Dark Canyon East Trail

The Dark Canyon East Trail #006 is 4.8 miles long. It begins at The Notch on Forest Road #088 (Elk Ridge) and ends at Scorup Cabin and Forest Road #378 (Dark Canyon Corridor). This trail descends 678 feet in the first 0.5 mile of trail after which it follows a gully at the bottom of the canyon. This trail travels through Dark Canyon Wilderness, designated in 1984 and along an intermittent stream dropping from Elk Ridge to the bottom of Dark Canyon. The Wilderness was designated for its deep canyon graced with unique steep sandstone cliffs and a vast archeological record. Please leave what you find for future users to enjoy as well as for further research by archeologists. It is against the law to remove or disturb archeological resources.

The Dark Canyon East trail is very steep with some unstable surfaces. Be sure that you are comfortable in this type of terrain. This trail is often combined with other trails in Dark Canyon Wilderness for in-and-out and/or loop backpacking trips. One of the more popular overnight loops is to combine this trail with #025 (Horse Pasture) and Forest Roads #154 (Deadman Point) and #088 (North Elk Ridge). Other trails it maybe combined with include: #006 (West Dark Canyon Trail), #007 (Trail Canyon), #023 (Brushy Knoll), #026 (Kigalia Canyon), #157 (Peavine Canyon), #161 (Rig Canyon) and #165 (Woodenshoe).

Elevation Change:

South East End (Road #088): 8,293 feet

North West End (Road #378): 7,142 feet

Current Conditions

Trail conditions vary widely with weather events and during spring runoff. Check with the Monticello Ranger District for updated information.

Specific Trail Information

Trail Type

Standard/Terra Trail — A trail that has a surface consisting predominantly of the ground and that is designed and managed to accommodate use on that surface.

General Information

Latitude: 37 44' 45.1"N

Longitude: 109 45' 45.7"W

Datum: NAD83

Position Format: Degrees Minutes Seconds (hddd mm' ss.s")

Water is only seasonally available in Dark Canyon. Users should carry water and purifying kit.

Open to: Hiking and Horseback Riding.

Getting There

Directions

From Blanding, head south on US-191 S/S Main St. Turn right onto UT-95 N and travel 6.3 miles. Turn right onto Co Rd 228/Cottonwood and travel 4.9 miles. Slight left to stay on Co Rd 228/Cottonwood and travel 0.4 miles. Continue onto Elk Mountain/Forest Road #092 (South Elks) and travel 14.6 miles. Slight right onto South Elk Ridge #088 and travel 7.6 miles to Dark Canyon East Trail #006.