up to Left Hand Collete Canyon Road over to Hole in the Rock Road. I had done Smoky Mountain Road on a previous trip so had planned to take a completely different route. I took a side spur off Nipple Butte over to what looked like would be a nice overlook area to camp.
It was definitely that all the way at the top of the Mesas. It was Haycock Point at the end of Haycock Point Road. Of course it was very windy and supposed to be very windy over night. I found a flat spot about a mile back in away from the ledge that I hoped would be less windy. I was wrong. It was probably the windiest night I have been in a roof top tent. I didn't sleep at all and I was worried it was going to collapse. I survived but I would not want to do that again. Lesson Learned.
kmcintyre
Observer
I think he stated it was just the tires/balancing issue.
bashinate
Member
Sure I can outline that. I am definitely not a gear junkie but this is what I currently have.
2018 Tacoma TRD-Offroad
32" BFG KO2's (Stock Wheels)
Bilstein 5100's Front and Rear Shocks
Old Man Emu Leaf Springs
Icon UCA's / Coil Springs
ARB Bull Bar with Warn Winch and Front Skid Plates
PF Headlights
Cali-Raised Rock Sliders
Smittybilt Gen1 Overlander RTT on CBI Overland Bed Bars
Thats it as far as the truck so far. Definitely want to do some upgrades at some point but $$$.
I am definitely one who would rather spend $$ on trips than gear if I have to pick one or the other.
That shows in what I have versus what I have done over the past few years.
I take a 100Ah lithium battery with an inverter / starlink with me typically. I just got a Bouge RV 12V fridge this year which has worked out great so far. I plug it into the truck when driving and then run off battery at camp. Would love to build out a power system at some point. If my lithium battery gets run down I charge it up from the Truck bed inverter. I always carry more fuel than needed for this purpose.
I use a toolbox for my camp kitchen which has worked out great. Everything is in there and it all locks down so its never an issue getting bumped around.
I use the red husky bins for food / misc gear from Home Depot which are waterproof / dustproof and can easily be locked. Compared to pelican etc they are super cheap and work great.
Future Upgrades I would love are different tent / bedrack obviously / rear bumper / BCDC power system / roof rack.
I have already talked with a local shop that put in the Icon UCA's I currently have to do a cab mount chop for 17" wheels with 34s.
2018 Tacoma TRD-Offroad
32" BFG KO2's (Stock Wheels)
Bilstein 5100's Front and Rear Shocks
Old Man Emu Leaf Springs
Icon UCA's / Coil Springs
ARB Bull Bar with Warn Winch and Front Skid Plates
PF Headlights
Cali-Raised Rock Sliders
Smittybilt Gen1 Overlander RTT on CBI Overland Bed Bars
Thats it as far as the truck so far. Definitely want to do some upgrades at some point but $$$.
I am definitely one who would rather spend $$ on trips than gear if I have to pick one or the other.
That shows in what I have versus what I have done over the past few years.
I take a 100Ah lithium battery with an inverter / starlink with me typically. I just got a Bouge RV 12V fridge this year which has worked out great so far. I plug it into the truck when driving and then run off battery at camp. Would love to build out a power system at some point. If my lithium battery gets run down I charge it up from the Truck bed inverter. I always carry more fuel than needed for this purpose.
I use a toolbox for my camp kitchen which has worked out great. Everything is in there and it all locks down so its never an issue getting bumped around.
I use the red husky bins for food / misc gear from Home Depot which are waterproof / dustproof and can easily be locked. Compared to pelican etc they are super cheap and work great.
Future Upgrades I would love are different tent / bedrack obviously / rear bumper / BCDC power system / roof rack.
I have already talked with a local shop that put in the Icon UCA's I currently have to do a cab mount chop for 17" wheels with 34s.
bashinate
Member
Here are the GPX Files : Didn't do anything worth sharing on the 4th day of truck repair. Looks like Day 7 I only got the very end of the track for some reason.
drive.google.com
AZ/UT 2025 Tracks – Google Drive
drive.google.com
bashinate
Member
Day 7: May 18
Day Mileage: 100
Total Mileage: 650
Besides the AZ Strip section this was one of my favorite days of the trip.
