Flint Trail 2.0

Flint Trail runs from Highway 95 near Hite to Highway 24 north of Hanksville. It provides access to Canyonlands National Park west of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and a large swath of land  east of Highway 24.  The National Park and the National Recreation Area are both managed by the National Park Service.

We ran the trail from south to north.  Many people will want to do it north to south so they can stop at the Hans Flat Ranger Station to learn about the Park and to check on road conditions.  The station is at the entrance to the Park/Recreation Area.

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Buttes in the distance
The scenery from Highway 95 to the Parks is fantastic.  Mountains, buttes and great rock formations.
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Henry Mountains in background
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Wall on the way north
The area is open to grazing so you may need to dodge a few cow pies.
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You might call this a pasture
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White calf
​Climb a small set of switchbacks then follow a bench running under Orange Cliffs.  Nice views all along the bench, including Bagpipe Butte.
 
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View from the bench
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Bagpipe Butte
Follow the bench until you come to the major set of switchbacks.  This is an enjoyable part of the trail.
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Sharpest switchback
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Several switchbacks
We did the trail in June, 2017.  The road was in good shape and we rated it at 2.0.  A heavy rain might erode the steep hills and increase the difficulty.  It would be a good idea to run the trail north to south and ask about road conditions at the Hans Flat Ranger Station of you are concerned about this.
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These were the most difficult spots on the run.  Doing the trail north to south will put you downhill over these and they will be easier.
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First questionable spot
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Second questionable spot
You will eventually come to the Ranger Station.  We found them to be friendly and very helpful.  We were told it was 1.5 hours from the station to Highway 24 but we did other things so did not time it.  You may see antelope and burros on the way out.
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Wide graded road after ranger station
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One of the antelope
Page updated 2017.
flint_trail_2.0.gpx
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