Prickly Pear Flat

[DesertWoodrat]

My father and I took a trip to Prickly Pear Flat in the Northern San Rafael Swell over the weekend. The trail lead us to some Indian writings and a great view of Window Blind Butte and the San Rafael River. We rode through some scenic country, we passed by Pine Canyon and drove over some sandy hills. Near the end of the trail, a group of ponderosa pines grew in an area Michael Kelsey calls Ponderosa Cove.

The upper trail was really rocky and rough.
http://lh4.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwm60TMBI/AAAAAAAAAKE/ltLPeNpYFA4/s800/101_0303.jpg

My father driving up the trail
http://lh3.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwxq0TMLI/AAAAAAAAALU/EhTJpRsuXJw/s800/101_0384.jpg

After 3 miles we passed by Pine Canyon
http://lh6.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwwa0TMKI/AAAAAAAAALM/dML9owy5_Ek/s800/101_0385.jpg

We soon arrived at a pictograph panel.
http://lh4.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwo60TMDI/AAAAAAAAAKU/5O2_i0atxMU/s800/101_0337.jpg

A closeup of my favorite pictograph on the panel
http://lh4.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwn60TMCI/AAAAAAAAAKM/jr6ZcO6gB00/s800/101_0317.jpg

After leaving the panel we had to drive over some sandy hills
http://lh6.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwva0TMJI/AAAAAAAAALE/923DsoS4_To/s800/101_0382.jpg

We soon arrived at Ponderosa Cove and decided to get off the four wheeler and hike the rest of the way to the overlook
http://lh5.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_GwuK0TMII/AAAAAAAAAK8/hoK3dAYtRzc/s800/101_0369.jpg

Overlook
http://lh5.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_GwrK0TMFI/AAAAAAAAAKk/S5r9VcLcakQ/s800/101_0348.jpg

Me at the overlook
http://lh4.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gwr60TMGI/AAAAAAAAAKs/U95OTDwpk3I/s800/101_0358.jpg

We climbed up this hill to try and see Swinging Bridge
http://lh3.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_KULa0TMNI/AAAAAAAAANE/7b9RfKqgGyQ/s800/101_0346.jpg

Atop of the hill we couldn't see Swinging Bridge but we could see Bottleneck Peak
http://lh4.google.com/DesertWoodrat/R_Gws60TMHI/AAAAAAAAAK0/CCr-243FukU/s800/101_0375.jpg

[chickenlicken]

Thanks for the photos and the trip report. Where do you acces this trail?, and how long is it?

[DesertWoodrat]

This trail is about 5 miles. To access the trail, turn off the Green River Cutoff Road onto Box Flat Road. The trail starts after crossing a cattle guard. An exact coord is N 39

[accadacca]

:2thumbs: Nice ride.

[Udink]

Awesome TR and pictures! Man, I can't wait to get out there. If I didn't already have plans to go camping, I would have ridden out to Prickly Pear Flat this weekend instead.

[RugerShooter]

Nice pics, thanks for sharing :2thumbs:

[RedMan]

Desertwoodrat,

I plotted this in topo but it appears the road ends before you get near the edge.

Can you tell me where the trail goes from where my red line stops?

Thanks

[DesertWoodrat]

Here is a google earth file of the trail I took.

[RedMan]

Very Nice, thank you.