Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon

Total Miles
33.1

Elevation

2,601.17 ft

Duration

6 Hours

Technical Rating

2

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Fall

Trail Overview

Are you in the mood for some beautiful views of Arches National Park, Merrimac Butte and Castle Valley? Pack a lunch and head to Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon. Doug's Point above Thompson Springs is a fun side trip and a great place for a picnic. Sego is a ghost town you can explore on your way to the high point at the end of Sego Canyon. Native American pictographs provide another option for a picnic. There is a staging area for ATVs and UTVs just north of the pavement. Make sure to remain on the designated routes, as this is a Wilderness Study Area.

Photos of Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon

Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon
Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon
Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon

Difficulty

Typically easy when dry, but can be impassable when wet. Side trip to Doug's Point is narrow with tight brush and is rocky in spots.

History

The town of Sego was built sometime after 1911 when the land was bought from a local rancher by a group of Salt Lake City investors. The land held great promise as a source of coal, but windling water supplies doomed the operation. Thirteen bridges were built as part of a railroad that serviced the town.The mine closed in 1947. Source: Henry Chenoweth, www.ghosttowns.com.

Technical Rating

2

Status Reports

John Peck
Mar 28, 2024
2021 Jeep Gladiator
Open
Andrew Bornhoft
Feb 20, 2024
2023 Subaru Outback
Obstructed
Deep Snow
Very fun and easy, a little bit of mud but deep snow above 6500 feet in elevation.
Mac Ritz-kenny
Jan 16, 2024
2022 Toyota Tacoma
Open
Snow/Ice
4 or so water crossings about 2 miles in, can be avoided using the Thompson access point if you’re just interested in Sego and Sego canyon. The first crossing is deeper than it looks. Snow intermittent on most of the trail but gets deeper and more consistent after the Sego ruins, and deeper still after the overlook about a mile from the end of the trail.

Access Description

Take Highway 191 north from Moab about 30 miles to Crescent Junction at Interstate 70. After passing under freeway, follow paved frontage road east about 0.1 mile to paved Railroad Road on left.

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