Anyone hiked into Mule Canyon in winter?

[dioscuriII]

Thought about going to House on Fire ruin. I would like to go this weekend. It isn't very far in from what I can see. Thank in advance.

Kevin

[CarpeyBiggs]

folks tried to do it a freezefest, but there was too much snow to park the cars on the side of the road when they got there, so they opted not to. 4wd will solve that problem. i imagine there's still a little bit of snow up there still, but i'm not sure what the current conditions are.

[ibenick]

You camping or just day hiking and driving home the same day?

[dioscuriII]

day hiking and driving home the same day?

[Reddirtdawg]

You can always do a "weather check" of that area with this camera up on Salvation Knoll.....not to far from Mule.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/camera/single/SalvationKnoll.php
I am heading there myself this weekend. Good luck.

[gnwatts]

I drove past the Mule Canyon road on Sunday, maybe 4" of snow, a few tracks. I could have driven my Audi to the trailhead no problem. I have hiked up both canyons in the winter. I encountered no problems, with mixed hiking on the frozen creek bed, bare rock and snow. I am not sure exactly how far house on fire is, but it is not far. You should have no problem. You can park at the bridge @ north mule, plenty of room there. Hope this helps.

[dioscuriII]

Thanks for all the input. Anyone want to meet up? Let me know.

[Reddirtdawg]

Off topic ~ but if you decide you want to do something else also while you are in the area.....Bluff is having its hot air Balloon Festival all weekend. Think they are drifting over Valley of the Gods on Sunday. Once in a year photo op.
http://www.bluffutah.org/balloon.htm

[IntrepidXJ]

Off topic ~ but if you decide you want to do something else also while you are in the area.....Bluff is having its hot air Balloon Festival all weekend. Think they are drifting over Valley of the Gods on Sunday. Once in a year photo op.
http://www.bluffutah.org/balloon.htm

I didn't realize that was this weekend! I've been meaning to get down there for that...

[Iceaxe]

I've hiked into Mule Canyon (http://climb-utah.com/CM/mule.htm) several times in winter. I've never found it to be a problem. We often save this hike for bad weather days when getting into some of the other areas of Cedar Mesa are problematic.

Even if you are forced to park along highway 95 its not a problem and only adds an extra 1/4 mile to your hike.

Enjoy....

http://climb-utah.com/CM/Files/mule09.jpg

[Deadeye008]

I'm headed there the last weekend of this month. Would like to go and see Monarch Cave, Fishmouth Cave and a few other ruins on Comb Ridge too. Anyone know how the Butler Wash Rd. conditions are right now?

[Iceaxe]

One item that might be usefull to know.... you can often visit most of the ruins in Butler Wash by entering from the bottom off highway 163 (Bluff). I've been in Butler Wash when the upper end of the road was impassable to 4x4 because of mud and I didn't even get my tires dirty entering from the bottom end.

Using the live Salvation Knoll camera I'm guessing that might be the situation right now.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/camera/single/SalvationKnoll.php


And welcome to Bogley. :2thumbs:

[Deadeye008]

Good to know! I guess if we went in from the South we could visit the Hobbs Wash ruins and the Wolfman panel as well.



One item that might be usefull to know.... you can often visit most of the ruins in Butler Wash by entering from the bottom off highway 163 (Bluff). I've been in Butler Wash when the upper end of the road was impassable to 4x4 because of mud and I didn't even get my tires dirty entering from the bottom end.

Using the live Salvation Knoll camera I'm guessing that might be the situation right now.]


And welcome to Bogley. :2thumbs:

[Reddirtdawg]

Yeah......I was just in there the day before yesterday (Sunday). Went in from the south end (Bluff) off of 163. Only went up about 3 miles, not because of the road condition....I just had a spot there I needed to explore. For the most part...no snow in there now. Sections of the road were a little wet and muddy.....still I saw a few in there with regular cars. There were some sections that had hard packed snow (ice) from cars packing it down. Not a problem when it is still frozen....but when it melts it might get a little soupy. Just depends on how fast or slow it melts.
I am sure...if they don't get any weather between now and the end of the month.....you won't have any trouble getting to Monarch. Just go in from the south end.

[Deadeye008]

Thanks all for the information! I'll post some pics when I get back :mrgreen: