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Thread: The 2nd "Cathedral Valley"

  1. #1

    The 2nd "Cathedral Valley"

    In May 2013 we visited the Caineville area, but had no concept what to see. We left UT 24 for Caineville Wash Road and suddenly there was a spur going away from the road. After a short distance there was some pavement in the middle of the Caineville Wash Valley. A Road? I doubt!

    Length of pavement might be some 1,100 to 1,200 feet and it is not completely straight. Might this be an airstrip?


    One end of the assumed airstrip

    Nevertheless this was the wrong way. On the other end of pavement a spur let us across Caineville Wash and into a smaller colorful canyon with another wash. (We named it Red Desert Wash) It must have flown not that long ago. The bed was still moist. This canyon is short, the length of the pretty good road measures approximately 1,2 miles.


    Entering the small canyon


    Improvement by pioneer bridges


    Wild and colored


    Within the canyon


    Angled strata ascending to the West


    Looking back (east): banded Morrison Formation and Caineville Mesa in background


    Next layer is Summerville Formation


    Topomap tells us we are entering Red Desert. Seems to be!


    Red Summerville remnants on greyish Curtis Formation. Nice contrast!


    Entrada cliffs with Curtis caps


    At this point there is no need for a Jeep Wrangler. Even a sedan might work.


    Looking west out of the little canyon


    The last of at least three pioneer bridges

    The wash in the little canyon drains a basin surrounded by Entrada sandstone cliffs. Seems to me that this was once an upwarp. The inclining strata from the east side starts to decline on the west side (we saw that later).


    The eastern Cliffs of the basin


    A view across the northern half of the basin

    This is what the Topo Maps call Red Desert.


    Branch of the wash


    Cliff on the north end of the basin


    This is what is left from eroded Entrada sandstone


    Hoodoo and a small arch in the distance


    Still inclining strata


    Looks like a labyrinth


    Colorful cliffs

    The road climbs up some 250 feet and we got acompletely different view backwards.


    Red Desert and blue shale on the Caineville Mesas


    Cliff line to the west


    Resembling Cathedral Valley - its the same geological setting


    The maps show a flowing well


    Moisture = flowers


    We haven`t seen the well but we saw the trees


    "Cathedral" walls - unfortunately in the shadow


    A bit better


    Egyptian temples?


    Remnants from volcanism


    Agate


    More cliffs


    Cliff height declines


    Looking back with better "cathedral" light

    There is something like a gap on the west side of the basin. Topo maps show a prospect and a trail running up to it. We wanted to see whats there? The prospect must be in that gap.


    Western cliffs


    The former road is now a trail


    No name on the maps - we call it Red Desert Pass


    The Red Desert Basin from Red Desret Pass


    A tighter spot


    Red Desert Pass


    Last stretch to the summit


    From the summit to the west

    Down in the valley runs Hartnet Road. It is only a mile away. (Junction at 12S 0491175 4241257) Strata is pointing down now to the west.

    Red Desert Pass and Red Desert might be a solution for these coming from Cathedral Valley finding Freemont River running to high to ford. Driving back to Cathedral Valley to change onto Caineville Wash Road to reach UT 24 means 56 miles or so, the pass is only 12 miles. A big saver!

    More details at "Red Desert"

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  4. #2
    That looks like a great place to spend a day or more exploring. Thanks for sharing.

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