Luinil - Traveling with the Blue Star


May 2021 — The Burr Trail
Top | Home | Travel Archive and Videos | Contact
Copyright © 2015 - 2023 Larrie Easterly

I first learned about the Burr Trail when Ann and I toured the national parks in southern Utah. It sounded like an interesting and beautiful drive. This year, 2021, I had the opportunity to be in that area again so I took a couple of days to drive the trail. Watch the Videos

The Burr Trail was developed by John Burr in the late 1800’s so that he could move his cattle between the summer and winter grazing areas. The cattle trail ran through the nearly impassible country around the Waterpocket Fold, Burr Canyon, and Muley Twist Canyons. The trail connects Bullfrog, in the south, and Boulder, in the west.

My trip started in Boulder Utah. Boulder is a small town with a lot going for it.

Anasazi State Park and Museum

Anasazi State Park and Museum — Photo Galley

The main attraction is the Anasazi State Park and Museum. Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) village found at the site was likely occupied from A.D. 1050 to 1200, and is one of the largest communities west of the Colorado River. The museum has a large collection of artifacts from the site and surrounding area. There is also a resort, hotel, and a couple of good restaurants in town.

Singing Canyon

Singing Canyon — Photo Galley

The current 66 mile long alignment of the Burr Trail is starts off in the high desert of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument before dropping about 250 feet into Long Canyon for a display with its display of cottonwood trees, red rock cliffs, a slot canyon and unusual rock formations.
Burr Trail Switchback

Burr Trail Switchback — Photo Galley

It then crosses White Canyon Flat and entering Capitol Reef National Park before dropping 700 feet down the face of the Waterpocket Fold on a series of tight switchbacks. The road changes from pavement to gravel at the park boundry.

The road turns to pavement again 29 miles later at the southern park boundary. From there it winds across Middle Point and along clay Canyon before entering Glenn Canyon National Recreation Area. During the wet season the crossing at Bullfrog Creek can be hazardous. This time it was dry.

The Burr Trail ends at Utah Highway 276. A right turn takes you to Lake Powell. I turned left, north, across the Crane Springs Desert on the way Hanksville.

Sand Dunes

Sand Dunes — Photo Galley

Once there I filled my fuel tanks and continued northeast across the Robbers Roost Flat toward our campground at the head of Twin Corral Box Canyon where I would meet up with Curt, Chuck and David for our trip into the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park.

Past Travels
Singing Canyon

Burr Trail

Beach at Conception Bay

Baja California Mexico

Hawaii

Hawaii

282 feet below sea level

Barrancas del Cobre

282 feet below sea level

282 feet below sea level

Summer Lake Hot Springs

Summer Lake Hot Springs

Twin Rocks

Twin Rocks