Hiking Upper Black Box Gorge - Northern San Rafael Swell

Overview

Wed

65° | 45°

Thu

62° | 34°

Fri

64° | 36°

Sat

64° | 36°

Sun

60° | 38°

( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Moderate

LENGTH: 2-4+ hours

MAPS: DROWNED HOLE DRAW, UT; DEVILS HOLE, UT

SEASON: Spring, Fall, Winter (if now snow) Very hot in the summer.

GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

WATER: Filterable though silty water (San Rafael River) along much of the hike.

FLASHFLOOD: High

Wed

65° | 45°

Thu

62° | 34°

Fri

64° | 36°

Sat

64° | 36°

Sun

60° | 38°

The Upper Black Box Gorge

The Upper Black Box is usually thought of as the relatively narrow section just above Mexican Mountain where the San Rafael River goes from one wall to the other and requires constant wading or swimming. It is an amazing adventure!

This section visits the Upper-Upper Black Box via one of the only non-technical entrances to the Upper Black Box between Lockhart Box and Mexican Mountain. This route, entering via an old cattle trail, was traditionally used as the start of the Upper Black Box hike before the technical entrances closer to Mexican Mountain became more well known and often used. If you want to do the iconic section of the Upper Black Box, I would NOT consider using this entrance. From this entrance to the end of the Upper Black Box near Mexican Mountain is a very long, tiring, and strenuous endeavor.

This hike, as an out-and-back, however, is as far or short as you want to make it and visits a wider, deeper section of the Upper Black Box. This section is wide with craggy and steep angled walls. I thought it made a lovely hike, especially in the early spring when the river was crystal clear from the lack of storms over the winter.

Difficulty Note: To reach the river requires descending about 600 vertical feet down a steep, loose old cattle trail. You have to climb the same steep slope on your return. Once at the river, the walking downstream is initially pretty easy but gets rockier the farther you go. Depending on flows, you can walk quite a ways on the bank without needing to get your feet wet. Experienced hikers and dogs will have no problem; the inexperienced might not enjoy it. There are a few large swim holes along the river if the temps are warm enough.

Morning light in the gorge.

Getting There

The trailhead starts at the end of the Mexican Mountain road. To get to the Mexican Mountain road, which is near the San Rafael Campground, depends on where you are coming from. Once at the campground, the Mexican Mountain road is on the north side of the river, and well signed just before the cattleguard. (This is also part of the campground.)

From the North

Just before the town of Castle Dale, at milepost 39.4, go east on the signed San Rafael Swell Access road. Reset your odometer as you turn off the highway onto the dirt road. 12S 500218E 4341289N / 39°13'15"N 110°59'51"W

Continue on this road, passing a cattle guard after 12 miles, and reaching a 4 way junction at 12.7 miles. 12S 518059E 4336281N / 39°10'32"N 110°47'27"W

Continue east at this 4 way junction for 2.4 miles to the signed Buckhorn Wash road. 12S 521483E 4335782N / 39°10'16"N 110°45'05"W

Go right, down the Buckhorn Wash road about 9.5 miles to the cattle guard and San Rafael Campground. 12S 529065E 4326048N / 39°04'59"N 110°39'50"W

From The South

Take I-70 west from Green River about 30 miles, to exit 131. Take exit 131, turning right. This road goes east, paralleling the freeway for a couple of miles before turning north. 12S 529541E 4303709N / 38°52'54"N 110°39'34"W

Follow this road 19 miles to where the San Rafael campground is, and the bridge over the river. The cattle guard marks the lower end of Buckhorn Wash. 12S 529065E 4326048N / 39°04'59"N 110°39'50"W

To the trailhead from the San Rafael Campground

Head down the Mexican Mountain road that is on the north side of the San Rafael River.

8.0 miles - Lockhart Box traillhead on the right. 12S 537637E 4319272N / 39°01'18"N 110°33'55"W

9.6 miles - Trailhead. Park just off the road. You have just passed a very faded old road on the right side of the Mexican Mountain road. To the south is an open plain with a dead juniper a couple of hundred yards out with some branches leaned up against it. This is just after the road went from heading south, went around a small point and now heads due east. 12S 539239E 4318193N / 39°00'43"N 110°32'48"W

The top of the cattle trail down.

Route Description

To the River (30-45 minutes)
From the parking spot along the Mexican Mountain Road, look south for a dead juniper tree with some other limbs leaning up against it a couple of hundred yards out. It is a good landmark to make sure you are in the correct spot, but with a GPS, it is an easy approach.

Head to the dead juniper, then southeast toward the jagged eastern reef in the far distance. About 1/3 of a mile from the trailhead, you will intersect a fairly shallow drainage. Go down it, likely encountering a few sporadic cairns as you go. The drainage ends overlooking the gorge and San Rafael River below. There are cairns here to mark the old cattle trail.

The trail angles down and right through the steepest section. Once off the rim, take whatever route to the river looks easiest. There are some cairns in spots that follow the old trail, but in some spots there are several paths.

Along the River
Once at the river, you can hike in either direction.

Up is fairly brushy for about 1/4 of a mile before it relents and becomes easier going.

Down is less brushy from the start but gets more boulders and rock hopping the further you go.

If going down, depending on river flows, you can make it about 2 miles before needing to either boulder hop across the river or get your feet wet. It is impressive to me to see the occasional old cottonwoods along the river. They must occasionally endure some massive flash floods. The section is also littered with deep pools and large boulders in the river.

Return the same way.