San Rafael Swell: Muddy Creek Canyon

[Hatchcanyon]

Muddy Creek cuts an impressive canyon through the San Rafael Reef.

We were several times there and now I found some pictures - 10 years old! We will be in the area again later the year and may have a chance to visit it again. Walking through is not so bad even on a hot summer day. Its relatively shady and most of the time there is water - at least some.

Enjoy the pics from 2004:

We startet at UT 24 using the road on Factory Bench.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB02_8.jpg
North Caineville Reef near UT 24

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB03_8.jpg
Majestic Factory Butte

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB04_8.jpg
Southwestern Reef

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Clay_Hills_Crossing/Clay_Hill_Crossing_8.jpg
Ford through Muddy Creek south of the reef

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB07_8.jpg
Entering Muddy Creek Gorge from the south

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB12_8.jpg
Walls, ascending layers of rock, erosion horizons - at this time Muddy Creek is not a continuous stream in its channel

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB17_8.jpg
Muddy Creek Grorge

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB22_8.jpg
Precious little things

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB24_8.jpg
Beautiful cliffs

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB29_8.jpg
North of the "Big Bend"

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekA06_8.jpg
You always can get - a flat!

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB30_8.jpg
Very special place to us

This place is really special to us. We got stuck here 6 years earlier in sand and gravel and needed nearly 24 hours to free the car. Six years later the stream channel has completely changed.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekB31_8.jpg
Buildings of Vernon Pick`s Hidden Splendor Mine - aka as Hidden Blunder

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Muddy_Canyon/MuddyCreekA07_8.jpg
View down from the old air strip at the northern end of the gorge.

The trip by car is no longer possible due to the fact that the road is blocked now by BLM rules. Hiking through the gorge is a wonderful experience too but beware of flash floods!
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