Cottonwood Wash Ruins | Eastern Reef

Hiking Cottonwood Wash Ruins - Eastern Reef Hiking Cottonwood Wash Ruins

Eastern Reef

Overview

RATING: Easy Hiking
MAPS: Crows Nest Spring, UT;

Sat

Areas of smoke. Sunny. High near 94, with temperatures falling to around 92 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 7 to 17 mph.

94 | 60

Sun

Patchy smoke before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 6 to 15 mph.

94 | 55

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 99.

99 | 58

Tue

Mostly sunny, with a high near 97.

97 | 62

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 96.

96 | 61

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Spring, Fall, Winter (when no snow)
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None.

Sat

Areas of smoke. Sunny. High near 94, with temperatures falling to around 92 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 7 to 17 mph.

94 | 60

Sun

Patchy smoke before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 6 to 15 mph.

94 | 55

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 99.

99 | 58

Tue

Mostly sunny, with a high near 97.

97 | 62

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 96.

96 | 61

View Full Weather Details
Boulder petroglyph

Boulder petroglyph

How many Cottonwood Washes are there in Utah? I can think of many, and at least two in the San Rafael area. This one is just east of UT-24 on the way to Hanksville. From the highway, the area appears to be rolling sage brush plain and not particularly interesting. Up close, however, the area contains several canyons, slickrock cliffs, and relics of when the ancient people passed through and lived in the area. This hike meanders down Cottonwood Wash, visiting a ruin and panel en route before circling back to the car.

Though interesting, this is not a hike I would highly recommend. The ruins are small and mostly destroyed. There are certainly better panels to visit in the Swell. This hike does offer solitude, in a very seldom visited area just off the highway.

Faded panel in Cottonwood Wash

Faded panel in Cottonwood Wash

Old signatures

Old signatures

Getting There

Reaching the trailhead starts by getting to mile post 140.5 on UT-24. If coming from I-70, this is about 20 miles south after taking exit 149 from I-70. If coming from Hanksville, this is about 25 miles north of Hanksville.

  • Reset your odometer as you turn off to the east at milepost 140.5. ( 12S 541266E 4282174N / 38°41'14"N 110°31'32"W )
  • 1.7 straight ( 12S 542686E 4280765N / 38°40'28"N 110°30'33"W )
  • Trailhead - 2.4 miles. Shallow drainage north into Cottonwood wash ( 12S 543817E 4280712N / 38°40'26"N 110°29'47"W )
  • Gate ( 12S 544420E 4280737N / 38°40'27"N 110°29'22"W )
Old ruin at the panel

Old ruin at the panel

Cottonwood Wash

Cottonwood Wash

Route

From the trailhead, head due south finding any easy path to the bottom of Cottonwood Wash. Once in the bottom, go down canyon. Shortly, an old signature is under an overhang on the left. H.T.Yokey and J.Hub. It would be fascinating to know the age and story behind them!

Just below the signatures is a very small narrow section. The open, wide walled canyon is easy going. Shortly a fence and second small narrows is passed. Begin watching on the left below the second small narrows. A small side drainage that ends in an overhang appears to have very well worn ruins. Just down from this less than a minute on the left is the main attraction, a panel and signs of old habitation.

Continuing down, there is another dot petroglyph on the left just around a small bend.

Next up is a petroglyph on a large boulder next to the wash bottom. It is hard to miss. Just past it a side drainage comes in that provides easy exit. This is the exit.

Side Trip: It is worth continuing down an additional 5 minutes or so to a small arch and cowboy signatures on the left, then return back up canyon to the exit.

Exit: The drainage provides easy access to the rim of the canyon. At the rim, head due north, reaching a road within 10 minutes. Follow the road west back to the trailhead, passing through a gate just before the trailhead.


Maps

Route / 5.83 miles / Elevation Range 4,591 - 4,771 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12S 543816E 4280712N

38°40'26"N 110°29'47"W

Gate

12S 544420E 4280736N

38°40'27"N 110°29'22"W

Ht yokey

12S 544152E 4280280N

38°40'12"N 110°29'33"W

Small Narrows

12S 544125E 4280233N

38°40'11"N 110°29'34"W

Fence

12S 544754E 4280450N

38°40'17"N 110°29'08"W

Small Narrows

12S 544852E 4280542N

38°40'20"N 110°29'04"W

Ruin

12S 545428E 4280420N

38°40'16"N 110°28'40"W

Pictograph

12S 545487E 4280436N

38°40'17"N 110°28'38"W

Dot Petroglyph

12S 545859E 4280293N

38°40'12"N 110°28'22"W

Boulder Petroglyph

12S 546472E 4280308N

38°40'13"N 110°27'57"W

Exit

12S 546773E 4280480N

38°40'18"N 110°27'44"W

Small Arch

12S 546781E 4280265N

38°40'11"N 110°27'44"W

Cowboy Signature

12S 546817E 4280271N

38°40'11"N 110°27'43"W

Comments

Want to make a comment? Login and let yourself be heard.