Waypoint to Wild
This rock formation is called Nefertiti do to the resemblance to the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. Many one-day rafters put in at Nefertiti Rapids, travel down the Green River and then take out at Swasey’s Beach.
For a fun day in the sun, take a trip down the Green River!
In his 89th year Herbert Steiner of Seattle, Washington, felt to commission international land artist Andrew Rogers of Australia to create land art on his property near Green River, Utah. Herbert came to love Green River, Utah and the Book Cliffs area after he retired from teaching school and traveled the country on Amtrak. He spent many pleasant days in Green River enjoying the spectacular scenery, walking the railroad tracks and enjoying the company of many good people of the town. Eventually he purchased 75 acres of land between the Interstate and the railroad tracks where Ratio would one day be built.
When contacted to consider the project,, Andrew Rogers was immediately interested and mentioned he even had a fossil from Green River on the wall of his home in Australia. Though he had never been to Green River, he studied photos of Herbert’s property and soon designed and sent plans for a spectacular creation called “Ratio” to be built as a permanent land-art project on the hill of Mr. Steiner’s property. Later he came to Green River and designated the exact site and orientation of the project.
Andrew Rogers is one of Australia’s most distinguished and internationally recognized contemporary artists. He exhibits globally and his critically acclaimed sculptures are in numerous private and prominent public collections in Australia, South East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the USA. He has received many international commissions and created “Rhythms of Life”, the largest contemporary land-art undertaking in the world, forming a chain of 47 massive stone sculptures, or Geoglyphs, around the globe. The project has involved over 6,700 people in 13 countries across seven continents.
Ratio is designed based on the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical concept of universal significance similar to the Golden Ratio of science and mathematics. The Fibonacci sequence is found in numerous patterns in nature such as leaf arrangements in plants, the spiral structure of the nautilus snail, the florets of a flower and the arrangements of branches along the stems of plants, as well as the growth patterns in other living organisms. The sequence is regarded by many as representing a universal law of harmony in nature and art. The Green River Ratio Fibonacci sequence can be observed as the number of blocks in each succeeding column is the sum of the previous two columns, establishing the ratios of the sequence.
The project was constructed during the fall of 2010 and assembled on the hill on December 13 and 14, 2010. The contractors built Ratio using white cement powder imported from Kansas. The project consists of a solid foundation of black dyed concrete on which are assembled 53 concrete blocks, each weighing 4 1/2 tons. Each block is 39 x 39 x 68 inches and is stabilized by hidden tongue and groove construction with two-inch rebar through the centers of the blocks. The center column consists of 13 blocks reaching 42 feet high with a gold-leafed block capping the column.
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The area surrounding Green River and in Emery County boasts a large variety of fossils including plants, ammonites, and oysters. Agates are also quite abundant in certain rock units as well as a variety of interesting minerals.
There are many different laws in place regarding the collection of rocks and minerals from public areas, so it is advisable to read up on local laws before prospecting. Rock and mineral collecting is prohibited in most if not all national parks in the United States.
View Rock Hounding in a larger map
States: Colorado and Utah
Length: 480.0 mi / 772.5 km
Time to Allow: Take ten hours to drive or ten days to enjoy the byway.
The Dinosaur Diamond runs through the best land in the world to learn about dinosaurs. Numerous sites are available to the public where bones and tracks are still visible in the ground. Many museums along the way add to the opportunities to see and learn about dinosaurs. Continue reading “Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway”
As far back as 7000-9000 B.C., Paleo-Indians hunted large mammals such as Mastodons and Mammoths across southwest Utah. Later inhabitants included the Desert Archaic culture, the Fremont culture, and Ancestral Pueblo People.
Due to rich Native American history and culture in the area there are plenty of places to find and to be found that include pictographs and petroglyphs. Continue reading “Native American Rock Art”
This Arch is in the north fork Coal Wash. Coal Wash is is the San Rafael Swell. You will need a jeep or 4 wheeler to get to it.
