Cottonwood Road to Hite Crossing — Glen Canyon Desert Bench via Dirty Devil River Canyon
Where the reservoir retreats and the desert remembers.
Before Lake Powell swallowed it, Hite was a working ford and a uranium boomtown. Now, with the reservoir at historic lows, the old crossing is re-emerging from the silt — and the road in from the north, dropping off the Dirty Devil River canyon rim via Cottonwood Road, is one of the loneliest stretches of dirt in southeastern Utah. You’ll run the canyon edge above the confluence of the Dirty Devil and the Colorado, cross bleached-white benches of Navajo sandstone, and drop through a series of loose shale switchbacks before the lake mud flats open up below. The rusted remnants of Hite’s uranium-era infrastructure are still scattered across the flats. Watch the crossing at Poison Spring Canyon — flash-flood debris and soft sand can swallow a tire to the axle with no warning.
This is a high-clearance 4WD run, full stop. The shale switchbacks near the canyon rim demand low range and careful tire placement. A stock lifted truck with all-terrain tires can make it in dry conditions; after any rain, the bentonite clay turns the entire bench into a skating rink. No cell service, no water, no services between Hanksville and the takeout at UT-95. Carry a minimum of 50 miles of fuel buffer and at least 5 gallons of water per person. Best run April–May or September–October. No permit required. Dispersed camping on BLM land throughout.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5400 ft |
| Best season | April-May, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Hanksville, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Richfield Field Office / Glen Canyon National Recreation Area |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Richfield Field Office Glen Canyon NRA – Hite Area |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum rig to run this trail — can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle it?
You need a high-clearance 4WD — a stock Tacoma or 4Runner can manage it, but aired-down tires and a skid plate are strongly advised. The mixed rock, sand, and desert bench sections will punish low-clearance vehicles and anything without proper 4-low gearing. A lift helps but isn't strictly required if you're a capable driver.
When is this trail passable and what happens if it rains?
Best windows are April–May and September–October when temps are survivable and flash flood risk is lower. Summer bakes this canyon system above 100°F and monsoon season (July–August) can make the desert surface impassable with zero warning — desert hardpan turns to grease and washes can fill fast. Stay off it in winter; snow and ice on the bench sections make it genuinely dangerous with no bailout.
Do I need a permit to run this route?
No permit is required for the BLM portion of the route, but the southern end drops into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which charges a $30 per-vehicle entry fee (valid 7 days). No advance reservation needed — pay at the Hite area entrance or via the NPS website before you arrive.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The descent toward the Dirty Devil River canyon rim and the loose sand stretches approaching Hite are the sections that catch people off guard — neither is a rock crawl, but deep sand and off-camber shelf road require real commitment and confident wheel placement. The trail earns 'difficult' from its remoteness and cumulative terrain more than any single brutal obstacle. If you high-center or get stuck here, self-recovery is your only option.
There's zero cell service — how far out is the nearest gas and how should I plan water?
Hanksville is your last fuel stop before dropping in, roughly 40–50 miles from the trailhead — top off there, no exceptions. There is no reliable water on this route; carry a minimum of 2 gallons per person per day and don't count on the Dirty Devil River, which runs silty and brackish. Dispersed camping is legal on BLM land along the route, but site selection in flash flood terrain requires common sense — camp high and away from drainage channels.
Trail track
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