Secret Spire

This trail rides the rolling mesa top between two of the Green River's large tributary canyons, Hellroaring and Spring Canyons. It goes close to the deep portions of Spring Canyon, and it crosses the shallower upper Spring Canyon to visit a strange tower, dubbed the Secret Spire. It is a good trail for some mild four-wheeling through an interesting and scenic expanse of country. Approximate mileages: 73 total, 32 off highway.
 

Scenery

The large vistas are to the west and north and encompass the San Rafael Reef, the Book Cliffs, and a glimpse of the Green River. The close-up views are into deep, rugged canyons and a range of local rock formations, including arches and towers. Bluffs of Entrada Sandstone, called Needles Rock and Rainbow Rocks, stand high above the trail.

Surface

After twenty miles of pavement, the roads are largely sandy dirt. The trail itself features sand, slickrock, and some sandy washbottom.

Trail Details

Near upper Spring Canyon wash bottom one gully often washes out and may have to be repaired a bit. Your leader may take a spur to Dellenbaugh Tunnel, which is a strange, usually dry watercourse piercing the Navajo Sandstone. The tunnel is about 100 feet long and high enough one hardly needs to stoop to walk through it. The floor is a limestone layer rich in chert, and this layer extends another couple of hundred feet to an abrupt drop into lower Spring Canyon. The Secret Spire is a strange tower of Navajo Sandstone standing alone on a dome-like base. Nearby are two small arches, one of which is by the main road but easily missed.