Lat/Long (WGS84)
38° 55.951′ N
110° 48.821′ W
Brandon Semenuk is a professional mountainbike freerider and he found the Book Cliffs in Green River, Utah to ride on. The Youtube video below is of Brandon riding the Book Cliffs.
RUN WILD! RUN RIVERS!
In 2011, Colorado River & Trail Expeditions (“Crate”) will be celebrating its 40th year in business. Dave and Vicki Mackay founded the company in 1971, because they loved being on the river and wanted to make it their life’s work. It was their intention then, as now, to outfit rafting trips of exceptional quality for folks who longed to escape from the hubbub of everyday living. With the support of smart, fun, and experienced guides, Crate has enabled thousands of people from all the world to travel down the Green and Colorado Rivers through Utah’s magnificent canyon country.
Guiding Rafting Vacations for 60 Years.
Green River Rafting Trips and Colorado River Rafting from the town of Green River, Utah
One-Day rafting in Gray Canyon on the Green River. This is a great trip for families with children as young as 6, and first-timers on the river. We include lunch on this mellow 12-mile stretch of the river just north of town. We bring along 2-man inflatable kayaks or 6-man paddleboats for the adventurous to enjoy the half-a-dozen fun Class II rapids along this section of the Green River. Or if you prefer to relax and just enjoy the scenery, you may ride in one of our 18-foot rafts rowed by our guide. An affordable, fun day on the river, we have discounted rates for youth.
Like Arches National Park, which is famous for the natural sandstone arches, the San Rafael Swell has 60+ documented less well known arches for you to discover. If you like off-the-beaten-path treasures you will love finding these arches in the San Rafael Swell. While hiking in the Swell you might be the first to document a new arch. Go exploring!
This section of the Green River runs through Gray Canyon which is the last day of our 5-day Desolation Canyon trip. Fun Class I to III rapids will be encountered on this 8 mile stretch. More of a Wilderness canyon, this pristine section of the Green allows viewing of petroglyphs and is home to the occasional big horn sheep, birds of prey and migratory birds. Perfect for floating, kayaking, paddling and water play. Children 5+ welcome!
Continue reading “Holiday River Expeditions”
The San Rafael Swell is Utah’s fastest growing tourist destination. Most of this huge area is open to the public and adventures are left only to the visitor’s imagination. The Swell is 2,000 square miles of public land, known for its scenic sandstone formations, deep canyons, desert streams, and expansive panoramas. The Swell is a massive maze of winding canyons, broken fins and buttes in the heart of Utah.
A citizen of Green River was given this newspaper clipping from a family member from a Philadelphia newspaper. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not was able to be contacted and they found that it was published on December 30, 1990. The caption reads, “In Green River, Utah, there is a 25-ft-long wooden building shaped like a watermelon that is center point to the annual Watermelon Day festival.
The La Sal Mountains are Utah’s second highest mountain range. They rise impressively above the red rock canyon country of southeastern Utah. The range contains 6 peaks that rise above 12,000 feet, the tallest being Mount Peale at 12,721 feet. Covered with thick aspen and fir forests and dotted with mountain lakes, the La Sals are a cool oasis within the often difficult environment of the surrounding desert.
Capitol Reef National Park is characterized by sandstone formations, cliffs and canyons, and a 100-mile long bulge in the earth’s crust called the Waterpocket Fold. Erosion has carved the rock into marvelous shapes. Since its designation as a national park in 1971, the majesty of Capitol Reef has been intriguing visitors with its twisting canyons, massive domes, monoliths and spires of sandstone for the past century.
After they were married in 1933, Wayne and Betty Smith settled down to start a ranch in the San Rafael Swell. They chose a site near a spring, which would supply them with water necessary for survival. However, artificial seismic activity in the region, caused by drilling for water, destroyed the natural spring. Wayne and Betty later moved to Green River. Today at Smith’s cabin, there are several ranch buildings and corrals still standing. Though some of the cabins and cattle yards are currently in various states of decay, enough is left of this scenic ranch to give you a feel of frontier life in the San Rafael Swell.
