Photos from a trip in October 2022 to the Canyon Rims area of Utah. This wonderful desert is managed by the BLM and is just south and west of Moab, and along the eastern border of Canyonlands National Park.
The area is now comprised of two large sections, the northern being mostly the Hatch Point area, and the southern the Bears Ears and Indian Creek areas. I was camped on Hatch Point and spent the week near there. There are two campgrounds nearby, Hatch Point and Wind Whistle, but I chose to boondock and stayed in a delightful spot out near Anticline Overlook. I wondered at the large number of tumbleweeds that were lodged in the trees and bushes but didn’t realize why until it was too late. The spot was in effect a wind tunnel during storms and the tumbleweeds came shooting through until a convenient Juniper caught them. luckily it was only a problem on the last night!
Campsite at sunset
The La Sal Mountain Range was clearly visible from the camp, lending contrast to the desert scenery with its snowcapped peaks.
Alpenglow on the La Sals
Anticline Overlook was just few miles down the gravel road, a must see if you’re in the area. A charming path leads out to the view and winds back through the rocks.
There is a good but difficult hike in the area, Trough Springs Trail. It descends into Trough Springs Canyon via an old cattle trail, and eventually hooks up to the road in Kane Creek Canyon. It’s quite steep, especially on the last section where it descends through a sandstone boulder field. Oddly enough for the area, there’s year-round water in the bottom, quite a treat on a hot day!
If you’re interested in a trip to the Moab area and want to get away from the crowds, a trip into Canyon Rims could be the ticket. Here are some links on the area:
Canyon Rims Recreation Area | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)
Canyon Rim | Utah.com
Anticline Overlook | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)
Canyon Rims: Better than Island in the Sky – Anne’s Travels (annestravels.net)
Trough Springs Canyon Trailhead | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)
Trough Springs: A simple out-of-the-way adventure – The Times-Independent (moabtimes.com)
