Purple Hills

[Hatchcanyon]

Purple Hills is a remote area within the Glen Canyon NRA. As the name says it is a colorful district.

There is only one known trail, at least to me. From Burr Trail take the Wolverine Loop where its eastern end connects (12S 0490914 4190715) and travel south for approximately 8 miles. There is a sign:

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Moody/PICT2839_12.jpg
Take the route to Silver Falls Creek and Moody Creek (http://www.expeditionutah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4342)

After less than 3 miles the right trail goes down Silver Falls Canyon and we travel straight ahead. The trail leaves the then relatively shallow creek canyon at 12S 0493164 4165848. To the west you can see the Circle Cliffs but the trail turns to the east onto Fourmile Bench.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1449_12.jpg
Circle Cliffs from Fourmile Bench

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1450_12.jpg
Thunderstorms over the Circle Cliffs north of Fourmile Bench

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1451_12.jpg
Purple? Orange is predominant

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1452_12.jpg
This cliff marks a fork (12S 0497471 4166835)

Driving right and south over a shallow pass leads to the "purple" Purple Hills.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1454_12.jpg
Purple Hills

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1455_12.jpg
Colorful and a claim cairn

After 2 miles the trail ends near Middle Moody Creek. A mine might have been on the other side.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1456_12.jpg
Mining below the Cliffs?

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1459_12.jpg
Middle Moody Creek Canyon

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/PICT2848_12.jpg
My Lady takes another kind of pictures

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/_DSC1462_12.jpg
Purple Hills

After a while we return to the fork and try the othe trail to the east. The spur ends not far away from the at the foot of Deer Point.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Waterpocket_Fold/Purple/PICT2852_12.jpg
Deer Point

[jman]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!