Stretching nearly 200 miles from east to west, the Book Cliffs begins where the Colorado River descends south through De Beque Canyon into the Grand Valley (near Palisade, Colorado) to Price Canyon (near Helper, Utah). The cliffs are largely composed of sedimentary materials. The name comes from the cliffs of Cretaceous sandstone that cap many south-facing buttes that appear similar to a shelf of books. The Book Cliffs are within the Colorado Plateau geologic province.
Nine-Mile Canyon is an outdoor museum. It has some remarkable examples of Indian art and remnants of dwellings that have remained untouched through the centuries. Because of the dry climate and isolation from large population centers or heavy ranching, the canyon remains much as it was hundreds of years ago. The canyon should be shown the respect due to one of the West’s ancient treasures. The panels of rock art are of such remarkable quality and beauty that they have been featured in National Geographic and other publications highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of the art. It is well worth the trip.
Canyonlands National Park , Utah’s second largest national park, is a primitive geological wonderland preserving hundreds of colorful canyons, buttes, fins, arches, spires and hoodoos. The centerpiece of the park are the two great canyons carved through flat layers of sedimentary rock by the Colorado and Green rivers, which meet here in Canyonlands. The park is divided into 4 regions — Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and Horseshoe Canyon — only two of which are accessible by highway. This 572 square miles of Great Basin Desert wilderness contains primarily unpaved roads and undeveloped trails. They are relatively close together, as the crow flies, but direct travel between them is virtually impossible because of the rough nature of the landscape. People who want to explore the park should focus on one region at a time. Park info and map.
If you’ve “been there–done that,” with regard to mountain biking in Moab, then it’s time to venture to the remote San Rafael Swell. Located 15 miles west of Green River and conveniently crossed by Interstate 70, the San Rafael Swell is a redrock wilderness that boasts national-park-caliber scenery but without the crowds. The Temple Mountain area in the southern San Rafael Swell is a hub of recreational opportunities, ranging from mountain biking to “narrows” hiking to off-road vehicle exploring.
This is a working quarry where scientists conduct on-going research. There is a large visitor center featuring many exhibits. Visitor facilities are open daily during the summer and Fri-Sun during spring and fall. They close for the season at the end of October and reopen in early March.
Trailhead Location: About 15 Miles South of Green River
Trailhead GPS: 38°48’20.31″N 110° 2’52.60″W
Trail Mileage: Miles of open riding areas
Riding Difficulty: Ranges from easy to difficult
Temperature Range: 30-100+ Depending on Season
The White Wash Sand Dunes (also known as the Dubinki Dunes or Ten Mile Wash Dunes) are some of the most scenic and enjoyable dunes in the state. To get there, take I-70 to exit 175. Exit 175 is about seven miles west of U.S. Highway 191. From the exit, go south and the road (Ruby Ranch Road) eventually turns to dirt. Continue about 12 miles (be sure to stay to the right about 4.5 miles from the exit, and continue straight at 7.8 miles from Interstate 70). Eventually you’ll hit a ridge that looks down into the basin where the dunes are located. There is plenty of parking and decent places for camping. There are no restrooms and portable toilets are required. ATV flags are also required when riding the dunes. Always be careful when riding dunes and always know what’s on the other side of the dune before going. As is the case with all sand dunes, it’s good to have a GPS unit to guide you back to the truck if needed.
Ernie’s Canyon is off of SR-24 heading to Hanksville from Green River. The turn of is at gps coordinates 38° 41.990 N 110° 30.763 W, past mile marker 143 heading south.
Lat/Long (WGS84)
38° 43.777′ N
110° 32.002′ W
Green River has a Shooting Sports Park that includes the disciplines of long range rifle, cowboy action, pistol, trap and archery. Many events happen at the Green River Shooting Sports Park.
