Saddle Arch Loop via Upper Muley Twist Canyon Loop Trail
22.9 mi
Distance
12 hrs 18 min
Time
terrain
942 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to Saddle Arch in Capitol Reef National Park.
This trail goes by Trinity Double Arch, Cheerios Double Arch, unnamed Arch, Muley Arch, Dome Arch, Upper Muley Twist Canyon Trailhead (4WD), and Strike Valley Overlook.
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Public Tracks
Upper Mulley Twist (1/7/18, 9:19:27AM)
Why, oh WHY is noone talking about how dangerous this trail is? With a 30 pound pack on, I was legitimately scared and decided to turn back, for two reasons: (1) According to my GPS map, there is a large variance in distance and elevation between where the trail should be, and where I was, to the point where I thought the cairns were for a different trail, and (2) the sheer drops in the slickrock and cliffs, mixed with sometimes loose rocks that you're depending on for hand and foot holds, made for a very dangerous experience especially with a pack on. Location wise, I went clockwise at the split, and decided to turn around at pretty much the northern most point. I thought if the trail DID continue, I couldn't see how it would get past the cliffs to the east of me since they were SHEER cliffs, so at that point I decided to turn around. I'd recommend having a buddy to tether to, it's that nerve-wracking. To get my point across, I'm not a scardy-cat but I do have my limits (I've ridden my track-bike around Daytona International Raceway at 184mph, dragging a knee around corners, but I felt this trail was way more dangerous than that.