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View Full Version : Trip Report TR: Northernmost San Rafael Swell



Udink
04-07-2008, 09:52 AM
I camped with my family and my sister's family about three miles east of the Cleveland-Lloyd dinosaur quarry in the northern San Rafael Swell this weekend. On Saturday, my brother-in-law and I rode out to see a couple of balanced rocks north of our camp. You can get to the first one in a full-sized vehicle, but much farther than that and you need an ATV. On Sunday we took the road that goes around Flattop Mountain, but we didn't make it to the end of the trail due to time constraints. We also took a very interesting trail across Lemon Flats that will definitely require a return trip to get some pictures (sorry, I didn't take any this time) and do some hiking.

Below are some photos from Saturday's ride, and there are a few more here (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling).


Typical desert terrain for this part of the San Rafael Swell, northwest of the Cottonwood Wash crossing. The hills are formed by the Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation.
http://lh4.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o9siVLfzI/AAAAAAAAARo/Ffkr-LFNgj0/s400/IMG_1451.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186525756209725234)


A balanced rock--the boulder is from the Cedar Mountain Formation, overlying a column of Morrison Formation.
http://lh6.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o9-CVLf0I/AAAAAAAAARw/Un6mrJ0_x6o/s400/IMG_1461.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526056857435970)


ATVs parked near the balanced rock.
http://lh3.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o9-SVLf1I/AAAAAAAAAR4/mPpN8M_lQA0/s400/IMG_1467.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526061152403282)


Parked along the trail for a brief pit stop, just south of Church Flats.
http://lh4.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o9-iVLf4I/AAAAAAAAASQ/6W5gmj9T5z8/s400/IMG_1496.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526065447370626)


A balanced rock near Dripping Spring.
http://lh6.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o-bCVLf7I/AAAAAAAAASo/CuE11A0werI/s400/IMG_1513.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526555073642418)


Our parking spot near the balanced rock.
http://lh6.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o-bCVLf9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/Egw5ZYskzsg/s400/IMG_1541.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526555073642450)


Closing the gate again on our return trip.
http://lh4.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o-oiVLf-I/AAAAAAAAATA/lInxR2689B0/s400/IMG_1547.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526787001876450)


Panorama from the top of the dugway near the beginning of Red Holes Wash. This part of the trail stopped me from proceeding any farther in my full-sized truck when I was there in September 2006, but it was nice and easy on the ATVs.
http://lh6.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o-_CVLgDI/AAAAAAAAATo/CGo1-VqpPs0/s400/PAN_1481.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186527173548933170)

accadacca
04-07-2008, 12:39 PM
Cool shots of the balanced rocks. :popcorn:

Windwalker
04-07-2008, 02:59 PM
Enjoyed your report & nice pictures. Sorry to hear I wasn't riding with you.

Your having way to much fun, John

DesertWoodrat
04-07-2008, 08:32 PM
Looks like a great time. I really like where your dog rides. I will have to try that and see if my dog will hold still while riding.

Udink
04-08-2008, 09:38 PM
I really like where your dog rides. I will have to try that and see if my dog will hold still while riding.
My dog does surprisingly well riding up front there. I let her out to walk/run alongside whenever the going is slow enough for her to keep up, which turns out to be 1/2 to 1/3 of the time. I'll bet she ran 15 miles this past weekend. She actually likes to ride point and stay ahead of me, and so far she hasn't gotten tangled up with my tires. :lol8:

The dog bed was easy to set up. I bought a big plastic container for about $10, drilled some holes in it and zip-tied it to my front rack. Then my wife made a fleece blanket with a drawstring to cover the container, and there's a piece of egg crate foam on the bottom for padding. The dog stays put really well, but I have to take it a little easier on the rough parts of the trail to avoid tossing the dog up in the air. :haha:

http://lh4.google.com/Dennis.Udink/R_o9-iVLf2I/AAAAAAAAASA/3hnIn9wYDoM/s400/IMG_1484.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/NorthernmostSanRafaelSwellCamping4Wheeling/photo#5186526065447370594)