Hiking Sinbad Spring - House Range

Overview

Wed

46° | 33°

Thu

47° | 37°

Fri

49° | 36°

Sat

57° | 38°

Sun

60° | 44°

( Rated 4.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Roadside or Easy Hike

LENGTH: 1+ hours (1 mile)

MAPS: SWASEY PEAK, UT

SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall

GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

WATER: Filterable at the spring if needed.

Wed

46° | 33°

Thu

47° | 37°

Fri

49° | 36°

Sat

57° | 38°

Sun

60° | 44°

Sinbad Spring Sign

The west desert of Utah is a dry place! The harsh environment makes me appreciate the infrequent springs found in the nooks and crannies of the area. Sinbad Spring is a small oasis in a sea of parched mountains. The spring has been developed for livestock and fills a metal trough before overspilling onto the ground and continuing on its path down the canyon. Not far below the spring, it falls down over a 21 m.

Hikers can visit the spring, then circle around down to the base of the falls, visiting a small natural arch en route. The wild feel, waterfall, and tall limestone cliffs make for a nice, though short outing.

Note: The spring is easy to find. The arch and base if the falls require moderate route finding. I was poking around the area to prepare for descending Sinbad Canyon when cairns and a lightly used social trail caught my eye. The social trail, once you find it, is a little steep and loose, but fairly family friendly with good leadership.

View through the arch down Sinbad Canyon

Getting There

Note: Reaching the trailhead requires quite a bit of good dirt road. Though mostly good enough for a family sedan, I would recommend high clearance. The canyon requires a shuttle, so you will need two vehicles.

From Delta, Ut, head west on US-50 W/US-6 W toward Baker Nevada for about 12 miles to mile post 76.2 where old highway 6 is signed on the right.

Reset your odometer as you turn north onto old highway 6. This good gravel road has many side roads. Stay on the main old highway 6 as it briefly goes north, then turns west and heads toward the House Range in the distance. 12S 345584E 4352404N / 39°18'26"N 112°47'28"W

22.7 miles - 4 way junction. Go right here, heading north. 12S 311189E 4348015N / 39°15'39"N 113°11'18"W

27.6 miles - Major 4-way intersection. Stay straight, continuing in a northerly direction. 12S 306231E 4353959N / 39°18'48"N 113°14'51"W

31.5 miles - Junction to Dome Canyon. Stay straight. Left (Dome Canyon) is used for setting up the shuttle. Directions below. 12S 303385E 4358495N / 39°21'13"N 113°16'55"W

35.2 miles - Side roads on the left. There is good primitive camping down thes side road on the left a short distance. For Sinbad Spring/Canyon, stay straight. 12S 300127E 4360627N / 39°22'19"N 113°19'13"W

35.9 miles - Sinbad Spring is on the left (south) side of the road. This is the trailhead, though there is not a great place to park. Find the widest spot on the road you can for a parking spot. Note: Continuing to 36.6 miles ends at a fantastic overlook of the Tule Valley and several excellent primitive camping sites. 12S 300090E 4361610N / 39°22'51"N 113°19'16"W

Towering walls from near the waterfall

Route Description

From the road, head downhill toward the drainage. The spring, with a livestock trough, is on the right a couple of minutes below the road. To visit the waterfall from the top, continue down from the spring just a couple of minutes. There is one down climb (on the left looking down canyon) before getting to the top of the falls proper.

To reach the arch and bottom of the falls requires a bit of route finding. From the spring, head up the small hill, and trend southwest. The goal is to stay somewhat close to the rim of the canyon to your left, but not so close the going is difficult. After just a few minutes (700-800 ft of hiking), a steep slope to the south allows passage down. This is where social trails seem to coalesce, and you are like to see cairns and more of a defined social trail.

Follow the social trail down. There is some steep loose rock in sections, but a close eye avoids anything too difficult. Once down the first level, where you are at the level of the base of a cliff band to the left, follow near the base of the cliff left (east). The arch is soon visible.

From the arch, you can continue along the base of the cliff (east) and down to the canyon bottom. The lush base of the waterfall is a few minutes up the canyon, but may feel like more due to all the trees and vegetation that need to be negotiated en route.

Return the same way.