San Rafael Swell Western Slopes

[hatchcanyon]

My name is Rolf. I'm from Germany, roaming the American Southwest together with my wife since 1985.

This report is from May 2013.

San Rafael Swell is one of our favorites. Not only the interior the adjacent parts as well. We decided to explore the western slopes south of I 70 a bit more intensely than we had done this all the years before. Therefor we drove - our base camp is Moab - to exit 99 west of the Swell. County Road 912 runs to the north to Emery, but we went southbound onto Blue Road.
The name is derivated from the predominant grey (blue) shale covering the area.

Our Wrangler on Blue Road

Across I 70: Coal Cliffs

Mesa Butte

An arch on the northern slope of the butte

Brown sandstone boulders on grey shale

These boulders are remnants from an harder cap rock on top of the shale.

Mesa Butte and boulders

At a first glance the Blue Flats look hostile but it is life there:

Dwarf Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)

Parsley

Another species

Unknown to us

Desert Paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa)

Another unknown plant

Fremont's Mahonia (Mahonia Freemontii)

Dwarf Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)

Southern end of Mesa Butte

Debris flows

Still snow on the mountains

Next part to come: Lone Tree Wedge.

 

[pmatusov]

Please keep it going!

 

[mph]

I can't seem to see the pictures...But, you found the goods I was just in the area for 2 weeks. Pretty nice! Glad you enjoyed!

 

[hatchcanyon]

Coming from Blue Flat and Mesa Butte we decide to head in an eastern direction at 12S 0485090 4285470. Two Miles farther - 12S 0487750 4285730 - this road turns north towards Lone Tree Crossing but we use a smaller trail to the east.

The trail is not especially difficult nor is the landscape impressive. Some views show Cedar Mountain and some smaller volcanic features.

Cedar Mountain in a distance of 8 Miles, some volcanism

We trust our USGS Maps and learn that the Butte far left is Factory Butte, but not the famous one near Hanksville

Contrary weather over Willow Springs Wash Badlands

In a short distance from the picture spot above the only dubious spot of the trail appears. A short, relatively steep and sandy decent into a small wash with an additional sharp turn. Downhill no problem but how about uphill? (There might be another faint trail leading onto the road to Lone Tree Crossing - we didn't test this one.)

One and a half Mile to the East the trail approaches Muddy Creek. Take the left spur at 12S 0492736 4284862. It ends up above the canyon where Muddy enters the Swell.

Muddy Creek Canyon (upstream) The deep cut on the other side is the mouth of Poncho Wash

Muddy Creek Canyon (downstream)

Watch your step!

Blossoms too:

Newberry's Twinpod

Sclerocactus parviflorus (?)

Driving back to the main trail and to the left leads to another view point. Distance is a little more than a Mile. Lacking a name we call it Willow Springs Wash Overlook.

High above the confluence of Muddy Creek (left) and Willow Springs Wash (right)

The last "Big Bend" of Willow Springs Wash

Willow Springs Wash Canyon

Slaughter Slopes and Cedar Mountain

Muddy Creek Canyon - Tomsich Butte and dark red Hondo Country in the background

(The German long version of this travel report)

 

[mph]

Sweetness. Can see all the pics now! Thx

 

[hatchcanyon]

Heading back from Lone Tree Wedge we decide to stroll through the area for another two hours or so. At first we were heading to Mussentuchit Flat and going South to Cedar Mountain. Years ago we visited some point on the south end above Chimney Canyon where a trail starts down into the Chute.

Our maps (we use electronic topomaps on a notebook) showed a jeep Trail maybe 5 Miles long north of East Cedar Mountain. It ends on top of a cliff line and we thought there might be some views. Chimney Canyon Wash is more than 1,200 Feet below.

The area is called Slaughter Slopes and it is said that the name sticked to it after a large hunt for wild horses in the 1930ies.

Lets start with some pictures from the Mussentuchtit Flat.

Hebes Mountain and the Upper Willow Spring Wash Badlands

Its easy to see that the strata is rising eastward to the middle of the Swell, but the grade is much less than on its eastern side - the reef! Hebes Mountain is capped by a resistant sill of cooled down volcanic material. More volcanic features can be seen around Cedar Mountain.

Grey in Grey - rocks and sky

Mussentuchit sand dune

East Cedar Mountain

More sills and a volcanic neck at West Cedar Mountain

Debris from the sill

East Cedar Mountain again

On a view point high above Chimney Canyon

Coordinates: 12S 0496420 4275710

Chimney Canyon

Our maps read "Johns Hole"

The trail runs along the rim in a northeastern direction. The maps don't show it anymore but it is still not too difficult to follow. We haven't explored it the whole lenght. (I guess it ends above the headwater of Ireland Mesa Canyon.)

After a little bit more than a mile we decided to stop, take some more pictures and later return to I 70 and Moab. It is 6:30 pm.

Tomsich Butte and Hondu (Hondoo?) Country

Using a "long" lens shows the top of Hondu Arch

Suddenly some sunshine in the evening

Looking back to Chimney Canyon

Next part of the same trip:

On the right the rim the trail follows to the northeast.

Muddy Creek Canyon, Factory Butte and the Henry Mountains in an distance

Muddy Creek Gorge through the Reef

The dumps from the infamous Delta (Hidden Splendor) Mine can be seen. Years ago we travelled the gorge several times by car (SUV).

Locals call the mine "Odlum's Hidden Blunder".

Zoomed in: Black Beauty Factory Butte

Red Dot below the rim

Flowers we found:

???

Newberry's Twinpod

Phlox?

Showy Stoneseed(?)

A last view in evening light over Chimney Canyon

We returned to the Interstate via Salt Creek Road entering the freeway at exit 108.

 

[SmoothLC]

Spectacular.

 

[hatchcanyon]

Thanks for the nice comments!

 

[boyfester]

Such beautiful land. I was in a small portion of the Swell a couple of weeks ago when we visited the Black Dragon petroglyphs.

 

[SmoothLC]

The colors and composition of the "sunshine in the evening" photo is extraordinary.

 

[hatchcanyon]

The colors and composition of the "sunshine in the evening" photo is extraordinary.

Thanks to Mother Nature! :bowdown: