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

Want to see more?
View All Photos

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

Zach Wallin

Apr 11, 2026

Open

The road is open and in great shape all the way to the end. A few neat artifacts to check out in Sego.

Angeletha Holst

Apr 09, 2026

Open

This route is still very useable. It is wide enough for two vehicles most ways. There are a few washout here and there but nothing a stock high clearance 4x4 can’t handle. AWD and 2WD may have a little harder time due to ground clearance. This is a nice option to get to the gas stations at the top of Highway 191 without hitting a lot of pavement or having to air up

Cole

Jan 25, 2026

Open

The trail is open and has been recently scraped so it's fairly smooth. Watch out for cows!

Damen Winslow

Sep 28, 2024

Open

the previous report of washout sections are dry now, but still rather sandy. 4W high was sufficient for my stock Tacoma to get thru.

Bill Smith

Sep 03, 2024

Open

Numerous washouts on CR 225. We were the first road vehicle to pass through some parts. Several sections were interesting in a lifted 4Runner.

Julian Du Pont

Sep 03, 2024

Open

Couple washouts with semi technical traverse. I think a stock truck might’ve had a couple scrapes

Richard Caples

Aug 28, 2024

Open

Complete washout at creek crossing.

Emily P

May 06, 2024

Open

Fun! Beautiful! Easy and rewarding. 4 water crossings, and several wild antelope. Wish I’d taken it more slowly but it was evening and there were no established campsites so had to move on.

John Peck

Mar 28, 2024

Open

Andrew Bornhoft

Feb 20, 2024

Open

Very fun and easy, a little bit of mud but deep snow above 6500 feet in elevation.

Mac Ritz-Kenny

Jan 16, 2024

Open

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.