In my quest to see much if not all of the state of Utah before I die, it was time to try a new biking location; the San Rafael Swell. Having lived in Utah for most of my life, I was surprised I had never been to a place that is so amazing. The drive out seems lifeless enough. . .Huntington and Castle Dale are anything but "outdoor" cities like unto Moab or Park City, but the pictures we had seen were too intriguing. Before Castle Dale we hung a left and began a 50 mph dirt road through a large prairie "for the lack of a better word".
At a "V" in the road there was a lonely outhouse and map, both of which looked new but contained bullet holes.
There we parked and began riding a dirt road to the "rim" of the swell and a place called the "wedge" or "Good water rim". After a short 15 minute ride, we found the rim, and it did not disappoint. Pictures can never do it justice. It was an overcast day, but the scenery was still amazing. The trail follows the rim for the next 16 miles...all single track...no other people...not too technical...and beautiful.
It only took us three hours to ride and we had cell phone and even Internet coverage the entire time. (at our lunch break I was actually Gmail chatting with a friend in the northern most part of Brazil).
At the bottom of the Gorge is a small river called the Little San Rafael. It is a very popular Kayaking river as it is very scenic and only a class 2 float (that is less than the Provo river). Next May we are floating it.
Another Amazing place, yet much less crowded, to keep the outdoor adventure bug alive.
For a lousy video of our adventure click this link;
