Spring 2009 - North San Rafael Swell Ride - ATV
When: April 24 Friday and April 25 Saturday (Northern Swell)
Where: Utah, Interstate 70 off exit #131 (note new exit number, there is no exit #129) or via Price from
Hwy 10.
OHV Type: ATV/UTV - Intermediate Skill Level
Status: Weather may influence schedule, otherwise the ride is on, look at
this "status" line for updates; 
on
01/03/09)
Participation: You must RSVP with the ride leader for one or both days in order to reserve your spot.
The number of participants will be limited. Preference is first given to current members of the UTMA. Riders from out of state or other Utah Ride organization members in good standing with current club memberships will be requested to join the UTMA, make a donation to the UTMA, and/or donate to one of several Land Advocacy Support Groups. Riders from out of country will be given special dis-compensation. The ride host will provide information and suggestions about your donation options.
Ride Preparation:
You must provision yourself with the fuel necessary for either day of participation.
Please pack cameras, tools, lunch and water as there are no available services in these areas, period.
Cell phone services in the south portion of the swell are non-existent and they are
scattered at best in the northern portion of the swell, they can't and shouldn't
be relied upon. Cell service is partially obtainable around the Alternate and Primary Base Camps.
Friday Ride Information:
The departure time from both camping locations must be prompt. From the Primary Base Camp
please be staged and ready for the ride meeting as early as 9:30 am. If you are camped at the
Alternate Camp Site off I-70 (big rig preference) you must leave at 8:30 to ride into the
Primary Base Camp site to attend the pre-ride meeting at 9:30. A long day with up to 85 miles of
combined trails and roads possible.
Saturday Ride Information:
Specific Area; Utah USGS map reference "The Blocks",
attached map shows this ride in "blue". This ride will
consist of either a 51 or 63 mile loop and will take 5 to 6 hours to finish. We will leave
the Primary Base Camp (see attached map) after the 9:30 ride meeting. If you are
camped at the Alternate Base Camp at I-70 (see yellow segment on map) you'll need to leave at
8:30 to ride to the Primary Base Camp to attend the 9:30 am mandatory pre-ride meeting. That
ride segment is shown in purple. That trail section is 8 miles, is well marked, has only one section where
the trail leaves the wash, but is easy to follow to the Primary Base Camp.
Our journey will begin by heading south into Cane Wash. We'll head up through a short steep
section leaving Cane Wash and emerge on the northwest plateau of the Head of Sinbad, just north
and visible to I-70. We will then cross under I-70 and head towards Swazey's Cabin.
From this 100+ year old frontier cabin we will descend into Eagle Canyon and pass back
under the I-70 freeway spans which are 300 feet above the canyon floor.
We will then travel through the Eva Conover and Secret Mesa areas and head north descending
into the South Fork of Coal Wash. After reaching the South/North Fork Coal Wash junction kiosk, we
will head south into the North Fork of Coal Wash riding towards the Devils Race Track.
About one mile before the Devils Race Track cutoff we will break for a late
lunch underneath several 100+ year old cottonwood trees. After lunch and based on the determination of the ride host
and participants, one of two trail sections will be chosen to go back to camp. The Devils Race Track is the
most scenic with some fun and challenging steps along with a "trials" like section which is some what difficult, but
again fun. Once through the Race Track we will visit some pictographs and descend back into Cane Wash and head
back to camp. The other trail route option continues down through North Coal Wash, goes by a large arch and then
through "Fixit Pass" and back to the Primary Base Camp.
Sunday: Maintenance routines may be scheduled - help appreciated.
Directions to Primary Base Camp: (Distance and time
to base camp from Green River,Click Here)
From Interstate 70 get off exit #131 and head north
13.29 miles on Buckhorn Wash Road. If extreme
weather/flash flooding is in progress during Thursday look for
an Alternate Camp Site sign about .6 tenths of a mile from Exit #131
(ride will base from here if necessary). Otherwise, continue
north and look for the "UTMA SF RIDE" sign and turn onto
the Cane Wash Cut Off road (labeled on attached map). You will head
south west for approximately 5.5 miles and this section of road is
not maintained. (The map below shows this entire section from I-70 to
camp in (Note: Buckhorn Wash road
can be accessed from the north via Price off Hwy 10. If you enter from
the north, the Cane Wash Cut Off road is approximately 6 miles south of
the BLM San Rafael Campground.)
Camping:
Camping at the Primary Base Camp is primitive and everyone must take out what they
bring in. Bring all food, water, shelter, fuel and equipment needed for your stay.
This camping area is an extremely pristine and fragile area, please use
a "leave no trace etiquette" while camping.
Important Information about this Ride and Requirements for Conditional Use:
This area is perhaps one of Utah's most scenic and previously controversial riding areas.
It will remain open ONLY if you are willing and able to comply with the use requirements posted
within the San Rafael Swell by the BLM, and 7+ other Intermountain West Ride Organizations.
Saturday's Conditional Ride Use:
The majority of the Northern San Rafael Swell ride is within a Wilderness Study Area and the
trails in the area are assigned for use under a "Conditional Use Only" basis. Meaning
these trails are subject to CLOSURE if strict adherence to riding on the trail is not
maintained. Because this area is monitored this means exercising special riding considerations
which includes while riding in wide washes, stay and ride on existing tracks or in the middle
of the wash areas. Please stay off wash edges and berms, avoid vegetation, TREAD
LIGHTY is the key word !!!
UTMA Riding Etiquette:
Ride Map (Northern Swell, north of I-70): Ride Summary from October 2003(Click Here) Ride Pictures from Various Visits(Click Here)
Tory Thoen t_thoen@yahoo.com (801-541-3959)
The Utah Trail Machine Association and Ride Coordinators assumes no responsibility nor liability for any loss, damage, or other injury to persons or property in connection with your participation in any ride. Juveniles must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Your presence and participation indicates a knowledge of and an assumption of the resulting risks involved. All participants are urged to use proper riding gear, be in satisfactory physical condition, and secure prior to the ride appropriate medical, personal injury, and property damage insurance coverage.
UTMA
P.O. Box 50225
Provo, UT 84605-0225
Webmaster.
Copyright © 2004 Utah Trail Machine Association. All rights reserved.
Revised: 09/11/05.