Trail Overview
Embark on an incredibly dynamic and visually spectacular 1.8-mile adventure along BLM 198, a versatile dirt trail seamlessly welcoming hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, ATVs, side-by-sides, and all street-legal vehicles. The journey begins right off County Road 2/10, immediately treating explorers to wide-open, breathtaking views of the stunning national monument, the distant cityscape, and majestically towering mountain ranges. The early sections of this picturesque route are delightfully mild, featuring shallow ruts measuring just 2 to 4 inches deep and a short, easily manageable steep descent around the 0.2-mile mark with gentle 5-degree off-camber slopes. At roughly 0.4 miles, the trail dramatically shifts direction, suddenly opening up magnificent, expansive views of the iconic Book Cliffs before introducing a distinctly marked obstacle. As you reach 0.5 miles, the terrain's intensity increases, with ruts deepening to between 6 and 8 inches—surfaces that become exceptionally slippery and challenging if wet. Farther along at 1.1 miles, the landscape drastically transitions into an exhilarating, tighter canyon environment. Here, drivers must skillfully navigate sharp switchbacks and conquer formidable ruts reaching up to 14 inches deep, where engaged four-wheel drive or AWD is strongly recommended. The route also provides convenient access to Trail 199. Ultimately, this magnificent canyon-to-mountain transition concludes at a highly desirable, secluded dispersed campsite boasting multiple rustic fire rings. Be sure to carefully follow the visibly driven line for the verified exit route, as popular mapping applications frequently provide incorrect directions in this remote desert area.
Difficulty
This trail earns a dynamic difficulty rating that notably escalates as you venture deeper into the canyon system. While the very beginning is a highly approachable Level 3 featuring mild 5-degree off-camber descents and shallow 2- to 4-inch ruts easily conquered by standard 2WD vehicles, the conditions quickly become much more demanding. Beyond the 1.1-mile mark, drivers face a rigorous Level 3 challenge as they navigate tight, restrictive canyon switchbacks and punishingly deep 12- to 14-inch ruts. Traversing this later section safely strongly requires four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, adequate ground clearance, and attentive line selection. Additionally, the dirt surface becomes extremely treacherous and slippery when wet or recently saturated, requiring dry-weather travel.
