San Rafael Swell TR

[The Dude]

Had a great time and got to see a lot for a one-night trip. We left SLC at 8am on Saturday (I had to coach Football the previous night), but thanks to Summit42, he gave some great recommendations on a campsite in the North Temple Mountain wash (right up against the Reef) and a great hike to a GIANT cave just north of Wild Horse Creek (not to be confused with Little Wild Horse).

After that, we did Goblin and then went back to the campsite to just run around on the Reef and eat some dinner.

On Sunday we hiked Little Wild Horse and then stopped by Black Dragon on the way out.

It was a nice trip because we brought my parents, who had never gone down there and never would have if we didn't invite them. They both fell in love with the area and were able to do ALL of the hikes. Keep in mind that my dad is 64 and my mom is almost 55, so they did pretty good, despite not being much of the hiking type.

We also had my 7 year old son and two of my nephews, who had a blast and were running non-stop.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0002.jpg
My burried nephew

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0063.jpg
Our campsite (my parents forgot their rain fly so they had to improvise)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0004.jpg
Our hike up to the Caves

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0006.jpg
More hiking up to the caves

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0007.jpg
The caves (almost there)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0008.jpg
Pools just below the caves

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0009.jpg
The Caves

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0010.jpg
Cave perspective (they're HUGE)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0025.jpg
My wife hiked up above them and looked down through the hole on top

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0015.jpg
The fake petroglyphs my son thinks he discovered

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0033.jpg
The wife and I

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0049.jpg
Wild Horse Creek

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0055.jpg
Wild Horse Creek (Somewhat narrows)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0057.jpg
Parents at Goblin

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0072.jpg
Little Wild Horse

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0079.jpg
Parents in Little Wild Horse

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0082.jpg
Little Wild Horse (again)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0085.jpg
My son was very proud of the Lizard he caught

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0086.jpg
The Lizard did not want to leave him

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0097.jpg
No one has ever posed for this picture before

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/tyler_root/San%20Rafael%20October%2007/IMG_0100.jpg
Black Dragon Petroglyphs

[Jaxx]

Nice TR! I love little wild horse, even though it gets alot of traffic. We tried to take our kids to the Wild horse window but we did the hike in the middle of the summer in the middle of the day so they didn't make it all the way. We got close but they just couldn't go on. That makes me excited to try again next year. Thanks for posting.

[accadacca]

Been dar dun dat. Good times! :five: