Glen Canyon NRA -Purple Hills

hatchcanyon

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May 29, 2013
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Purple Hills is a remote area within the Glen Canyon NRA. As the name says it is a colorful district.

There is only one known trail, at least to me. From Burr Trail take the Wolverine Loop where its eastern end connects (12S 0490914 4190715) and travel south for approximately 8 miles. There is a sign:

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Take the route to Silver Falls Creek and Moody Creek

After less than 3 miles the right trail goes down Silver Falls Canyon and we travel straight ahead. The trail leaves the then relatively shallow creek canyon at 12S 0493164 4165848. To the west you can see the Circle Cliffs but the trail turns to the east onto Fourmile Bench.

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Circle Cliffs from Fourmile Bench

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Thunderstorms over the Circle Cliffs north of Fourmile Bench

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Purple? Orange is predominant

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This cliff marks a fork (12S 0497471 4166835)

Driving right and south over a shallow pass leads to the "purple" Purple Hills.

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Purple Hills

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Colorful and a claim cairn

After 2 miles the trail ends near Middle Moody Creek. A mine might have been on the other side.

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Mining below the Cliffs?

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Middle Moody Creek Canyon

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My Lady takes another kind of pictures

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Purple Hills

After a while we return to the fork and try the othe trail to the east. The spur ends not far away from the at the foot of Deer Point.

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Deer Point

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A fine area. I've been there a few times. It's as about as remote as you're going to get in a vehicle.
 
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