For more information go to the website.
Directions
From Green River, UT, take Interstate 70 west approximately 15 miles. Turn south across the highway on a dirt road after mile marker 145, go through the gate (make sure you close it) and go a little over a mile, on the west there will be a place to park off the road and you will see Little Spotted Wolf Canyon about a quarter mile from the road.
Lat/Long (WGS84)
38° 54.271′
110° 26.793′
Thank you for your interest in the San Rafael Swell Mountain Bike Festivals. From the beginning, the Festivals have been geared to a wide-range of mountain biking enthusiasts – from the novice to the seasoned; from the occasional to the frequent; from the single rider to the family of riders; and from the rider(s) whose sole interest is the picturesque surroundings to the rider(s) whose sole interest is in the merits of the bike. Rides vary in degree of difficulty, each offering a different perspective of the beautiful San Rafael Swell. There really is a ride for every interest.
Sego Canyon is a great adventure the entire family will enjoy. The canyon contains rock art from three different Native American cultures and a very well preserved ghost town. The company store and a boarding house still partially stand in the center of town. There are ruins to many houses scattered through out the canyon along with remnants of the coal mine.
Buckhorn Wash is in the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. The Buckhorn Wash breaks through the Navajo Sandstone and works its way down through towering Sandstone cliffs as you make your way to the San Rafael River. Signs along the drive tell you the names of the different sandstone layers. There are several panels of pictographs and petroglyphs along the road, making the road a delight for sight seers, geologists and anthropologists.
Crystal Geyser is about 9 miles from Green River.
Crystal Geyser is a rare example of a cold water carbon dioxide driven geyser; geothermal activity does not play a role in the activity of the geyser. The ground water near the geyser has significant quantities of dissolved carbon dioxide, along with substantial underground gas accumulations in the surrounding area. Saturation of the aquifer with CO2 creates enough pressure to force groundwater through the geyser and out on to the surface.
The Annual Melon Days Festival is set for September 14-15, 2012, Thursday – Saturday. We are celebrating 106th year of melon growing in the valley!
Continue to check back for more details.
Click here for a vendor application.
Little Wild Horse Canyon is 58 miles from Green River. The Little Wild Horse Canyon/Bell Canyon loop hike is the most popular hike in the San Rafael Swell for good reason. The canyons are two of the best slot canyons in Utah. This hike is suitable for just about everyone. If you enjoy a long walk in the park than you can probably complete this hike with little problem. The canyons can be hiked individually for a short distance or connected together to provide an easy half day loop hike.
Swasey’s cabin was built in 1921 by the Swasey Brothers (Joe, Sid, Charley, and Rod). The Swasey’s started running cattle and horses out of the area decades before they finally built the cabin, usually sleeping in the open or in shallow caves. The Swasey’s are responsible for naming many landmarks in the Swell, including Joe and His Dog, the Sid and Charley pinnacles, Rod’s Valley, Eagle Canyon, Sid’s Mountain, Cliff Dweller Flat, and more. Considered outlaws by many, their exploits were remarkable, including the one that occurred at a place appropriately named “Swasey’s Leap” where Sid, as the story goes, bet his brother Charley a small herd of cattle that Sid, on horseback, could jump 12 feet across the San Rafael River. Of course, the river was at the bottom of a gorge, 80 feet below! Sid was successful, and the cows were his.
Twelve miles north of Interstate 70, a developed BLM campground at Swasey boat ramp includes vault restrooms, trash disposal and fire rings. The white sand beach spans a long bend in the river and is shaded by cottonwood trees. Shallow water gives children plenty of opportunity to frolic in the river, and bighorn sheep frequent the water’s edge. Rapids upstream from the campground provide a kayaking playground. Designated as recreational access with no permits or fees for camping or boating, Swasey’s Beach provides barrier-free access for those with disabilities.
