reverse_dyno
04-25-2012, 06:40 PM
There was still a lot of snow in the mountains, so I decided to head down to the Swell of a few days. My original plan was to cross the San Rafael river at Fuller's Bottom and head into Saddle Horse Canyon, but the Fuller's Bottom river crossing was too much for my Xterra. Maybe a jacked up Jeep could do it.
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South side of river crossing looking North
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South side of river crossing looking South. That river bank is steep!
Instead we car camped at a large turnout .25 miles North of the crossing. Horse riding appears to be very popular in the area as both days there were people at the pullout with horses.
From the pullout it is a 2 hour hike to reach North Salt Wash. The trail follows the San Rafael river and there is no way to avoid wading. The river wasn't high, but it was still over the boot tops.
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The trail continued into North Salt Wash. We followed it until it split, which was right before Saddle Horse Canyon enters the Wash. The right hand path continued up the canyon where the left hand path headed up and out of the canyon towards Sids Cabin. The trail is marked on the National Geographic San Rafael Swell map, but not on the USGS quad. There was some water in the Wash, but it was below the boot tops.
53286
Rock island in North Salt Wash where the trail splits.
The next day we followed the trail along the river again and headed up to Virgin Spring. We only went a little way in. It is 1 hour 40 minutes past the intersection with North Salt Wash. About 5 minutes into the Canyon you come to a set of nice pictographs. There was a little water in the canyon and it was easy to avoid walking in it.
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http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=215070299246131582664.0004be767efe804f44d2 a&msa=0
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You would have no problem filling your water bottles in North Salt Wash or Virgin Spring. The trails were mostly sand and overgrown in some places. Tennis shoes or Keen sandals would work for these hikes.
53282
South side of river crossing looking North
53283
South side of river crossing looking South. That river bank is steep!
Instead we car camped at a large turnout .25 miles North of the crossing. Horse riding appears to be very popular in the area as both days there were people at the pullout with horses.
From the pullout it is a 2 hour hike to reach North Salt Wash. The trail follows the San Rafael river and there is no way to avoid wading. The river wasn't high, but it was still over the boot tops.
53285
53284
The trail continued into North Salt Wash. We followed it until it split, which was right before Saddle Horse Canyon enters the Wash. The right hand path continued up the canyon where the left hand path headed up and out of the canyon towards Sids Cabin. The trail is marked on the National Geographic San Rafael Swell map, but not on the USGS quad. There was some water in the Wash, but it was below the boot tops.
53286
Rock island in North Salt Wash where the trail splits.
The next day we followed the trail along the river again and headed up to Virgin Spring. We only went a little way in. It is 1 hour 40 minutes past the intersection with North Salt Wash. About 5 minutes into the Canyon you come to a set of nice pictographs. There was a little water in the canyon and it was easy to avoid walking in it.
53287
53288
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=215070299246131582664.0004be767efe804f44d2 a&msa=0
53289
You would have no problem filling your water bottles in North Salt Wash or Virgin Spring. The trails were mostly sand and overgrown in some places. Tennis shoes or Keen sandals would work for these hikes.