Need some "Swell" advise.

[chabidiah]

I am planning a trip to San Rafel Swell and I would some advise or where to camp and what hikes to go on. Keep in mind that I have two children that I am going to be bringing with me. Thanks

[Mtnman1830]

Goblin Valley is a great place to take kids.

I hear (haven't yet) that Little Wild Horse Canyon is a good one as well.

[asdf]

Goblin Valley is one of best places in the world to take kids they just love it. If they have never been there before... this is where you should go.

What type of camping are you looking to do? The only campground in the swell that has running water is the goblin valley campground. But there are thousands of privative campsites in the swell.

If you going down on a weekend in the spring expect Little Wild Horse to be packed. You can always do Crack Canyon or Wild Horse Creek, they are all within a few miles of goblin valley.

I guess we really need to know how old are your kids, What would you like to see/do, and how far can they hike in a day?

[Jaxx]

Im going down with him. We are planning on Memorial Day so we expect crowds. We want to do primitive camping, we'll bring our water/toilets etc. both our families have kids under a year old, 7 months and 9 months(i think), so we will be carrying them on our backs. we also have 4 kids in the group that are 6 to 2 years old. We will probably hit goblin, we have already done little wild horse. I wouln't mind doing that again though.
I found some info on muddy creek gorge, hurst bridge, and wild horse window on climb-utah.com and that looked like some we might do.
We were trying to camp close to the hikes that we plan but its not a must. I was thinking of camping somewhere in the south end, but Im up for doing north side if that is where the cool spots are. I hope chabadiah agrees lol.

[Jaxx]

I forgot to add we want to car camp, I may bring down a tent trailer.

[Iceaxe]

I found some info on muddy creek gorge, hurst bridge, and wild horse window on climb-utah.com

Your kids will love Wild Horse Window. Hurst Bridge might be a bit much for the youngin's. It's a pretty good haul with a nice elevation gain.

My kids really like Crack Canyon, I'm not exactly sure why. It's a nice canyon but not one of my personal favorites.

Crack Canyon
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/crack.htm

[missoulachick]

Muddy Creek Gorge may be a better idea Crack, LWH and anything else in that area will be packed that time of year. I have done the Grand Gorge once it was very fun.

[rockgremlin]

I guess it all depends on how much you mind (or don't mind) the crowds. On Memorial Day, Little Wild Horse is an absolute zoo. It's like the Disneyland of slot canyons. Goblin valley is the same way.

Any other suggestion won't be nearly as crowded. Up and back down Ding canyon is another good possible option. It might be busy, but not nearly as much as LWH.

[chabidiah]

Well I am not one for the crowds but i know we are going down on one of the busiest weekends of the year but when thats the only time off you gotta take it. Me and Jaxx will both be carrying our youngest in packs and the other are piggy back if they can handle all the hiking. We did LWH a few years ago on the same weekend and it was crowded but at least there were no lines to get on the ride...We are game for most but it would be nice to stay away from the crowds. We wish we could do so harder stuff but the ol wife and kids..lol. But seriously in anyone here wants a free trip to the Swell then let us know because we could use someone to watch the kids, and maybe the wife. Just watch the wife and kids during the day and take the kids at night again for oh about 15 min for me and 3.5 min (i think that the record isnt it?) for jaxx. So free trip and front row seats... lmao!

[Jaxx]

My kids really like Crack Canyon, I'm not exactly sure why. It's a nice canyon but not one of my personal favorites.

Crack Canyon
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/crack.htm

I saw crack on climb-utah but wasn't sure we can get through with kids on our backs, and a dog.

Also the will we be able to make it through ding with the circus? We may try to avoid LWH and goblin, but those are the wife's favorite.

[Jaxx]

Thanks for all the info everyone.

YEAH!!! im an explorer now!

[rockgremlin]

Well I am not one for the crowds but i know we are going down on one of the busiest weekends of the year but when thats the only time off you gotta take it. Me and Jaxx will both be carrying our youngest in packs and the other are piggy back if they can handle all the hiking. We did LWH a few years ago on the same weekend and it was crowded but at least there were no lines to get on the ride...We are game for most but it would be nice to stay away from the crowds. We wish we could do so harder stuff but the ol wife and kids..lol. But seriously in anyone here wants a free trip to the Swell then let us know because we could use someone to watch the kids, and maybe the wife. Just watch the wife and kids during the day and take the kids at night again for oh about 15 min for me and 3.5 min (i think that the record isnt it?) for jaxx. So free trip and front row seats... lmao!

