Coyote Hills to Comb Ridge — Abajo Mountains Desert Spine via Bears Ears Corridor
Jurassic spine, zero crowds, zero mercy.
Drop off Utah 191 south of Monticello and you’re immediately in the kind of country that makes you feel small in the best way. This route cuts through the Abajo Mountains’ cedar-juniper foothills before pushing east across the alkali flats toward Comb Ridge — a 90-mile Jurassic sandstone spine that erupts from the desert floor like a broken jawbone. The road is a mix of doubletrack and primitive jeep trail, passing remnants of ancestral Puebloan structure sites visible from the bench above Cottonwood Wash. The roughest stretch is the descent off the Abajo foothills on loose shale before Beef Basin connector — aired-down tires help but nothing replaces momentum management here.
This is moderate to difficult terrain — most of it is manageable in a stock high-clearance 4WD, but the shale descent and sandy wash crossings through Cottonwood demand lockers or genuine off-road experience. Cell service is essentially zero. Carry two days of water minimum — there’s nothing reliable out here. Best run April through early June or September through October; summer heat is punishing and afternoon monsoons make the clay sections genuinely treacherous. No permit required. Dispersed camping on BLM land throughout. Fill fuel in Monticello.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 48 mi / 77.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8200 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Monticello, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Monticello Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need lift and lockers?
A stock high-clearance 4WD can make it in dry conditions, but the rocky sections near Comb Ridge will punish low-hanging skid plates and stock all-seasons hard. A 2-3 inch lift with aggressive all-terrain tires is the practical minimum — lockers are a serious advantage on the loose slickrock pitches, not just a nice-to-have.
When does this trail become impassable, and can you run it in early spring?
Best windows are April–June and September–October. Early spring can work but the desert clay sections turn into axle-deep mud after any rain and can stay that way for days. Summer is punishing heat with afternoon monsoon storms that make the same clay sections dangerous fast — check forecasts obsessively if you go July or August.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp through the Bears Ears corridor here?
No permit is currently required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping on this route under BLM Monticello Field Office jurisdiction. Bears Ears National Monument rules apply — stay on existing two-track, camp 300 feet from water and cultural sites, and pack out everything. No campfire rings, no new tracks.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what specifically makes it technical?
The approach onto Comb Ridge itself is the crux — you're climbing a tilted sandstone monocline with loose embedded rock, off-camber shelf road, and exposure on the passenger side that will get your attention. The descent off the ridge onto the west side involves a steep rocky chute where a spotter is worth their weight in recovery gear.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there any reliable water on route?
Monticello is your last fuel stop — roughly 20–30 miles from the start depending on your approach, so top off there. There are water crossings on route but treat them as obstacles, not water sources, unless you have filtration and are in a dry emergency. Carry a minimum of 4 liters per person per day; there are no guaranteed potable sources on this 48-mile run.
Trail track
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