Wild Horse Canyon

[Hatchcanyon]

Little Wild Horse Canyon is well known as a slot canyon nearby Goblin Valley that we visited more than 20 years ago. In the 2000s we wondered about the canyon from Wild Horse Butte down to Muddy Creek but never die it. In 2013 we had a chance:


Starting at CR 1013 - uh, ugly, why did they pave it? - more precisely at 12S 0522780 4269800, we traveled down the canyon west of Goblin Valley respectively Big Wild Horse Mesa.


Big Wild Horse Butte from Wild Horse Canyon


From bottom to top: Entrada - Curtis - Summerville Formations

The road is not that difficult except two or so ravines with steep edges. You can end up "low centered" scratching dirt on front and end of the vehicle simulaneously.



The canyon is not very deep despite walls are steep for most of the distance.


An obstacle - going right or left?

We decided to go right. It came out to be a bit tricky. Our vehicle passed the rock on a distance less than 2 inches, maybe only one.


A small step

At this point I walked farther down to check the trail. Suddenly there was a growling thunder und black clouds moved rapidly in our direction. A thunderstorm and we in the wash of a canyon. Not what we wanted.


approaching Thunderstorm

We decided to turn around - no risk please!

Our decision was a bit hasty. Lateron we learned that the bad weather drifted in a different direction. This gave us time for some pictures.


Erosion


My Lady in her favorite vehicle


Canyon walls


Overhanging rock


Maybe an old trail up onto Big Wild Horse Mesa?

Driving down the canyon I had seen a strange rock, my wife missed it! Now we were back at the place and I showed it to my Lady.


A strange rock

The year before we visited England. Middleham, North Yorkshire has an old castle formerly owned by hapless King Richard III. There is a statue of the King and for us this stone resembles this work of an artist:



King Richard III at Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire, England


From the other direction the rock is easyly missed


Striped Summerville Formation


Hydrothermal veins

Arriving back near Bild Wild Horse Butte:

Some kind of "free" Goblins outside the State Park




We called it "Nessie Rock"

Some additional pictures: Wild Horse Canyon and Big Wild Horse Mesa

[Sandstone Addiction]

Loved your TR! As usual.

[jman]

Lol - Nessie rock. I like it.

X2. Great write-up and pics.
A beautiful Jeep, btw.