That's funny! Hey children's Nyquil works for that too.

Ding canyon wouldn't be too bad. Nothing like the LWH circus. There are a few sections that require mild scrambling, but with two adults, there should be no problem.

[asdf]

I did ding last fall with my two year old but not dang. To many drops to deal with in that one.
This is the one bypass that would worry me ...


You can always go to a different area of the swell.

Crawford Draw Is right off I-70 i would be shocked to hear you saw any other people in there.

Black Dragon Cayon is always a good place to hang out and have some lunch.

[Udink]

Black Dragon Cayon is always a good place to hang out and have some lunch.

That's definitely a great place to go. Just go early because there are a limited number of places to camp, and they'll fill up quick. For some reason, there are always a lot of out-of-state vehicles in that area.

The road is still probably in bad shape, unless the BLM has graded it recently. We camped near there in October, and we were the first full-sized vehicles on that road after the raging flood that washed through. We had to do a lot of road work just to get 4x4 trucks through there pulling camp trailers, but I think now any SUV could make it through.

[gonzo]

I was down in Black Dragon Canyon three weeks ago, and the road to get to the mouth of the canyon was decent enough to get a little Mazda Protege up there. Once you got into the canyon you would definitely need a high clearance vehicle. It's only about a quarter mile walk from the mouth to the petroglyphs, so it should be passable with kids and dog.

[Jaxx]

OK, I think we narrowed it down to a few hikes we want to try. Crack canyon, Chute canyon, Ding, and Wild horse window. If anyone could let us know if it is possible to get a 50 lb dog and kids, including kids on our backs, through these hikes it would be appreciated.
We are wanting to camp on the behind the reef road to hopefully get away from some of the crowds. Is there any rivers/streams that are possible to camp near on that road? Just to let the kids play in to cool off during the day. We dont want to be too far from the Goblin valley road because we have to drive around to go to ding and others hikes.
Also, how far away is Eardley canyon (straight wash) from the Goblin Valley turn off from Highway 24? Is the hike to the pool/ fall possible with kids/dog? and is May a good time of year to hike this one?

Again thank you in advance, we have never hiked around here except for LWH and Goblin Valley, so we need as much help as we can get lol.

[asdf]

OK, I think we narrowed it down to a few hikes we want to try. Crack canyon, Chute canyon, Ding, and Wild horse window. If anyone could let us know if it is possible to get a 50 lb dog and kids, including kids on our backs, through these hikes it would be appreciated.
We are wanting to camp on the behind the reef road to hopefully get away from some of the crowds. Is there any rivers/streams that are possible to camp near on that road? Just to let the kids play in to cool off during the day. We dont want to be too far from the Goblin valley road because we have to drive around to go to ding and others hikes.
Also, how far away is Eardley canyon (straight wash) from the Goblin Valley turn off from Highway 24? Is the hike to the pool/ fall possible with kids/dog? and is May a good time of year to hike this one?

Again thank you in advance, we have never hiked around here except for LWH and Goblin Valley, so we need as much help as we can get lol.

Behind the Reef road will be packed with campers and ATV's on any spring weekend. Make sure you get there early or else you will end up with a crappy campsite next to the road. My last few trips to the area we camped in North Temple Wash, Farnsworth Canyon is also very close.

Crack should be fine for kids, there are a few dry falls but if you have two adults you should be able to help everyone with them.

Lower Chute Canyon is not even comparableto LWH ... its pretty just not narrow at all.
You should go get Michael R. Kelsey's San Rafael Swell guide book. You can find it at most any book or outdoors store around here.

[Jaxx]

Thanks summit! I will pick that book up. Thanks for all the info.

[asdf]

Thanks summit! I will pick that book up. Thanks for all the info.

No Problem, just make sure to post a trip report with lots of pics.

[americanhero]

What about the small campground at the Wedge Overlook? Has someone been there before?
I'm planning to spent there a night in June before going south of I-70 to Crack Canyon and Little Wild Horse Canyon.