TR: Hurst Bridge

[Udink]

Hurst Bridge is a natural arch in the San Rafael Reef just south of Ernie Canyon. I hiked there yesterday, despite the weather forecast calling for rain and snow. It turned out to be a very nice day, except for some cold wind early in the morning. I had planned out my route using topo maps and Google Earth, and I just followed the waypoints I'd created in my GPS. It worked out well and I was able to get all the way to Hurst Bridge without any difficulties. It took me two hours to reach the arch, and it took an hour and 20 minutes to get back to my truck. Total round trip hiking distance was 5.4 miles. After Hurst Bridge, I headed to Straight Wash and hiked to the pools in lower Eardley Canyon (http://bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14358).

Full photo album is here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/HurstBridgeLowerEardleyPools

Google Earth .KML file is here:
http://castlecountry.org/geo/HurstBridge.kml

Parking/trailhead at the WSA boundary in Ernie Canyon
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJvL4UtwI/AAAAAAAACVE/AmvwhfuARHk/s800/IMG_5277.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dzqUUaF-o-TqAGvbuX8wLw)

The first mile of the hike looks like this, simply following the bottom of Ernie Canyon
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJvDhvfII/AAAAAAAACU8/Kwak8HbA_sw/s800/IMG_5267.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y56Le3LhNGTjlKVoiDnpbQ)

This is where you leave Ernie Canyon and begin climbing the San Rafael Reef
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJHMtzVgI/AAAAAAAACTE/AV9IpuHCCoA/s800/IMG_5049.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mGz3i6_3lDIIVkGKrZFWAw)

The San Rafael Reef rising up north of Ernie Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJHScgAhI/AAAAAAAACTM/NoMkcHE9O8M/s800/IMG_5059.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hfL5dEsWCDDHit7jU6Wi6w)

Fins in the San Rafael Reef north of Ernie Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJHYuMyMI/AAAAAAAACTU/FJ-UnAhXfxM/s800/IMG_5061.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kjyN7IQn2EWkceS71B0o1g)

View east toward the "outer" San Rafael Reef in Ernie Canyon
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJHaoGf0I/AAAAAAAACTc/AfCsiYir4Fg/s800/IMG_5062.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Zb3EpO3DSJDHq5OieCqPXA)

Part of the first section of hiking up the Reef after leaving Ernie Canyon
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJR4FLNKI/AAAAAAAACTk/OcQiHa4ZZLU/s800/IMG_5063.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aQvjmsY4Kv86DaYK-exMqw)

Ernie Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJR9e6_LI/AAAAAAAACTs/Ik8mL_Aqe2s/s800/IMG_5073.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Plqy-0o4maJ47UX6qG3iBQ)

View from the head of a box canyon on the way to Hurst Bridge
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJR90LnrI/AAAAAAAACT0/f-ebqko2Rrc/s800/IMG_5102.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qZlEFNkeaot8814-gjD-mQ)

The approach to Hurst Bridge
http://lh5.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJcSJekTI/AAAAAAAACUk/w_Loux9jj5w/s800/IMG_5239.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uA3nV5b2HXvI6nTkD0baRg)

My first view of Hurst Bridge
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJSNJaLfI/AAAAAAAACT8/18GI9UXnbhU/s800/IMG_5141.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/k8K1xOXT_92x6fkw_1so1A)

Hurst Bridge
http://lh4.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJSQR1AKI/AAAAAAAACUE/MhwRu7KVv2I/s800/IMG_5153.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QVu6bLACEeWRDrKeHlX-kA)

Hurst Bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJcBBwpgI/AAAAAAAACUM/NffnG_chQo0/s800/IMG_5179.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MPl0aAkkFzS4aGcJ_Kqtyg)

Funky rock formations near Hurst Bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJcUgP1oI/AAAAAAAACUU/qOVXPZt66WU/s800/IMG_5199.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2jjGJA3WnFJ36cfNiiiPNw)

Panorama of Hurst Bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJce77mGI/AAAAAAAACUc/-eTsGX5oq0I/s800/IMG_5217P2.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cW7goVDO2wU56ufB-Vukuw)

An old truck not far from the bottom of Ernie Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Dennis.Udink/SPGJvOjpWTI/AAAAAAAACVM/XJivUSX57uM/s800/IMG_5289.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kNHW-gjIdmDEnVDqXtVoug)

Here (http://bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2018) is Windwalker's TR from a couple of years ago.

[Mtnman1830]

Great Pics! Looks like your weather was better than ours.

[Wasatch]

Nice pics/place.

[Scott P]

Cool. :2thumbs:

That is one place that is on my list to take the kids this winter to escape the winter cold.

[accadacca]

Yup. Much better weather then where I was. :nod: Bloody hell. :eek2:

[Udink]

Ok, I'm kicking myself now. While searching Bogley for Windwalker's TR on Hurst Bridge, I came across Shane's mention of Exclamation Point Bridge (http://bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1865). I was right there and never knew it! :wallbash: So, that's it then, I guess I'm going back in a couple of weeks. :2thumbs: At least I know the best route to Hurst and I can hopefully get to Exclamation pretty quickly now.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Great TR. Man you pictures make me homesick for the Swell. Straight wash is a favorite of mine.

Nice mug shot.


James

[vamedtech]

Is this trail doable on a Mt Bike?

[Udink]

Is this trail doable on a Mt Bike?
No, there really is no trail--it's just cross-country travel most of the way through some fairly steep and rough terrain. Although, you probably could ride a mountain bike in the bottom of Ernie Canyon.

[asdf]

Is this trail doable on a Mt Bike?

No way on the bike, The wash is far to sandy and within the WSA boundry.

We did this hike plus some this weekend, such an AWESOME area. I am also 90% sure we found a route down under Exclamation Point Arch and it could be done with a 15' hand line. Only reason we didnt do it was because we spent so long looking for it and were running out of daylight.

Not to Hijack your thread but here are a few photos.
Thank for all the info Udink.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2955714410_af995e15a6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2955340481_3224c7018a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2956172080_7b694fc84d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2955904139_61b074f892.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2956426644_497676b9a5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2955577393_48a417030a.jpg

[bbennett]

Sweet :2thumbs: !