Hidden Canyon Overlook
Trail Length: 7 miles
Low-End Rating: 4
High-End Rating: 5
This trail is very often confusing, and route finding can be very difficult in a few spots. However, the view from the overlook is most definitely worth it, especially if you will also be doing the Hidden Canyon trail.
You can do this trail only to the overlook if you wish to look down on Hidden Canyon, or you can continue on if you wish to connect to Bartlett Overlook and Dubinky Well Road. There are sections of slickrock before the overlook that make route finding difficult, and finding the trail between the turn for the overlook and the end at Bartlett Overlook can also be very trying. A GPS is highly recommended.
If you start from the east end you will do a brief bit of the Hidden Canyon trail. The trail is easy, though it does climb up and over small hills.
When you get to a gate, make sure to close it behind you. After a right turn you will drive up to Lunar Canyon, a large expanse of slickrock to drive across. Lunar Canyon is not particularly difficult but it can be very hard to find the trail. The trick is to stop when you come over the first hill and see the first big bowl of slickrock. Take a look to find the trail all the way on the other side of the slickrock. Aiming for this makes route finding much easier here.
The trail twists and turns, and most of it is on slickrock. Keep looking around you to find cairns (stacks of rocks put there to mark the edges of the trail) and marks from tires. If you can't find the trail, do not drive around until you find it -- get out and walk to find it.
The slickrock section eventually ends and you come to an intersection on a dirt road. Continue straight to go to the overlook. You will come back to this point if you wish to continue to the intersection with Bartlett Overlook.
If you go straight to go to the Hidden Canyon Overlook your trail will now be going east instead of southwest like you have been going. It isn't long before you are at a turnaround near the edge. The views are gorgeous and you can see the Hidden Canyon trail below you.
Turn around and go back out the way you came in. Turn left at the intersection on the dirt road if you wish to continue to Bartlett Overlook. This part of the trail is not as well-traveled, but you can still find it.
First you need to head towards a hill of slickrock. The trail curves up and over this hill, and some sections can be pretty steep. Just above this slickrock hill is a big, red hill of dirt. This hill is very steep, and if you lose traction you could end up in trouble. This is the most difficult section of the trail. The slickrock and dirt sections here give the trail its highest rating.
Continue along to an intersection on the dirt trail. Turn left here. Soon after turning left you will get to a cairn in the middle of the trail. Go through this intersection to continue south.
The trail turns southeast and route finding is easy now. You will get to one more intersection. Turn left at this "Y" to head up to the Bartlett Overlook. The overlook is not very far from here. Turn right to continue on out to Dubinky Well Road.
This trail can be very confusing in spots, but it is a great way to connect the trails in the area.