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Canyonlands

Posted: Feb 09 2006 8:48 am
by andmaher
Hey Folks:

Does anybody have experience getting into The Maze District at Canyonlands National Park? I'm trying to decide between accessing by way of the Flint Trail or the Land of Standing Rocks jeep road from Hite Marina. Anyone been on either?

Thanks,

-andrew

Posted: Feb 09 2006 4:55 pm
by RedRoxx44
I take it you know you need a reservation to camp at the vehicle campsites if you go in for overnight. The Hite road is generally the best and easiest but it is longer. Once you get to Teapot canyon is the real 4 wheeling and high clearance. It will be so on and off depending on where you go.
Flint Trail is slow and narrow next to a cliff, short wheel base like a Jeep is best but a truck can make it; plan on 3-4 point turns on a couple of corners. Make sure to check if anyone is driving up or down depending on your direction; you cannot pass. It could be impassable if wet or icy.

Best carcamp spots IMO--Dollhouse 1 or 3, and the Wall--although bad if windy. Best hikes-- to Green and Colorado overlook, from Dollhouse, and to the Bird Site pictograph panel from Chimney rock TH. Although Maze Overlook is great too, access that from the Ranger station at Hans Flat.

This area is remote and a slow drive, so a day trip don't plan on getting very far.

Maze access

Posted: Feb 10 2006 10:04 am
by andmaher
Thanks Roxx. I've got a stock Liberty Renegade so it is 4WD but doesn't have the greatest clearance in the world. Advice from the NPS ranger was to access by way of Flint (he seemed to think I wouldn't have much of a problem) as far as the Maze overlook and backpack it from there. Which I guess is my (very) preliminary itinerary.