I think I finally fell asleep just before dawn and got a few hours in once the wind calmed down before sunrise.
Needless to say it was a late start by the time I got up and packed up. I made my way back to nipple butte trail and continued on my route headed into Glen Canyon RCA past Alstrom Point (yes i've camped there on previous trips. amazing)
Right before I got onto Croton Road I saw an interesting spur that looked like it might have views of Lake Powell. I headed down not very far to a dead end where there was a massive canyon that in the distance I could see lake powell.
Right as I got down there there was an entire herd of mountain goats that came running up on the edges of the canyon making very aggressive noises at me. I tried to take pictures but they ran off before I even had a chance.
I've seen mountain goats before but never that many so close "barking" at me. I've seen videos of them actually chasing people down in the Swell before so I knew that they can be aggressive.
This canyon was amazing. I hiked around it a ways just enjoying the views / the silence and majesty of it all. I didn't know this existed and I never would have if I didn't take a random turn on an unknown spur. This is what I am always looking for.
I then started my way up Croton Road. This was an amazing trail with multiple views of Lake Powell and Navajo Mountain from a distance. I marked quite a number of great camp sites for future visits.
Just past Alstrom Point turn off I had passed an army of Gladiators flying drones on federal land. I do my best to follow the rules but some people just don't care. Other than that I passed a single Truck the entire day.
I reached Left Hand Collet Canyon which I had been through before and it was looking very cloudy like it was going to rain. I hurried through not wanting to get stuck in there in a heavy rain and made my way out to Hole in the Rock Road.
I headed into the first Gas Station on the outskirts of Escalante to fill up and grab a few supplies. I then headed back down Hole in the Rock road and ultimately found one of my favorite camp sites of all time as you can see in the pictures below. This was the first night of the trip where it wasn't windy and I wasn't on federal land. I finally got to fly. It was a beautiful night picturing the mormon wagons heading down on their long journey across hole in the rock.
Day Mileage: 100
Total Mileage: 650
Besides the AZ Strip section this was one of my favorite days of the trip.
I think I finally fell asleep just before dawn and got a few hours in once the wind calmed down before sunrise.
Needless to say it was a late start by the time I got up and packed up. I made my way back to nipple butte trail and continued on my route headed into Glen Canyon RCA past Alstrom Point (yes i've camped there on previous trips. amazing)
Right before I got onto Croton Road I saw an interesting spur that looked like it might have views of Lake Powell. I headed down not very far to a dead end where there was a massive canyon that in the distance I could see lake powell.
Right as I got down there there was an entire herd of mountain goats that came running up on the edges of the canyon making very aggressive noises at me. I tried to take pictures but they ran off before I even had a chance.
I've seen mountain goats before but never that many so close "barking" at me. I've seen videos of them actually chasing people down in the Swell before so I knew that they can be aggressive.
This canyon was amazing. I hiked around it a ways just enjoying the views / the silence and majesty of it all. I didn't know this existed and I never would have if I didn't take a random turn on an unknown spur. This is what I am always looking for.
I then started my way up Croton Road. This was an amazing trail with multiple views of Lake Powell and Navajo Mountain from a distance. I marked quite a number of great camp sites for future visits.
Just past Alstrom Point turn off I had passed an army of Gladiators flying drones on federal land. I do my best to follow the rules but some people just don't care. Other than that I passed a single Truck the entire day.
I reached Left Hand Collet Canyon which I had been through before and it was looking very cloudy like it was going to rain. I hurried through not wanting to get stuck in there in a heavy rain and made my way out to Hole in the Rock Road.
I headed into the first Gas Station on the outskirts of Escalante to fill up and grab a few supplies. I then headed back down Hole in the Rock road and ultimately found one of my favorite camp sites of all time as you can see in the pictures below. This was the first night of the trip where it wasn't windy and I wasn't on federal land. I finally got to fly. It was a beautiful night picturing the mormon wagons heading down on their long journey across hole in the rock.
deserteagle56
Adventurer
Good to see that Left Hand Collet canyon is open again. It was completely washed out and impassable a couple times in the past few years.