Comb Wash to Grand Gulch — Cedar Mesa Plateau Rim via Kane Gulch Trailhead
Ruins, slickrock, and a canyon full of ghosts.
The drive south from Blanding on US-191 before cutting west onto UT-261 sets the stage, but it’s the moment you drop onto Comb Wash Road — a sandy two-track paralleling the towering sandstone monocline of Comb Ridge — that Cedar Mesa announces itself. The route runs roughly 30 miles through the heart of Bears Ears National Monument, skirting the west face of Comb Ridge before climbing to the mesa top via switchbacks that demand careful tire placement on loose shale. Kane Gulch Ranger Station marks the gateway to Grand Gulch Primitive Area; from the rim you’re looking down into a canyon system that holds hundreds of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, granaries, and pictograph panels. Butler Wash Ruins lie just off the route — pull over and hike the quarter-mile rim trail if you’ve got any curiosity at all.
Sand in Comb Wash proper requires airing down to around 20 psi — a stock SUV will struggle while a dedicated rig runs it confidently. The mesa top road is rocky two-track with embedded ledges. A high-clearance 4WD with decent all-terrains is the minimum; a locker helps in the wash after rain. No water on route — carry at least four gallons per person. Day-use permits are required for Grand Gulch entry and cost $5 per person; self-issue at the kiosk. Best season is March-May and September-November. Cell service is nonexistent. This is remote canyon country at its most honest.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 30 mi / 48.3 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6400 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Blanding, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Monticello Field Office / Bears Ears National Monument |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Grand Gulch page Grand Gulch 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 this trail, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with decent all-terrain tires can manage most of it, but the slickrock sections and loose sand washes will punish low-clearance vehicles. Skid plates are strongly advised. A lifted, lockers-equipped rig will have a noticeably easier time on the technical shelf road sections near the canyon rim.
When does the trail typically become impassable, and is snow an issue?
Spring and fall are the windows — March through May and September through November. Summer bakes the canyon above 100°F and monsoon rains (July–August) can turn the wash crossings into quick-moving mudflows that trap vehicles for days. Winter snow closes the Cedar Mesa plateau roads entirely and access is unreliable from December through February.
Do I need a permit, and how far in advance do I book it?
Yes — a Bears Ears / Grand Gulch permit is required for any overnight stay and for day hiking into the canyon itself. Book through recreation.gov well in advance; spring slots fill weeks out. The BLM Monticello Field Office also sells walk-up permits when available, but don't count on it for peak season.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect there?
The descent off Cedar Mesa toward Comb Wash via the slickrock shelf road is the crux — narrow, exposed ledges with significant drop-offs and no room to pass oncoming traffic. Loose sand in the lower wash sections can bury you if you carry too much speed or stop in a bad spot. Travel with at least one other vehicle; recovery here without another rig nearby is a serious situation.
Is there any water available on the trail, or do I need to carry everything in?
There is no reliable potable water on this route — water in Grand Gulch itself exists seasonally in potholes and the gulch bottom, but it requires treatment and can disappear entirely in dry years. Carry all drinking water for the full 1–2 day run from Blanding; the nearest reliable resupply is back in town, roughly 30–40 miles from the trailhead.
Trail track
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