Destination West!
  • Home Page
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
  • Route 66
  • YouTube Channel
  • About
  • Get In Touch
  • Archive Albums
DestinationWest.Org

A free western tourism resource featuring majestic destinations and lesser known places!   

Flint Trail To Orange Cliffs & Hwy 95•Glen Canyon NRA

6/11/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
00:00     Title
00:17     To Hans Flat Ranger Station
03:47     Flint Trail To Doll House Road
10:17     Orange Cliffs To Highway 95
17:48     Fin​


Two previous articles describe the easy going lengthy dirt road trek to the Hans Flat Ranger Station and the dangerous ride down the Flint Trail Switchbacks to Doll House Road in Canyonlands National Park. Going from Hans Flat directly to Doll House Road via the Flint Trail definitely is not recommended for many good reasons, even for a heavy duty 4x4 vehicle, so it is best to nix this venture from the wish list. All is not lost because there actually is a much safer way to get to Doll House Road and other points of interest in this vast wilderness area. This pathway is also much easier on a vehicle, so there will be less of a chance to encounter reliability issues. Heading north on the Flint Trail from Utah Highway 95 near Hite will certainly be a much more pleasurable experience than negotiating the dangerous switchbacks near Hans Flat. 

A light duty high ground clearance 4x4 can easily handle the trip from Hite to Doll House Road on the Flint Trail, but going any further is risky business. This lengthy dirt road passes through the entire Orange Cliffs district of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which offers the same magnificent red rock landscapes as what can be found in the neighboring Canyonlands. This entire region can be viewed from the Orange Cliff Overlook atop the towering Island In The Sky further north in Canyonlands and the distant views are all that most of the mainstream tourists will ever see. For those who live for a world of adventure, touring the Orange Cliffs up close and personal is guaranteed to inspire fond memories that last a lifetime.

Simply put, a landscape artist will be truly awestruck when seeing the Orange Cliffs for the first time. These towering red rock outcrops are heavily eroded and the vertical slabs of rock that touch the sky are all that remains of many of the buttes. There is literally one breathtaking panoramic view after another along this section of the Flint Trail, so be sure to set plenty of time aside for the lengthy ride. Backcountry camping is an option, but this is a highly protected area and permits will be needed.

On a side note, I did the perilous journey from Hans Flat down the Flint Trail Switchbacks, so the Flickr photo album depicts the opposite direction of what is recommended. Looking at the album in reverse will show what the trip is like when starting the journey on Highway 95. I also ran out of daylight, so the final leg was photographed at dawn. As can be seen in the photos, sunrise and sunset are the best times of day for viewing the Orange Cliffs, because the golden light enhances the blazing colors. At the north end of the Flint Trail there are options to continue onward to the Maze Overlook, Doll House, Golden Stairs, Millard Canyon and a few other points of interest, but the trails to these destinations are extremely rough and a heavy duty 4x4 will be needed. Doing an out and back in the Orange Cliffs District is the safe way to go, so buckle up and enjoy the scenic drive!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Leave no trace!
    New!
    ​Destination West YouTube channel!
     https://www.youtube.com/@DestinationWestOrg
    *The Destination West website upgrading project is well underway. Unique YouTube slideshows are replacing the outdated Flickr photo galleries. The new videos feature modern graphics and alternative music instrumentals that enhance the viewing experience. Some articles are being condensed, while others are getting much needed edits. As everybody knows, the bulk of the original articles and photos were published on the fly during the Covid camping venture and there were limitations. Upgrading is the way to go and more articles will receive a makeover each week until this project is completed. After that, I will be able to gather new material. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

    ​JD Lane

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    Donations help the Destinaton West project continue into the future! 
    Go Fund Me!

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home Page
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
  • Route 66
  • YouTube Channel
  • About
  • Get In Touch
  • Archive Albums