Comb Wash Road to Natural Bridges — Cedar Mesa Canyon Country via Mule Canyon
Ancestral canyon country, start to stone bridge.
Drop into Comb Wash from Highway 95 south of Blanding and you’re immediately swallowed by one of the Southwest’s most dramatic geological features — a 90-mile monocline of Navajo sandstone that forced the Ancestral Puebloans and everyone since to find a way around or through. The dirt road south along the wash is mostly fast and flat, but side excursions up Mule Canyon reveal cliff dwellings tucked into alcoves that you can walk to in minutes. The route connects through Butler Wash Road and climbs back out onto the Cedar Mesa bench, eventually delivering you to Natural Bridges National Monument — three massive sandstone bridges carved by stream action over millions of years. Owachomo, Kachina, and Sipapu bridges are all accessible from the loop drive, and the contrast from the raw wash country to the monument’s polished overlooks is genuinely jarring in the best way.
Most of this route is manageable by any high-clearance 2WD in dry conditions, but wet weather turns Cedar Mesa clay into a greasy skating rink that’ll strand even capable 4WDs. Best season is March through May and September through November. Permits are required for overnight camping in Mule Canyon and Grand Gulch areas — book through Recreation.gov well in advance. Fuel up in Blanding; Natural Bridges has no services. This is Bears Ears National Monument country, managed jointly with the BLM, and it rewards slow travel with a density of archaeology that’s hard to match anywhere in North America.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6500 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance recommended; 4WD required when wet |
| Nearest town | Blanding, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Monticello Field Office / NPS Natural Bridges National Monument |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | NPS Natural Bridges National Monument BLM Monticello Field Office Cedar Mesa Permit Portal |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Comb Wash Road to Natural Bridges without a lift?
A stock high-clearance truck like a Tacoma or 4Runner will get through in dry conditions. When the sand softens or after rain hits the clay sections on Cedar Mesa, 4WD becomes mandatory — not optional. Airing down to 20-25 PSI in the sandy Comb Wash stretch is a smart move regardless of your rig.
When is this route actually closed or impassable?
Winter snowpack and spring melt (roughly December through February) can make the clay surfaces on Cedar Mesa greasy and impassable even for 4WD vehicles. Monsoon season (July–August) also turns sections into a mud trap fast. Stick to March–May or September–November for reliable conditions.
Do you need a permit for this route, and where do you get it?
Yes — a Cedar Mesa permit is required for any overnight camping on the BLM portion of the route, and Natural Bridges National Monument has its own entry fee. Book the Cedar Mesa permit through Recreation.gov (permit ID 4675322) well in advance; they go fast for spring and fall weekends.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what makes it sketchy?
The sandy wash driving in lower Comb Wash is the most technically demanding stretch — it's loose, rutted, and will swallow an unprepared rig if you bog down. It's not technical in a rock-crawling sense, but momentum management in deep sand catches people off guard. If you've never driven sand, this is where you'll learn the hard way.
How far is the nearest gas station, and is there any water on route?
Blanding, UT is your last fuel stop — fill up there, as you've got 38 miles of backcountry with zero services. There is no reliable potable water on the route itself; carry a minimum of 2 gallons per person per day and treat any canyon water you collect. Cell service is completely dead out here, so a satellite communicator isn't a luxury.
Trail track
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