HANKSVILLE RIDING INFORMATION 2006
Last year was my third leading of the Hanksville ride. I use leading loosely as this is an open riding area and I am there to ride around like everybody else. I am no expert trail finder. I have been to Hanksville enough so I can find enough trails to have some fun days of riding.
Three years ago we all drove down in a snowstorm and the forecast was for more. However, Hanksville did not disappoint. The weather was fine. The ride turnout was a little small. This year I have already had good interest. I guess everybody has spring fever after the long winter. I don't have a detailed ride plan so I am open to suggestions and my plan might change.
If you haven’t ridden Hanksville before, you need to! The new Resource Management Plan (RMP) is likely to greatly reduce the riding opportunities in this area so ride it now while you can. And join www.usa-all.org to fight to keep it open. Take a moment to review these suggested RULES for your safety and in helping keep this area open. USA-ALL has made this a priority area to save and you can help.
The town of Hanksville is on the map. Once you get to Hanksville go west towards Capital Reef. About 10 miles or ten minutes out (someday I will measure) you will find a dirt road to the North off of the main highway. It is easy to find as it is about the only main dirt road out there. I call it the Factory Butte Road (the correct name might be Wild Horse Road) as it goes north right by Factory Butte and keeps going until it eventually takes you all the way back to I-70 via Goblin Valley and Temple Mountain or back to the road from I-70 to Hanksville. I will try to have a UTMA sign on the turn off.
Last year there were signs about an “OHV Play Area” at the second road going north but I don’t know if the signs are still up on that road. If you get on that road it dead ends so you will know you are on it.
If you stay on the highway west from Hanksville and miss the Factory Butte Road you will end up in Caineville. If you have gone that far, stop! Turn around and go back towards Hanksville.
When you find the Factory Butte Road go north about 6 miles. On your right you will see our encampment. It is on a little rise in the road we camp on the East side of the road. The landscape is barren so you can’t miss us. Pull in and look for somebody you know. If you don’t know anybody introduce yourself to people until you find me.
I will arrive sometime on Thursday if all goes well. If not, I’ll be there Friday morning about 9:30 A.M. It is about four plus hours from Salt Lake. There will be others there before me so don’t worry if you get there early. On Friday I am thinking about going for a ride up towards Salt Creek into Cathedral Valley and back around South of North Caineville Mesa. It depends on what time we start and what is open to ride. This is the most scenic of the rides.
Saturday’s riding will be out and around the Butte or directly to the big hills of Hanksville. I am not a big hill climber but I like to watch the craziness. Then down the Leavitt’s Diode for the soil of the moon ride. After noon will be back to camp for re-grouping and more riding.
Sunday will be whatever people are up for. There are some good washes and draws to explore as well as some old settler’s cabins to see.
If weather is good, I will be camping out. There are always some people with camp trailers staying on site. The city folks usually stay at the tough shed motel in Hanksville. Whispering Sands or Stan's place or something like that.
Ride hard and sleep well!