Trail Overview
This trail starts off BLM 079 and ends at Painted Gorge Road, cutting through a canyon with hills of small rocks at first. Eventually, the surface transforms to look like just uneven hills of packed sand and mud, creating a unique terrain. The surface is hard-packed sand with some small rocks embedded throughout. There's almost no vegetation in this stark landscape. You'll encounter lots of off-camber sections, uneven surfaces, rutted areas, and whoops, creating constant challenges. The route cuts through a couple of washes as it navigates the terrain. There are some very steep drop-offs where long wheelbase vehicles may have issues with approach or departure angles. When you get closer to Painted Gorge, you can start seeing the different colors in the rocks up in the hills, previewing the spectacular geology ahead.
Difficulty
High clearance four wheel drive with good tires is highly recommended for this challenging trail. The combination of lots of off-camber sections, uneven terrain, ruts, and whoops demands skilled driving throughout. The very steep drop-offs are serious obstacles that may stop long wheelbase vehicles and require careful line choice and possibly spotting. The uneven hills of packed sand and mud create unpredictable traction. This is a technical route requiring capable vehicles and experienced drivers.
