If you want to really experience the Eastern Reef, this is the hike to do It begins near Uneva, follows the Eastern Reef south, visiting a perennial pool and small petroglyph panel before circling back behind the reef to the trailhead The views along the way are stunning The first half of this hike is easy, and makes a great out and back for those wanting a shorter day or with kids in tow The full loop is moderate to strenuous, with a fair amount of elevation gain over boulder strewn terrain

The eastern reef, near where I-70 enters the San Rafael Swell from the east, is one of the most dramatic parts of the Swell to visit The Navajo and Wingate uplift is dramatic from a distance, and even more so up close Buckeyes Canyon is one of those rare canyons that descends from the top of the reef In its short, but steep descent, it passes through the Wingate and Navajo layers in a series of 10 rappels En route, it also passes through several unnamed natural bridges and gives a rare view of Tip Top Arch One of t...

For a canyon so pretty, and with such easy access, Iron Wash seems to be infrequently trodden Most will want to just visit the lower end where the canyon cuts through the reef Visiting just Iron Wash is a casual romp and suitable for most The hike starts in a pretty Navajo walled canyon then turns into a very pretty, deep, and wide Wingate walled canyon before it exits the west side of the reef For the very motivated, a loop can be made up Iron Wash, along Lone Man Draw, down Ernie canyon and back to the car This m...

Short narrows, a pictograph panel, big views, arches, and even an optional rappel or two, what more could a canyon offer Farnsworth is a charmer, and a canyon I have visited many times over the years Visiting the lower section of the canyon, through the narrows or up to the pictograph panel, offers an easy to access outing suitable for most and a good kid friendly hike For those with a bit more energy, a jaunt up to the top of the reef offers big views and three hidden arches/bridges Still not satisfied Have some t...

Though close to I-70 as the crow flies, this region of the Swell feels remote and seldom visited A gem of an area to visit, your more likely to encounter cows, coyotes, and wild burros than other people The hike has a bit of everything It starts up Cave Canyon, which slowly deepens as it enters the reef After visiting a large natural alcove cave, it passes under one of the few natural bridges in the Swell before reaching the top of the reef and expansive views of Mexican Mountain and the Mexican Bend area It takes ...

I consider a big part of the fun and enjoyment of canyoneering to be the route finding Great Gusto Canyon is one of those rare days that I didn't lead the group to the spot where I thought we would end up, but instead to a different drainage entirely The upshot of the snafu Instead of finding and rappelling through the arch I had hoped we would be rappelling through, we found an undocumented and impressive natural bridge and rappelled through that instead! Bridge, arch, it is all good! This is an advanced canyon be...

Tucked in a canyon high on the slopes of the Eastern San Rafael Reef, Hurst Bridge is a gem The bridge itself is quite interesting and scenic, but the views of Ernie Canyon, the La Sals, the San Rafael Desert and surrounding areas make this a hike not to be missed It offers big views Many had warned me finding the arch was exceedingly difficult I would rate it as moderate navigation Getting to the general area is not particularly difficult, though may take some persistence to find the actual arch once in the area I...

Ernie Canyon offers a very casual hike to old mining ruins and a view of an arch high on the wall This is a good family friendly hike in cooler times of the year, and several spots along the approach road offer good primitive camping Good scenery, easy access, and good camping make this a highly recommended outing for most! Adding Hurst Bridge makes for a fuller day or even casual weekend all in the same area

Note: If you are looking for Unexpected Panel, or for canyoneering Old Woman Wash, see the Old Woman Wash trip for details This trip is the lower end of Old Woman Wash only The eastern San Rafael Reef is riddled with deep canyons, tall spires, and old ruins from both of the mining era and early Native American occupants Old Woman Wash is a great example of the beauty and diversity of the area The hike starts at an old chimney left from the mining days when Uranium wa...

The Red Reef Trail from the Red Cliffs Campground is a great little hike that is fun for the whole family and has something neat to check out around just about every bend, including two waterfalls and an alcove with pictographs I did this hike on a December day when the stream was frozen in places but still flowing well In hotter weather, this hike is popular for swimming, but the stream often dries up by summer so swimming is probably best on a hot spring day