Impossible Hill Trail
South of Canyonlands National Park South of Moab, Utah

by: Bob Norton, New Mexico 4-Wheelers

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For the first half of this article see Dome Plateau

Friday, all nine of us get an early start in the 5 Jeeps from Dr. Bob’s and head south. We turn west on Highway 211 towards Newspaper Rock and Canyonlands National Park. About 4 miles past Newspaper Rock, we turn south onto the Beef Basin Road. This road parallels the North Cottonwood Creek drainage and Bridger Jack Mesa. The main road eventually heads westerly, past Cathedral Butte. [For additional information on the trails covered in this story see Canyon Country OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS Canyon Rims Recreation Area by F. A. Barnes, and  Canyon Country OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS Canyon Rims & Needles Areas by F. A. Barnes, and the accompanying topographic Off-Road Vehicle Trails Maps]

Much of Beef Basin Road can be driven in 2-WD, here passing Bridger Jack Mesa. But, there is good 4-Wheeling ahead in the backcountry

Colorful Buttes are passed

A branch road is taken that leads out a "peninsula", ending at Cathedral Point. Oh my, is this spot ever fabulous! This is a popular camping spot because of the views, the nearby start of a popular hiking trail into the Salt Creek drainage and because it is just outside the National Park. Now that legal action has closed all motorized access into Salt Creek canyon from the north, this now is the shortest hike to such attractions as Angel Arch and the All-American Man and Four Faces pictographs. This is a very strenuous all day hike. Keep in mind, any overnight back-country camping in the National Park now requires following specific regulations and obtaining an expensive permit. Available by reservation only, the number of permits is limited.

Looking into the Big Pocket from Cathedral Point

At the left, Salt Creek drains northward into Canyonlands National Park. The trailhead is not far from this overlook

The views from Cathedral Point take in Big Pocket, Cedar Mesa, and the upper drainages of Salt Creek and Lavender Canyons. Check out the December 1996 Campfire Tales story "BIG POCKET" by Larry Heck of PASS PATROL.

A number of Anasazi ruins exist in the Ruin Park area

Returning to Beef Basin Road, we now head in a southwesterly direction. The road begins to climb Horse Mountain. We encounter snow and mud as we climb in elevation. Things become quite slick in places, the edge of the mountain seems all to close! The road descends the mountain in a northwesterly direction, eventually reaching the area collectively known as Beef Basin. This area is part of the Canyon Rims Recreation Area. Numerous ruins of structures built by Anasazi exist in this area, known as Ruin Park. Enjoy looking at them, but leave them and any artifacts alone for others to enjoy also.

A major branch road in Ruin Park leads south past Farmhouse Ruin. The main route continuing to the north leads to Bobby’s Hole. This can be a real uphill challenging 4-WD climb for many coming from the other direction. The road north from Bobby’s Hole enters into Canyonlands National Park and "The Needles" district. But we take the long route to the south that will ultimately turns north and east leading to the bottom of Impossible Hill. This intersection is at 38° 00' 41.7" N 109° 54' 33.3 W.

Starting up Impossible Hill, it is impossible to see what lies ahead

After a few miles of enjoying the scenery on this primitive backcountry road, we approach the base of a steep climb. Alas, the bottom of Impossible Hill, the obstacles still out of sight. Incidentally, you might check out the article "Exploring CANYONLANDS" by Trent Riddle in the September ‘98 issue of 4WHEEL DRIVE & SPORT UTILITY MAGAZINE. The article Includes GPS coordinates for this area. Incidentally, their group only drove down this obstacle "as it is rumored to be impossible to climb up Impossible Hill" Well folks, we were going to find out!

With Dr. Bob leading the way uphill, a hard right turn is made followed immediately by a loose off-camber climb. Steve is following in his CJ-5 and it is certain that he will require assistance to get to the top of the hill. Indeed, this first obstacle gives him some problems due to open differentials, tall gearing and carburetor. Arne and I get by with no problem, front and rear ARB’s locked. Pap follows in his CJ-7 with rear Detroit Locker and front Powr-Lok and has no trouble.

Just past a tight right turn, a loose, off-camber section is encountered

We wait our turn to tackle the most difficult section of the hill

The trail then levels off just at the base of the long steep rough section that leads the rest of the way to the top. We walk the hill trying to plan out our lines. Rock outcrops, ledges, loose boulders and dirt, some turns.... this IS going to be a real challenge!

Dr. Bob is first to go. His CJ-5 is well equipped, ARB’s front and rear, 33" Mud-Terrains, 4 inch lift, an NP 435 granny low tranny. He climbs to the first rock outcrop and suddenly turns sharply left. The Jeep climbs high up the left side of the trail, a right turn, over the last ledge.... he’s up! (Bob admits that really was not the line he had planned on!)

