Kane Creek Canyon

Total Miles 13.2
Technical Rating
7 Difficult
Best Time Spring, Summer, Fall
Trail Type High-Clearance 4x4 Trail
Accessible By
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Trail Overview

This trail is constantly being eroded, but is repaired often enough to keep it open. It is a canyon trail that goes from wide to narrow and eventually drops into Kane Creek. The canyon is hard to navigate at times, so you want to keep a sharp eye on the markers guiding you through the route. ATVs and UTVs can handle this trail as long as the water isn't too high.

Photos of Kane Creek Canyon

Difficulty

Very difficult. Even when the creek is low, you can encounter water 4 ft. deep in places. You have to squeeze through very tight brush in spots. There is a good chance you'll get stuck in mud at some point, so go with a group that is winch-equipped. Plenty of big boulder fields including steep Hamburger Hill starting up the high ledge road. Our 2-door modified Rubicon, with 35-inch tires, got through okay, but just barely.

Technical Rating

7

Status Reports

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Alex Evans
Jun 14, 2026
Open
First part of the creek was dry, with some water in the creek later on
Adrian Simpson
Mar 24, 2026
Open
Trail was open but all the obstacles appeared to be modified with many stacked rocks and dirt shoveled to make it easier. Atv bypass was very easy. Some deep water and mud no more than 2 feet deep.
Jake Broussard
Jan 10, 2026
Open
The trail was open, and although there were a couple of puddles that we came across. The trail was intact and fine to wheel.
Dallas O'Connor
Nov 17, 2025
Open
The last large hill might’ve been passable by winching, but it was very rugged, large boulders, so we turned around and went all the way back
Colby Ellis
Sep 08, 2025
Open
We were able to do this with trail with 2013 Jku with: 35 inch tires, rear locker, 3.5 inch lift and a matching JKU with out a rear locker. Trail was mild for most the ride. We had to winch twice(Once on hamburger hill), and once towards the end of the route. It is doable as long as your rig has a winch and you’re okay with some gas tank skid plate damage. It took us just over 7 hours(we went slow and chose lines carefully on hamburger hill).
Eric S
Sep 01, 2025
Open
Brian Allen
Jun 12, 2025
Open
Made it 2 miles in and was completely bored with the trail. Glad we turned around, wouldn’t have been worth the drive to hit just a few obstacles at the end of the trail. Even if the last bit is difficult, it’s not worth the 7/10 rating.
Eric Shores
Jun 01, 2025
Open
I agree with the other recent posts except to add that there is erosion damage to the trail in the first half that has some deep holes as a result. Ran it solo with a gladiator on 40’s with 3” lift a front/rear lockers. Made it through with difficulty and needed to winch twice. The last cliff wall was especially difficult because there is no good winch point at the top and it has sand above and below reducing traction. To complicate it further+ the sand at the base is rutted out making this wall a bit over 6’ and is why I am rating it at an 8 difficulty: I go tthrough it with a tow strap wrapped around a rock and a extra lead line to my winch line. Without this extra recovery gear I would not have been able to make it up.
Jeff Robertson
Nov 19, 2024
Open
Ran it North to south. Easy with a few spots where you have to pick a good line till Muleshoe Canyon which has three near vertical off camber walls 3 to 5 feet tall. Near impossible without winch or serious death wish (very near a cliff). We turned around here which looked to be about a mile or two from the South end at HWY 191.
Mike T
Sep 27, 2024
Open
Sean McGee
Sep 23, 2024
Open
We had two rigs. JKU on 35s, short bed Ram on 40s. Both with lockers and winches. With a good spotter and driver you can drive this trail on 40s. Under that will be a challenge. No bypasses for obstacles. Both vehicles sustained minor body damage. The trail is easy until the last mile or so. There is erosion and technical rock climbing on a cliff with a several hundred foot drop. Multiple challenges at the last mile or so. Do not travel alone. Make sure you have a winch or turn around when you start up the cliffs edge. The trail is blocked by a rock slide that you can crawl over. Took 7 hours to get through.
Trevor Seidel
Sep 02, 2024
Open
Jim Shanks
Aug 07, 2024
Open
First 3/4 was dry, some water, 10” started for last quarter. 2 rigs on 35” and mine on 40”, all Jeeps.
Juan C
Jul 14, 2024
Open
My group of three vehicles started the trail from 191. We encountered a fairly new rock slide partially blocking the trail.
Ricky Yorgason
Jun 01, 2024
Open
Beginning of the trail was long and a bit boring from north to south. Once we made it to the side of the creek places got tight and damage could occur easily. We expected it to take the 4 hours we read on an earlier review. With the wash outs and erosion on the bigger obstacles we had 3 rigs with 37” tires and two boy winched once because it was dark and we didn’t want to take the chance to sleep over with a broken rig. It ended up taking from right after lunch to 10pm. 9 plus hours. There are zero bypasses on the hard stuff and you are on the edge of a vertical cliff with 150’-200’ drop. I can tell you this. It was amazing and we tested everything from our rigs to our mental strength by the end of the day. Go for it just plan accordingly

Kane Creek Canyon Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

  • Single Track
  • 50 Inch
  • 60 Inch
  • High Clearance

Kane Creek Canyon Map

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