Utah, Days 20/21... Wild Horse Slot Canyon

Friday, September 20, 2024

     The last original plan for the day was a lengthy trail through Price Canyon Recreation Area.  It's right on the drive from Hanksville to Salt Lake City.

     Good thing I read some more reviews of the canyon loop trail.  There was a new one from a poster two days ago.  Trail maintenance had closed it for a while.

     Instead, I tried something closer.  The trailhead is a half hour from the motel, just outside Goblin Valley State Park.

    The trail is an eight and a half mile loop through Wild Horse and Bells Canyon.  In hindsight, I should have been at the trailhead at first light.  In the end, I hiked up Wild Horse about a mile and a half, then a short way up Bells Canyon.  

     It'll make sense....

     From the drive in.

     This was disturbing.  

      It all begins with an easy walk through a sandy wash...

      

     There was three to four feet of width through this section.

     Some minor scrambling...

     At the split in the trail, I went right, up Wild Horse Canyon.  

     Eventually, the slot narrowed to the point it was difficult to walk without turning slightly sideways.  

      If this had been the only thing on tap for the day, I probably would have worked my way up and over that stone.  The top of that rock is perhaps four feet high.  There were enough places on the wall to brace myself up and over.  But, since I was still looking ar a four hour drive to Salt Lake City, I turned back.  No complaints.

     

Saturday, September 21, 2024

     Up and out with the first hint of sunlight on the horizon, the motel really was a five minute drive to the Salt Lake City Airport.  

     The AVIS agent checked me in without any concern to the flat tire in the bed of the truck.  She just made a note on the side window with a grease pencil and said I was good to go.

       The flight, nice and smooth...

PS: What's next?  Good question.