Day 4 - Potato Bottom to Mineral Bottom Road

Hardscrabble Shoulder

Climbing up Hardscrabble from south

It rained on and off most of the night, temperatures in morning considerably cooler than previous days. The sky is filled with ominous looking clouds that obscure the sunrise. 

Descending Hardscrabble

Today is the shortest day, 12.5 miles to junction with Mineral Bottom Road, from there the truck will take leave of us and take Dave to get the vehicle left at Shafer overlook. The rest of us will struggle up Mineral Bottom and meet the truck somewhere on the road.

Rock Fall Hardscrabble Ledges

 

We break camp and head for the climb up Hardscrabble Hill. Hardscrabble Hill climbs about 500 feet out of the river bottom and traverses a ledge system to get you over the Bighorn Mesa and back to the Green River. It is narrow in places, has some rock fall on road and has some overhanging ledges that cause concern for hardsided camper operators. We went slowly, spotting the vehicle around the rock fall and overhanging ledges, clearance was pretty good in all places. The camper had to get a bit closer to the downside road edge than driver may have preferred in a couple places, but made it through with nothing worse than touching a jack stand to a fallen rock that crowds the road a bit. Cycling is very good, quite rideable both up and down and a very fun descent to the Hardscrabble Bottom. 

Hardscrabble Bottom

The trail runs along Hardscrabble Bottom where a few more ledges are encountered. Again none caused serious concern, but spotting required. As we approached Labyrinth Camp, we encountered wet sand in the wash that made the cycling a bit more interesting. But in general it is a very pleasant ride along the river.

Saddle Horse Bottom

Once to Labyrinth we figured we had it beat and sent the camper on his way ahead of us. But wait, not so fast… we soon catch up to the camper, there are some more ledges to navigate past at beginning of Saddle Horse Bottom. This turns out to be the most difficult spot on the route as the overhang is low and road is narrow. With one stop to reverse and get a better angle to avoid the overhang, we creep by the obstacle. The truck wheels on the downside were somewhat uncomfortably close to the edge of the road, no matter we are past it and the driver has already stated he won’t be repeating this adventure, at least not in this vehicle.

Mineral Bottom Junction

Camper exiting on Mineral Bottom Road

The rest of the ride to Mineral Bottom Road turnoff is pleasant along the river. Once outside Canyonlands Park, the road seemed to improve, wider, less rough… different budgets no doubt. We are soon at the Boat launch junction and the drivers and truck leave us to climb out Mineral Bottom Road. This road climbs some 1000 feet in 1.5 miles to Horsethief Point. The road was closed in winter 2010/2011 due to a major washout, it has been rebuilt and is now a reasonably wide, smooth surface dirt road. Wash areas have even had concrete poured to minimize erosion.

Heading up Mineral Bottom Road

Mineral Bottom Auto Graveyard

The road is quite rideable, but we chose to mostly push the bikes up as the 4 days of riding had taken a toll. Of interest at one switchback there is a graveyard or rusted auto bodies… Portions of at least 4 car bodies can be seen protruding from the rocks below. Not sure whether these were fill for the road work or remnants of past mis-adventures.

Looking down to Mineral Bottom

Shortly we crest the top and ride on toward Utah 313. A light rain starts, that gets heavier as we proceed, an hour and ¼ after they departed the truck returns to pick us up, the rain is heavy now, we are glad to get in out of the wet. We are 4 hours of riding from Potato Camp.

Cycling on Mineral Bottom Road

Done

The White Rim is behind us. Four days traveling approximately 75 miles in about 18 hours of riding. Some very interesting terrain traveling through one of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes on the planet. Highly recommended....