Hiking Slickrock Bench Trail
Torrey
Overview
|
Thu 
71 | 51 |
Fri 
68 | 50 |
Sat 
66 | 44 |
Sun 
67 | 44 |
Mon 
68 | 45 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Thu
71 | 51 |
Fri
68 | 50 |
Sat
66 | 44 |
Sun
67 | 44 |
Mon
68 | 45 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Slickrock at the turn around.
It is a rare day that I recommend a hike that is along an ATV trail. Slickrock Bench Trail, near Capitol Reef, is a hike I will make an exception for. The hike is fairly unremarkable, but the destination is pretty, and I think well worth the hike. Even though this is an ATV trail, is it a rough one, and didn't seem particularly well traveled. If hiking in the off season, you are likely to have it to yourself. We visited on a late fall Saturday and saw no signs of recent travel and didn't see anyone on our trip. The end of the hike makes a great lunch spot.
Basalt and Sandstone, what a combo.
Getting There
From the east side of Torrey, head south on highway 12, toward Boulder/Escalante. Follow highway 12 for 7.1 miles. Just past the small town of Grover, the Miners Mountain Road takes off on the left and is signed.
- Reset your odometer as you turn onto the Miners Mountain Road off of highway 12. ( 12S 470020mE 4230475mN / N38° 13' 18" W111° 20' 33" )
- Follows the road as it winds through a few houses and fields. At the junction at 1.2 miles, stay left on the main road. ( 12S 471194mE 4229254mN / N38° 12' 39" W111° 19' 45" )
- At 2.3 is a Y junction. Go right here, an addition 0.1 miles and park anywhere convenient in the large open area. ( 12S 472324mE 4228142mN / N38° 12' 03" W111° 18' 58" )
- Trailhead ( 12S 472338mE 4227957mN / N38° 11' 57" W111° 18' 57" )
Volcanic boulders dotting the landscape.
Route
From the open parking area, follow the rough jeep/ATV trail south as it steeply climbs a very rocky hill. In 5 minutes is a signed trail junction. Go right here, as the trail flattens a little and becomes a bit less rocky.
In 30 minutes, a minor side road takes off on the right. Stay on the main trail (Left). The trail meanders in and out of small drainages and over ridges. At about 1.5-2 hours (3.25 miles from the trailhead), the trail climbs onto slickrock and rounds a point; this is the recommended destination.
The point has massive volcanic boulders dotting the landscape and creates a dramatic contrast of black rock on white sandstone. To the east is Capitol Reef National Park, with the Henry Mountains visible in the far distance past the park.
Maps
| Trailhead |
12S 472338mE 4227957mN N38° 11' 57" W111° 18' 57" |
| Junction, go right. |
12S 472373mE 4227722mN N38° 11' 49" W111° 18' 56" |
| Forest Boundary |
12S 471868mE 4227750mN N38° 11' 50" W111° 19' 17" |
| Junction, go left. |
12S 471730mE 4227268mN N38° 11' 34" W111° 19' 22" |
| Corner and Views |
12S 472614mE 4225282mN N38° 10' 30" W111° 18' 46" |