Utah's Goblin Valley/Capitol Reef/Swell Trip Report

cruiseroutfit · 02-21-2006, 01:18 AM

What a trip...

Saturday: We left SLC around 6:00 and pulled into Goblin Valley ~9:00, not bad considering the 20mph speeds up Spanish in the snow. Craig & his wife (in the BJ70) had already set up a great camp just south of Temple Mountain.

Sunday: We headed off to check out the Hidden Splendor Mine and some of Reds Canyon, we were hoping to connect Hidden Splendor with Factory Butte, but despite the EVIDENT roads that have been there for 50+ years, it si a WSA now

. So, we trekked back to HWY24 and headed down to Hanksville for some fuel. After some grub at Blondies we left Hanksville and headed to Cainville on 24, from there we were back on dirt heading north on Cainville Wash. Passed a couple of those troubled youth groups with handcarts, the Bentonite Hills (really cool colors!) and made out way to Capitol Reef via the east entrance. We stopped to check out the Lower & Uppers South Desert Overlooks & the Cathedral Valley area . We tried to make it over the HWY72 via 1000 Lakes road... but got stopped by a couple feet of snow. Craig & I did give it a hell of a try So, we ended up goingn north on Cathedral Valley road and via dirt all the way up to I70. It was getting late so we hit the pavement and called it a night in Ferron.

Monday: Topped off the tanks in Ferron, and headed right into the Swell via Horn Siver Gulch. Headed north in search of the "dangerous river crossing" on the San Rafael River... could get ugly in some rain. Proceeded north to Clevland (Quarry was closed ), checked out the Desert Lake Waterfowl area, Victor Cemetary, & Mounds and headed back the Wellington for a late lunch & a soda. Spent an hour or so in Helper at the antique store (museum was closed ) and bombed back to SLC.

Gas: ~50 gallons
Miles: ~600

40's RULE! & Epperson's 70 was great too

I'll get some pictures tomorrow...

wngrog · 02-21-2006, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiseroutfit

What a trip...

I'll get some pictures tomorrow...

You do that young man.....

orangefj45 · 02-21-2006, 10:08 AM

pics pics pics

cruiseroutfit · 02-23-2006, 04:47 PM

Pics are up...

http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/PG_Goblin_Swell.html

wngrog · 02-23-2006, 04:56 PM

Awesome! Public access land is so awesome. 93% of Texas is private.

So cool.

What happened to that pimp trailer you built last year?

4x4Poet · 02-23-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wngrog

Awesome! Public access land is so awesome....

I agree. Nothin' better for wheeling than a western state. [Texas is southern

].

Kurt, what was the name of those beige spires? Incredible geological phenomenon!

I also got a kick out of that store in the cliff/mine. Please, tell us a little about it.

cruiseroutfit · 02-23-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wngrog

...What happened to that pimp trailer you built last year?

Sitting under a foot of snow...

I thought I could try and pack "light" for once and leave the trailer behind (didn't have time to dig it out and load it up)...

I was wrong...

She had some serious sag in the back...

cruiseroutfit · 02-23-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4Poet

...Kurt, what was the name of those beige spires? Incredible geological phenomenon!

Spires? Needles? I'm not sure what they official geo. name is... but they are amazing... especially when you get close and they are so HUGE.

Quote:

I also got a kick out of that store in the cliff/mine. Please, tell us a little about it.

Its a gas station right off the corner of the highway, worth checking out as the entire store is carved into the mountain. You would think it was rather small inside... its huge... Here are a couple more pics:

A few have asked what these are... wild ponies... never fails to amaze me. The Swell area has quite a few wild horses & burro's (sp?)

dieselcruiserhead · 02-24-2006, 11:09 AM

kewl...

4x4Poet · 02-24-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiseroutfit

Spires? Needles? I'm not sure what they official geo. name is... but they are amazing... especially when you get close and they are so HUGE.

I meant, "what were they named," such as "Kurt's Fingers". They'd be "Boston Mangler's Fingers" if the middlemost one was prominently higher than the others.

Quote:

Its a gas station right off the corner of the highway, worth checking out as the entire store is carved into the mountain. You would think it was rather small inside... its huge....

Makes me wonder what would cost more. Carving it out or building a building like any other gas station store. Upkeep must be near nill. No paint, no re-roofing, etc.

Thanks, Kurt.

RustyNailJustin · 02-25-2006, 11:16 AM

Is Stans burger shack still out there? "Aint no fuss eat with us"
I grew up camping out in the Swell, Hanksville, and lake Powell area. Know it well. Got more pictures?

cruiseroutfit · 02-26-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyNailJustin

...I grew up camping out in the Swell, Hanksville, and lake Powell area. Know it well. Got more pictures?

Its an amazing area... I will be back there soon for sure! This is my second trip to the area this month...

