Comb Wash, Arch Canyon, Abajo Mtns and Ruin Park - Spring of '10

[Greg]

The wife and I both had 3 days off over a nice Spring weekend, so we decided to take the opportunity and load up the LX450 with our gear, food and the dog, then head for Bluff, Utah for the beginning of our adventure. I wanted to retrace some of my steps in the trip I took on my motorcycle last Fall, Exploring South-Eastern UT's backroads by motorcycle. I really enjoyed that ride and wanted to share many of those same places with Catherine, so we headed out!

Before Noon on Friday we had topped off the tank in Bluff and headed down to US Hwy 163 to the West side of Comb Wash. I still need to see the East side, but we're saving it for a future trip. For now, our destination was up at the end of Arch Canyon to setup camp for the night. The drive up Comb Wash was uneventful, there was a good bit of water in the wash and the traffic on the trail was minimal, just how we like it!

It was an easy drive up to the entrance to Arch Canyon and the many, MANY water crossings. We dropped the Lexus into 4 Low and headed up the canyon, carefully dropping into and out of the stream bed. On the way up the canyon we explored some of the Ruins.

We got to the top of Arch Canyon and started to setup camp. I was working on the tent and bedding, while Catherine went to work on the fire. It was already getting chilly and a warm fire was a must!

 

[Greg]

The next morning was perfect, crisp air and we had the canyon all to ourselves. We took our time packing camp, just to savor the canyon. We headed back down, weaving between the trees and thru the water. On the way down we stopped to see more of the Ruins that we passed the day before.

After exiting the canyon, we turned North and headed towards the Comb Wash Cave. It was warming up, but we decided to hike up the canyon to the cave. It was well worth the hike, as it was very cool inside.

 

[Greg]

We continued our trip by climbing out of the valley, up a dugway and found an overlook down into Comb Wash.

We jumped back on the pavement for a quick jaunt over to Bears Ears and into the Abajo Mountains. I was a bit surprised at how much snow there still was up there, plus all the standing water. It was pretty neat to be up there and see all the snow melting off.

We dropped out of the Abajo Mountains into Beef Basin, Ruin Park and headed to our campsite by driving down Bobbys Hole hill. We set up camp just outside of the Needles NP border, took a walk down the 2 track road and enjoyed the evening.

 

[Greg]

The next morning we climbed up Bobby's Hole Hill, which wasn't too crazy, but just to make things interesting I locked up both diffs and took the more difficult lines. It was a good time, got one of the front tires off the ground on the way up. We continued the drive out of the canyon and into Ruin Park, where we took the time to explore the ruins, admire their construction and wonder how they have withstood the elements over so many years.

On the way thru Ruin Park we came across a massive Gopher Snake that was warming himself out in the middle of the road. I hopped out for a few pics, then coaxed him out of the way after he made a run for the Lexus.

We finally got back to civilization by way the long drive down Beef Basin road and back onto Hwy 211.

We aired up the tires and headed for Colorado, happy to have been out there, yet also happy to be headed for home after a long weekend in the outdoors!


Here's a link to the photo album from the weekend, if you're so inclined- http://greg-catherine.smugmug.com/Travel/Comb-Wash-Arch-Canyon-Ruin/12126671_yEBiq#862078154_N34x2

 

[Caleb]

Yet again, another great trip and report from you.

 

[LT.]

Yet again, another great trip and report from you.

X2! Every one of your adventures leaves us wanting more.

LT.

 

[ttora4runner]

Nice. :thumbs:

 

[Grim]

awesome pics and report , looks like a great time

 

[caddis]

Excellent! Man do I need to get out of the work and city crap!

 

[Spork]

Cool trip, thanks for sharing.

 

[Paudrhound]

:thumbs: excellent trip Greg! thanks for sharing

 

[DAA]

Very nice Greg! Looks like a great weekend.

I had to do a double take on one of the pictures of the ruins in Arch canyon, it's so similar to one I took of the same ruin.

This one:

Loved how you could see all the finger prints in the clay inside that one. Pretty cool stuff!

