TR: Bruin Point > Cottonwood Canyon > Nine Mile Canyon
This isn't really an off-road 4x4 drive, just a scenic backcountry drive over the mountains (Book Cliffs and Roan Cliffs) and into Nine Mile Canyon. It's a great way to get into the heart of Nine Mile Canyon while avoiding all the tourists and heavy truck traffic generated by gas/oil exploration. 4WD is not required, but low-range did help getting up the steep switchbacks. A high-clearance vehicle is required, however.
I started near East Carbon and drove up Water Canyon to Bruin Point, which is a steep and winding road. Along the switchbacks going up the Roan Cliffs, there are two old rock asphalt mines and an old aerial tramway (built in 1927) that was used to haul the rock down the mountain.
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Bruin Point is the highest point along the drive, and the view would normally be nice if it weren't for all the smoke from wildfires. On a clear day you can see into the San Rafael Swell from there.
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After Bruin Point, there's a lot of private property, and the road gradually descends along the West Tavaputs Plateau into Cottonwood Canyon.
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In Cottonwood Canyon, you'll find some petroglyphs, and you'll also run into some heavy truck traffic hauling pipe and equipment for the gas wells.
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Cottonwood Canyon eventually meets up with Nine Mile Canyon, and then there are rock art sites everywhere, and a lot more people as well. I had planned on returning to Bruin Point by driving up Dry Canyon, but I ran out of time and instead just took the Nine Mile road all the way back to Wellington. I'm heading back this Saturday to hit Dry Canyon.
Here's a longer writeup of Saturday's trip and more pictures.