The only pictures I have are the ones in the link above... but here is the link from the earlier Swell trip

http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/PG_San_Moab.html

RustyNailJustin · 02-26-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiseroutfit

Its an amazing area...

ANd still truly a very "wild" area not many people are out there. Just ask Aron Rolston (SP)

cruiseroutfit · 02-26-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyNailJustin

ANd still truly a very "wild" area not many people are out there. Just ask Aron Rolston (SP)

No kidding...

So where is Stans at? Was it in Hanksville? Sounds like another reason to get down south

02-21-2006, 01:18 AM	#1
cruiseroutfit Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Sep 2000 Member # 1858 Location: Sandy, Utah, USA Posts: 3,332	Utah's Goblin Valley/Capitol Reef/Swell Trip Report What a trip... Saturday: We left SLC around 6:00 and pulled into Goblin Valley ~9:00, not bad considering the 20mph speeds up Spanish in the snow. Craig & his wife (in the BJ70) had already set up a great camp just south of Temple Mountain. Sunday: We headed off to check out the Hidden Splendor Mine and some of Reds Canyon, we were hoping to connect Hidden Splendor with Factory Butte, but despite the EVIDENT roads that have been there for 50+ years, it si a WSA now . So, we trekked back to HWY24 and headed down to Hanksville for some fuel. After some grub at Blondies we left Hanksville and headed to Cainville on 24, from there we were back on dirt heading north on Cainville Wash. Passed a couple of those troubled youth groups with handcarts, the Bentonite Hills (really cool colors!) and made out way to Capitol Reef via the east entrance. We stopped to check out the Lower & Uppers South Desert Overlooks & the Cathedral Valley area . We tried to make it over the HWY72 via 1000 Lakes road... but got stopped by a couple feet of snow. Craig & I did give it a hell of a try So, we ended up goingn north on Cathedral Valley road and via dirt all the way up to I70. It was getting late so we hit the pavement and called it a night in Ferron. Monday: Topped off the tanks in Ferron, and headed right into the Swell via Horn Siver Gulch. Headed north in search of the "dangerous river crossing" on the San Rafael River... could get ugly in some rain. Proceeded north to Clevland (Quarry was closed ), checked out the Desert Lake Waterfowl area, Victor Cemetary, & Mounds and headed back the Wellington for a late lunch & a soda. Spent an hour or so in Helper at the antique store (museum was closed ) and bombed back to SLC. Gas: ~50 gallons Miles: ~600 40's RULE! & Epperson's 70 was great too I'll get some pictures tomorrow... __________________ Kurt Williams Cruiser Outfitters - YOUR CRUISER PARTS SOURCE! - ARB - OME - Engel - Helton - AdvAdapt ExpeditionUtah.com U4WDA - Member TLCA #10662 Wasatch Cruisers #028 Mountain Yoats Red Rock 4 Wheelers #789 Mojave Underground kurt@cruiseroutfitters.com

02-21-2006, 10:08 AM	#3
orangefj45 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Member # 6816 Location: on thin ice Posts: 14,832	pics pics pics __________________ looking for Advance Adapter parts? send me a pm!

02-23-2006, 04:47 PM	#4
cruiseroutfit Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Sep 2000 Member # 1858 Location: Sandy, Utah, USA Posts: 3,332	Pics are up... http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/PG_Goblin_Swell.html __________________ Kurt Williams Cruiser Outfitters - YOUR CRUISER PARTS SOURCE! - ARB - OME - Engel - Helton - AdvAdapt ExpeditionUtah.com U4WDA - Member TLCA #10662 Wasatch Cruisers #028 Mountain Yoats Red Rock 4 Wheelers #789 Mojave Underground kurt@cruiseroutfitters.com

02-23-2006, 04:56 PM	#5
wngrog Moderating Midget Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1154 Location: Canton, MS Posts: 19,098 Blog Entries: 2	Awesome! Public access land is so awesome. 93% of Texas is private. So cool. What happened to that pimp trailer you built last year? __________________ Nolen Grogan CottonLand Cruisers www.rockmidgetphotography.com blacksheep4x4.com USAF Veteran 1988-1998 GOD Bless America

02-24-2006, 11:09 AM	#9
dieselcruiserhead Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12758 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 4,581	kewl... __________________ - '69 diesel FJ55 on a FZJ80 - '89 & 91' Toyota Mini Trucks, M416 trailer

02-25-2006, 11:16 AM	#11
RustyNailJustin TLCA #5305 Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8568 Location: Montrose CO,Delta CO,Fruita CO,K Falls OR Posts: 5,681	Is Stans burger shack still out there? "Aint no fuss eat with us" I grew up camping out in the Swell, Hanksville, and lake Powell area. Know it well. Got more pictures? __________________ 2010 KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. Starting 7th 2009 KOH Team 435 Finished 35th. THANKS Moab MS High Angle Crossroads Fitness Maxxis Tires

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