Lockhart Basin
Trail Length: 37.5 miles
Low-End Rating: 4
High-End Rating: 5
This is an extremely long trail and a fantastic way to really see the area just east of Canyonlands National Park. It is very desolate and chances are good that you will not see anyone else on this trail while you are on it. It is not a good idea to travel on this trail alone.
You can run this trail in either direction but it is typically run from Moab to Canyonlands National Park. You must first start with Hurrah Pass, and you will also be at the trailhead for Chicken Corners so that is also a good trail to do if you have time. All three of these trails meet at a three-way intersection.
The start of the trail is the only area that is difficult to find, and a GPS unit with the track on it is highly recommended. If you find yourself at a dead end or you cannot see any tracks anymore you can simply turn around and follow another set of tracks. None of the accidental spurs in this area is very long so you will not be lost for long. You leave the confusing area when you go up a rocky hill.
This first part of the trail is also the only difficult area as it works its way through a wash and up a hill. There are some rocks to climb, and some of them are challenging. There are parts that will flex your suspension, and it's a fun section. It is finished off by a set of larger rocks in loose dirt on a hill. You may have to try a few different lines to get up this hill and out of the wash.
Once you are out of the wash you will be in large, open areas with a trail that is sometimes dirt and sometimes rocky ledges. You can travel fairly quickly in the dirt sections, and you can see for miles to watch for traffic. There is an overlook near the top of the hill out of the wash that is worth a stop.
Soon after the overlook is Ugly Hill, the only named obstacle on the trail. It is not as challenging as the time you spend in the initial wash, but it is fun. It is covered in loose rocks that can be difficult to work with.
There is a set of ledges to climb, and a wall of rock that can be difficult if the bottom is eroded. After that, you can see a saddle that the trail is headed for where you work your way around a large set of rocks.
After the saddle, the trail is easier. There is a point where you have a curve to the left around a tall rock formation. The Canyonlands Overlook on the Canyon Rim Overlooks trail is above you at this point. You will also see the United Nations Tablet here.
The trail weaves its way south as it hugs the canyon wall. There are many ledges, rocky spots, climbs and descents as you work your way to the end of the trail.
Finally, the trail heads downhill and into Lockhart Basin. From this point, the trail is fairly easy though you have a long way to go. Follow the main trail at all intersections. A GPS unit can tell you when you pass under the Needles Overlook on the Canyon Rim Overlooks trail.
You are getting closer to the end when the trail crosses over Indian Creek. At some points in the year this crossing can be deep or muddy. There is a campsite just before the creek crossing, and there is often a waterfall here.
Continue farther south to find pit toilets next to the trail. This is the Hamburger Rock campground. If you are lucky, there are spots here to camp as the scenery is awe-inspiring.
When you get to the end of the trail at pavement, turn left to head to highway 191, then another left to go north back to Moab. If you wish to go to Canyonlands National Park it is not very far from the end of the trail if you turn right on highway 211.