Hey Uintah Basin! Russ Grant here. This is great, I actually get to write about something that I really enjoy now. We have some of the most unique and stunning roads, two track, slickrock , mountain road, dirt road and scenic byways in the entire world. There is everything from high mountain passes to flat desert and everything in between.
I was thinking hard about what trail or road to write about and I have been truly stumped. Sure, I could tell you about my favorite trail in Moab (Fins & Things) or the drive to Monument Valley, but they don't hold the memories that our wonderful local drives do.
This month will be about a few different things, not just the scenery and all the things that have been written about already. Don't worry everybody, that stuff is coming. There are a few ideas to follow when heading out into the unknown that can help everybody have a great time and get home safely.
One of the first things to consider is your choice of wheels. Four wheel drive is great for getting to the more unexplored places and a car or van can get the whole family up to some amazing places that are a bit more civilized. Before any adventure off road, check the condition of your vehicle. If you know that something is wrong with your ride, take care of it before you go! Check the tires, fuel, coolant, first aid kit, water, suspension components, weather gear and anything else that you can think of (food for this guy).
I drive a Jeep, and even though the repair adventures aren't as fun as the wheeling, it gets me anywhere I need to go in this Basin. Okay, here comes the first actual trail to drive. This one has been around since long before I was old enough to drive and offers everything from insane rockcrawling, sand running, and mountain biking, to ATV riding, horseback riding and hiking. GPS coordinates are included at the end of this story for exact location details. I'm talking of course about "The Cedars". This is a wonderful area that is owned by BLM, oil interests, and private land owners. Just head toward Bluebell and you can't miss it. Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy, as long as you follow the most important rule of enjoying The Cedars.: Take out what you take in. If you see a piece of trash out there, pack it up and bring it back. We need to take care of the nice places we have to use.
About fifteen miles North of The Cedars is one of my most favorite drives in the whole world, Uintah Canyon. This canyon has some of the most beautiful scenery and is accessible during all four seasons. Take any of the little side roads that are up that canyon and you are sure to see all manner of wildlife, huge mountain streams, plants that are native to Uintah Canyon and new forest growth from the aftermath of the Neola North fire that happened a few years back.
Just remember, even if you can't make it to some of the more famous destinations this summer, you can always enjoy this wonderful Uintah Basin and its world class drives.
Lots of roads and trails are still waiting to be written about, so be sure to pick up the next copy of The EDGE for more great drives for the whole family.
The Cedars 40®19'04.05'' N 110®04'11.18'' W Elevation 5312 ft.
Uintah Canyon 40®29'16.77'' 110®02'15.35'' W Elevation 6522 ft.
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