Little Wild Horse Canyon / Bell Canyon | San Rafael Swell

Hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon / Bell Canyon - San Rafael Swell Hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon / Bell Canyon

San Rafael Swell

Overview

RATING: Hiking (Class 3)
MAPS: Little Wild Horse Mesa, UT

Thu

Sunny. High near 47, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

47 | 29

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 1 to 14 mph.

50 | 31

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

44 | 29

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 25

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

46 | 27

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any, no snow. Can be hot in the summer.
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: Bring plenty especially in warmer weather.
FLASHFLOOD: Moderate/High

Thu

Sunny. High near 47, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. East northeast wind around 5 mph.

47 | 29

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 1 to 14 mph.

50 | 31

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

44 | 29

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 25

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

46 | 27

View Full Weather Details
Little Wild Horse Canyon - Swell

Little Wild Horse Canyon - Swell

Little Wild Horse Canyon - Swell

Little Wild Horse Canyon - Swell

If you only do one hike in the San Rafael Swell, Little Wild Horse should be the one. It is often hard to choose a favorite hike in an area, but for the San Rafael Swell, I would have to say Bell and Little Wild Horse is it. It is hands down the most popular hike in the area. As such, don't come here if you are looking for the lonely scenery and solitude much of the southern Utah desert provides, you are likely to see other people here, many other people. Depending on the time of year, this hike can be crowded, as the large parking areas at the trailhead can testify to.

This loop hike includes a narrow winding slot, great views of the back of the reef, and another great canyon on the return. Tough to beat. Hot in the summer, this is a great fall, winter, or spring hike, and family friendly. It can have a bit of water just after recent rains, but not much over ankle or knee.

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Me in the narrows - Little Wild Horse Canyon

Me in the narrows - Little Wild Horse Canyon

Getting There

Reach the trailhead by going west from Green River Utah on I-70 to the junction with highway 24 that goes to Hanksville. Go toward Hanksville for about 25 miles to Mile Post 135.

  • A paved road goes off to the west signed Goblin Valley. ( 12S 537737mE 4275878mN / N38° 37' 50" W110° 33' 59" )
  • Follow this paved road 5.1 miles to a junction. Go south (left) on the signed road toward Goblin Valley, resetting your odometer. ( 12S 530077mE 4278354mN / N38° 39' 12" W110° 39' 16" )
  • Just before Goblin Valley, 6.0 miles, another junction occurs. Go right here, resetting your odometer once again. ( 12S 525266mE 4270703mN / N38° 35' 04" W110° 42' 36" )
  • Follow the road 5.3 miles to the signed Little Wild Horse trailhead, it is now paved all the way to the trailhead. ( 12S 517180mE 4270494mN / N38° 34' 58" W110° 48' 10" )
Lucy in the narrows

Lucy in the narrows

Lucy enjoying the slot - Little WIld Horse

Lucy enjoying the slot - Little WIld Horse

Route

Approach to Little Wild Horse (15-20 minutes)
From the trailhead, follow the well-defined trail up the wash. About 15 or so minutes from the car, the wash narrows and turns to slickrock. This short slickrock section has one small up climb that may prove difficult for some. If so, backtrack to the start of the slickrock slot, and follow a trail on the left (looking up canyon) that bypasses the obstacle.

Up Little Wild Horse (1.5-2 hours)
Shortly after this first slickrock section (less than 5 minutes), be on the lookout for Little Wild Horse coming in on the right. Many have missed this junction in the past, but as of winter 2009, the junction is signed. Go right, up Little Wild Horse. The canyon is sublime. As it cuts and winds its way through the reef, it gets very narrow and deep. Beautiful. It takes 1.5-2 hours to hike this section of the canyon, depending on how often you stop for photographs. Once the canyon opens and begins exiting the reef completely, watch for the trail to leave the canyon on the left (looking up canyon). This is also currently signed as Bell Canyon with an arrow.

Back to the Trailhead via Bell (2-2.5 hours)
The trail follows the back of the reef before reaching an old mining road (The Behind the Reef Road). The large buttress in the distance to the right, forming the point, is Chute Buttress. Follow the old mining road left (west), as it goes up a small incline, then descends to the bottom of Bell Canyon. This is currently well signed.

Note: The old cabin on the Behind the Reef Road just past Bell that you can see on the descent into Bell is well worth the 20 minute or so roundtrip to visit. Likely from the 50's or 60's, it is in decent shape.

Go down Bell Canyon. The canyon is a much different character than Little Wild Horse, more open and wide, with a few sections of shallow narrows. There are no major obstacles in Bell, but a few boulders to find ways over and around. Follow the path of least resistance. This will lead you back to the junction with Little Wild Horse, and back to the trailhead.


Videos

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Little Wild Horse Canyon & Bell Canyon

By: richardpattison

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Hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon

By: ryancornia

Maps

Route / 7.69 miles / Elevation Range 4,963 - 5,679 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12S 517180mE 4270493mN

N38° 34' 58" W110° 48' 10"

Little/Bell Obstacle

12S 516926mE 4271151mN

N38° 35' 19" W110° 48' 20"

Little Wild Horse

12S 516805mE 4271249mN

N38° 35' 22" W110° 48' 25"

Bell Top

12S 515834mE 4272750mN

N38° 36' 11" W110° 49' 05"

Junction

12S 517841mE 4273705mN

N38° 36' 42" W110° 47' 42"

Cabin

12S 515505mE 4273234mN

N38° 36' 27" W110° 49' 19"

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