Hayduke Trail: Hurrah Pass to Big Spring Trailhead (Hayduke Trail Section 2)
Hiking Trail
Details
48.42 mi
4,970 ft
Depart the ease of dirt roads for untracked canyons and dry washes deep in Canyonlands National Park.
Section 2 is a true test for route-finding and water-finding skills. Here, the Hayduke Trail injects itself into the heart of Canyonlands National Park. It follows dirt roads only briefly on this section; it mostly wanders through remote canyons and over trackless desert. To get through, you’ll need to negotiate tricky scrambles up and down dryfalls and cliff bands, and pay careful attention to avoid getting stuck in dangerous spots. In an especially wet season, you’ll find water flowing in washes or relatively fresh in pools, but otherwise, you’ll rely on secluded springs that can run dry, or on gross stock tanks. Luckily there are options for short detours to the Colorado River in a few places if necessary.
From Hurrah Pass, with the Colorado River again in sight on the other side, the road descends to meet Lockhart Basin Road. This dirt road twists along the broad bench beneath the cliffs of Hatch Point, with the river now out of sight somewhere below. Leave the road at a branch of Lockhart Canyon, where springs can be found but might be dry. Traversing benches of the deepening canyon eventually leads to a steep trail into another side canyon, then into the bottom of Lockhart Canyon proper. Turn up canyon to come to the open valley floor of Lockhart Basin and rejoin the road.
Follow the road only a little while before entering Rustler Canyon, a dry wash with mostly easy hiking but one tricky downclimb through a narrow dryfall. Soon after comes Indian Creek, which usually has flowing water. A steep escape route leads out of Indian Creek and up a bouldery ridge, topping out on much easier terrain with quite a panorama. Continue cross country along the ridge crest, with views over the hidden Colorado River to Island in the Sky on one side, and over Indian Creek to Needles Overlook on the other.
A ledgy scramble down into the next wash will lead to water if you’re lucky. Continue up and out another branch of this wash to a flat area and a dirt road intersection. The road south leads to Salt Creek, which may or may not have water. This is your opportunity to visit Needles Outpost if you need to resupply. If not, leave the road at Salt Creek and head for Little Spring Canyon, the most reliable water source in the area. Just past Little Spring is the paved road to Big Spring Trailhead, and the end of this section.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Section 2 is a true test for route-finding and water-finding skills. Here, the Hayduke Trail injects itself into the heart of Canyonlands National Park. It follows dirt roads only briefly on this section; it mostly wanders through remote canyons and over trackless desert. To get through, you’ll need to negotiate tricky scrambles up and down dryfalls and cliff bands, and pay careful attention to avoid getting stuck in dangerous spots. In an especially wet season, you’ll find water flowing in washes or relatively fresh in pools, but otherwise, you’ll rely on secluded springs that can run dry, or on gross stock tanks. Luckily there are options for short detours to the Colorado River in a few places if necessary.
From Hurrah Pass, with the Colorado River again in sight on the other side, the road descends to meet Lockhart Basin Road. This dirt road twists along the broad bench beneath the cliffs of Hatch Point, with the river now out of sight somewhere below. Leave the road at a branch of Lockhart Canyon, where springs can be found but might be dry. Traversing benches of the deepening canyon eventually leads to a steep trail into another side canyon, then into the bottom of Lockhart Canyon proper. Turn up canyon to come to the open valley floor of Lockhart Basin and rejoin the road.
Follow the road only a little while before entering Rustler Canyon, a dry wash with mostly easy hiking but one tricky downclimb through a narrow dryfall. Soon after comes Indian Creek, which usually has flowing water. A steep escape route leads out of Indian Creek and up a bouldery ridge, topping out on much easier terrain with quite a panorama. Continue cross country along the ridge crest, with views over the hidden Colorado River to Island in the Sky on one side, and over Indian Creek to Needles Overlook on the other.
A ledgy scramble down into the next wash will lead to water if you’re lucky. Continue up and out another branch of this wash to a flat area and a dirt road intersection. The road south leads to Salt Creek, which may or may not have water. This is your opportunity to visit Needles Outpost if you need to resupply. If not, leave the road at Salt Creek and head for Little Spring Canyon, the most reliable water source in the area. Just past Little Spring is the paved road to Big Spring Trailhead, and the end of this section.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
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