Sawmill Road to Comb Wash Trailhead — San Juan County Desert Spine via Butler Wash and Recapture Pocket
Comb Ridge's base road through Anasazi canyon country.
The sandstone fins of Comb Ridge rise 700 feet straight out of the Utah desert like a broken spine, and the road running its base is one of the Southwest’s great overland corridors. This route starts off US-191 north of Bluff, drops into Comb Wash on a dirt two-track that parallels the ridge south, passes the Butler Wash Anasazi ruins panel at mile 9 (get out and walk — there are intact storage structures visible from the wash), and continues into the Recapture Pocket drainage where the canyon walls close and the route becomes a narrow shelf above intermittent creek crossings. The pocket itself is a forgotten bowl of Cedar Mesa sandstone, rimrocked on three sides, with BLM dispersed camping on flat gravel benches that look out across the San Juan River valley into Monument Valley.
Difficulty is moderate with one technical section: a short rocky drop into Recapture Pocket that requires high-clearance and will scratch up rocker panels on a stock SUV. A capable 4WD with all-terrain tires handles the full route; a lifted rig enjoys it more. Best season is March through May and September through November — summer flash flood risk in the wash bottoms is real and the sand gets deep. No permit required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping on BLM land. Fuel in Bluff or Blanding. No water on route — carry everything. Cell service is none. This is quietly spectacular Bears Ears country that rewards the driver who slows down.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5400 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Bluff, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Monticello Field Office / Bears Ears National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Monticello Field Office Bears Ears NM BLM |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner handles this trail fine under normal conditions. The sand sections in Comb Wash and the rocky ledges near Recapture Pocket are where low clearance rigs get into trouble — anything lower than a crossover or lifted sedan should stay home.
What's the trail like in summer — is July or August doable?
Technically passable in summer, but desert temps regularly hit 100°F+ and flash flood risk in the washes spikes hard during monsoon season (July–September). Best seasons are March–May and September–November; summer runs are miserable at best and dangerous at worst.
Do you need a permit to drive this trail or camp in Bears Ears?
No permit is currently required to drive the route or dispersed camp on BLM land within Bears Ears National Monument. Confirm current status with the BLM Monticello Field Office before you go — monument regulations have shifted in recent years and could change again.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it technical?
The Recapture Pocket slickrock approach is the crux — loose sand transitions into exposed rock shelves where line choice matters and there's limited room to recover a bad entry. It's not extreme, but it's the section where inattention or overconfidence bites people.
How far is the nearest gas and how should I plan for water on this trail?
Bluff, UT is your last reliable fuel stop — top off there, because you're looking at 34 miles of remote trail with no services and zero cell signal the entire route. There are water crossings in Comb and Butler Wash, but treat any surface water; carry all drinking water from town.
Trail track
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