- DAA

 

[Houndoc]

Drove Arch Canyon part way last Tuesday. Fun drive, but we traveled really slow since my cousin was in his crew cab truck. Not the right rig for the narrow, winding Arch Canyon! Thus, we only made it up about 4 miles.

What are the directions to the Comb Wash cave? That was our plan, but we had been told it was up Arch Canyon, and thus never found it.

 

[Greg]

Glad you folks got a kick out of the report, I have to say this was one of our better trips. We had a good time and the scenery was perfect!

Very nice Greg! Looks like a great weekend.

I had to do a double take on one of the pictures of the ruins in Arch canyon, it's so similar to one I took of the same ruin.

This one:

Loved how you could see all the finger prints in the clay inside that one. Pretty cool stuff!

- DAA

How funny! I took my pic from the out-cropping down canyon with the camera zoomed in, seemed like a great place to stand and get a shot thru the ruin. I would imagine that's how you got you pic?

The work of those structures was simply amazing, but I really didn't like getting to it! I inched my way out towards the ruin, but backed off after deciding it wasn't worth the risk.

Drove Arch Canyon part way last Tuesday. Fun drive, but we traveled really slow since my cousin was in his crew cab truck. Not the right rig for the narrow, winding Arch Canyon! Thus, we only made it up about 4 miles.

What are the directions to the Comb Wash cave? That was our plan, but we had been told it was up Arch Canyon, and thus never found it.

That's pretty brave taking a crew cab truck up there, I thought the FZJ was a bit wide! I think a Jeep sized vehicle would be perfect, there were some spots I really had to squeeze thru and still ended up with some scratches. Matter of fact, the cover of the RTT was worn thru in a few places after some of the branches got too close.

The Comb Wash cave is pretty easy to find, but it's not up Arch Canyon. It's in Comb Wash, on the West side of the canyon, several miles North of Arch Canyon. If you're following the road past Arch Canyon in Comb Wash, you will eventually reach a fork where the road climbs up a dugout out of the canyon to the right, or you can continue on to the cave by taking the left. It's a decent hike to reach the cave, but well worth it.

 

[Houndoc]

Yea, I wish we could have convinced him to leave the truck. We would have made much better time. Monty and my uncle's Wrangler where perfect for the trail. But, his dad (my uncle) was pushing him to park it, so of course he would not.

Glad to know where to find the cave. Will have to give it another go next trip down.

 

[DAA]

How funny! I took my pic from the out-cropping down canyon with the camera zoomed in, seemed like a great place to stand and get a shot thru the ruin. I would imagine that's how you got you pic?

The work of those structures was simply amazing, but I really didn't like getting to it! I inched my way out towards the ruin, but backed off after deciding it wasn't worth the risk.

I'm not nearly as smart as most people I meet. Let alone a bright guy like you! I took my pic from the same ledge the ruin is on. And then inched out all the way to it. After passing through the portal on the far side, it's a pretty wide ledge walk over to the next, more extensive group of ruins. I was glad I did it. But, when I got back down to the Jeep, I also felt kind of stupid for doing it. One of my usual solo trips, and I had made a big time change of plans too, so I was a long ways from where I told Cindy I was going.

Like I said, I ain't too bright... But I do enjoy myself .

- DAA

 

[Greg]

I'm not nearly as smart as most people I meet. Let alone a bright guy like you! I took my pic from the same ledge the ruin is on. And then inched out all the way to it. After passing through the portal on the far side, it's a pretty wide ledge walk over to the next, more extensive group of ruins. I was glad I did it. But, when I got back down to the Jeep, I also felt kind of stupid for doing it. One of my usual solo trips, and I had made a big time change of plans too, so I was a long ways from where I told Cindy I was going.

Like I said, I ain't too bright... But I do enjoy myself .

- DAA

You're too funny Dave...

I tried to climb out to the ruin and turned back, I think you're just more adventurous. I could have made my way to it, but my wife probably wouldn't have appreciated me risking the climb, then falling. I don't think she would have liked loading me up, injured, then driving me out of the canyon and on to the nearest hospital.

 

[Houndoc]

My kids climbed up into the ruin, I watched helplessly from below.