Dr. Bob makes a hard left at the ledges

He has conquered Impossible Hill!

Next, Steve has trouble at the first outcrop before the turn. The steepness of the hill, the turns, ledges and angles would cause considerable difficulty in winching up the Jeep. Ultimately, the cable was run through a pulley anchored to a large rock on the far hillside. Rock ramps, experimentation and repositioning of the winch vehicle at the top would be required to get the vehicle up. This all took about an hour. And, three more vehicles yet to come!

Winching Steve’s CJ-5 up the steep hill would be complex and very difficult

Arne’s XJ slides towards the rock wall!

Next, Arne’s XJ is stopped by the ledges past the curve. Four tires clawing.... the right rear digs a hole and he slides into the rock wall at the right. I kid him that he has NOW really "been 4-Wheeling" as he has left paint behind! (He is not amused!). Rockwork follows. But, in spite of our best efforts, the XJ spits out the big rocks dropped in the hole and continues to pull to the right. Finally, Arne accepts the winch.

My turn. I plan to stay as far to the left as I can, trying to get high like Dr. Bob did. As I start up, the XJ is way too long and I cannot turn sharp enough at the ledges. The left rear tire is stopped by the rock outcrop. I try to jockey around to the left, but no go. Next, I try a line a little more to the right. You guessed it.... the off camber hill pulls me to the right...into Arne’s hole! Fill the hole, spit out the rocks. Do it again and again. Finally, the XJ leaps forward and over the ledge. My climb is again stopped. Now the rear differential is hung up. More rockwork. But the XJ slides back into the same hung-up predicament each time. Time is fleeting, I take the winch cable.

Last up, Pap’s attempt at Impossible Hill is futile. 4 of 5 vehicles are defeated today!

Last up is Pap. He gets hung up in the same hole as Arne and I. Pile some rocks and he climbs up, heading to the left. He can steer more sharply than the XJ’s so manages to get a little further up the hill. But ultimately, the lack of ground clearance with 31" tires has his CJ-7 hung-up on spring shackles and other "underthings". It won’t be long now till dark, so the CJ-7 is winched up too.

So perhaps now we can dub this "Usually Impossible Hill"? Only one in five made it up. Hmm.... perhaps with more time.... experimentation with other lines, more of us will make it up next time? (Or not!)

Just past the top of the hill we come out to the main road right at the bottom of the "Bobby’s Hole" hill climb. A right turn up and a climb up the hill would lead back to Beef Basin. But we turn left and head into the National Park. We cannot take time to stop and enjoy the Needles scenery as we are now racing the sun.

We start down the Silver Stairs at sunset. But at the bottom, Pap’s V-8 Jeep, suffering from a wobbly shaft on the power steering pump, tosses and destroys the belt. And no spare that fits! Real trouble. Dr. Bob remembers a "universal" emergency belt that he has packed away. It is cut to fit and the ends fitted back together. (Fortunately, this would hold all the way back to Moab, in spite of the wobble and a couple of stops for re-tightening.)

By the time we get to Elephant Hill, it is pitch black. This is going to be a real treat! "Maintenance" by the Park Service has eased the difficulty of the hill’s obstacles. Yet, this is a very long steep climb up and back down. And this is kinda spooky in the dark knowing that there are steep drop-offs lurking just to the side!

For a story and photos of this trail, check out: "Elephant Hill Trail" by The Flatlander.   [For additional information on the Elephant Hill Trail see Canyon Country OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS Canyon Rims & Needles Areas by F. A. Barnes, and the accompanying topographic Off-Road Vehicle Trails Map]

Arriving very late into Moab, several of our group had lost interest in eating any dinner. But others of us relaxed and chowed down on Turkey Dinner left-overs! Yum!

Our group would finish off the weekend by driving the Cliff Hanger Trail onto Amasa Back on Saturday. This difficult trail would provide additional excitement and pleasant scenery. No need to duplicate the good photos and description in:"The Cliff Hanger Trail" by The Flatlander.  [For additional information on the Cliff Hanger Trail see the Amasa Back Trail in Canyon Country OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS Canyon Rims & Needles Areas by F. A. Barnes, and the accompanying topographic Off-Road Vehicle Trails Map]

We took a side route across Amasa Back, previously bypassed, and were treated to a sensational overlook of the Colorado River, the Poison Spider Mesa Trail, plus the Moab Rim Trail in the distance. A nice finish to a great holiday weekend with friends and more outstanding 4-Wheeling in SE Utah.

For the first half of this article see Dome Plateau

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