Although officially a detached unit of Canyonlands National Park, the Horseshoe Canyon area could be better described as a little hidden jewel lost in the desert. It’s definitely worth the time it takes to get there. If you already plan on a few days in the Maze, you won’t be disappointed if you spend a half-day of your vacation at Horseshoe Canyon. If you’re going to the Maze from Green River, Horseshoe Canyon is a convenient stop. The Great Gallery is one of four major rock art sites in Horseshoe Canyon, but the fabulous rock art is only part of the attraction. Horseshoe Canyon would be well worth the stop without it. It’s a great day hike in a secluded canyon with majestic cottonwoods shading the sheer sandstone cliffs.
Planet Vulcan filmed in the San Rafael Swell
Below is an article from the Salt Lake Tribune about a part of Star Trek being filmed 20 miles from here, in the beautiful San Rafael Swell!
Just off I-70: The planet Vulcan
Movies: Emery County is backdrop for Spock’s homeworld.
When the film crew came to Emery County last year, the project bore the unassuming title of Corporate Headquarters.
Situated on the banks of the famous Green River, the J.W. Powell Museum is a showcase of the trials and tribulations of the expeditions of Powell as he attempted to explore and record the geology and geography of the area. The museum also covers pre-history and has exhibits about the more current river runners.
For more information visit the John Wesley Powell River History Museum website.
Lat/Long (WGS84)
38° 59.630′ N
110° 8.458′ W
5th Annual Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon in on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Race will start promptly at 8am.
For more information click here Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon
Black Dragon Canyon is very popular with rock art enthusiasts. The panel receives its name from a pictograph, which resembles a flying dragon. Pictographs and petroglyphs are spread out along the base of the high canyon walls. Unfortunately, the site has been seriously damage by inconsiderate visitors. DO NOT outline pictographs with chalk for photographing.
Dead Horse Point State Park is about 63 miles from Green River.
Dead Horse Point is one of Utah’s most spectacular state parks. Towering 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, the park provides a breathtaking panorama of Canyonlands’ sculpted pinnacles and buttes.
2012 has been cancelled due to water levels being too low. Look for us next year!
The Friendship Cruise begins on Memorial Day Weekend from the Green River to Moab, UT. See firsthand the river country of southeastern Utah as Major John Wesley Powell did over 100 years ago!
The 2012 Friendship Cruise promises to be an exciting holiday weekend for its participants.
Goblin Valley State Park is 50 miles from Green River.
Goblin Valley’s eminent feature is its thousands of hoodoos and hoodoo rocks, which are formations of mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles, some as high as several meters. The distinct shape of these rocks comes from an erosion-resistant layer of rock atop softer sandstone.
The vast landscape of sandstone goblins may have visitors wondering if they’re on Mars or in Utah. The movie, Galaxy Quest, was filmed at Goblin Valley State Park because of its unearthly scenery. Scores of intricately eroded creatures greet visitors to Goblin Valley. Hike among these rock formations and discover numerous haunting coves. Adjacent to the park, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts will find hundreds of miles of dirt roads to explore.
Green River State Park golf course is a golf oasis on the banks of the Green River, with the Book Cliffs towering in the distance. The elevated tees and greens add character to a leisurely round of golf. The course offers fairways lined with mature cottonwood trees and water hazards from the meandering Green River. Surrounded by natural wonder, this nine-hole classic was designed to challenge the experienced player, but remain playable to newer golfers.
Arches National Park is 48 miles from Green River.
A red rock wonderland containing some of the most scenic and inspiring landscapes on Earth, Arches National Park contains the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. Although over 2,000 arches are located within the park’s 76,518 acres, the park also contains an astounding variety of other geological formations. Colossal sandstone fins, massive balanced rocks, soaring pinnacles and spires dwarf visitors as they explore the park’s viewpoints and hiking trails. Geologic faulting has exposed millions of years of geologic history within the park.