Cottonwood Canyon - Slick Rocks - Chute 4x4 Route
Accuracy - At or near major trail sites (place names), the pioneers’ route is known and quite accurate. In between place names where there is little if any known trail evidence, the position of the trail is assumed and may not be accurate.
WARNING – There are challenging and dangerous portions to this 4x4 route. Please make note of the warnings and recommendations in the associated PDF map document, ”HIR Trail - 4x4 Route Lake Canyon to Lake Powell”
Created by Lamont Crabtree, December 20, 2013. Last updated June 6, 2025.

Original pioneer rd. closed to vehicles

Road to wagon wheel - 1st right turn

Spanish Cave Rd

Little HIR-upper

The Dugway

The Chute

Top of Cottonwood Hill - end of the jeep rd.

Little HIR-mid

Little HIR-lower

The Sand Hill

Cribbing

Register Rocks

Rincon Rd turnoff

2nd right turn

Highway turnoff

Nokai Rd. turnoff

HIR Trail / Lake Canyon intersection

Risky jeep path

Pioneer dugway

Pioneer cuts for footing

Wagon Wheel
Scattered wagon parts discovered by Lynn Lyman, Clarence Rogers, and Hugh Kirkham on the original pioneers’ route from Lake Pagahrit. In 1972 they, with the help of the BLM, anchored the remnants to the sandstone to prevent their loss. The BLM erected an interpretive sign at the site. However, the sign has since succumbed to the harsh environment.

Lake Canyon turnoff - west of airport

Remnants of pioneers' path from Lake Canyon

Half-track

Last trailer drop off

Spanish / Cowboy Cave

HIR Turnoff

HIR Rd - Lake Canyon

Rincon Trail

Turn off to pioneers' descent path

Pioneer path

Pioneers' Slick Rocks path - bottom blasted dugway

View of the Great Bend of San Juan River

Challenging jeep path!!
Do not proceed down the drop unless you are sure you can make it back up! Large wheels and high clearance are essential! Short wheelbase vechicles are prone to flip backward when ascending. The path has worsened considerably since this 2023 photo was taken.

Cottonwood Canyon

Mid blasted dugway

Portion of upper blasted dugway

Cheese Camp

Nokai Dome Rd.

Lake Pagahrit washed out dam site

Road to Lake Canyon

Lake Canyon Rd.

Lake Canyon Road Intersection

Lake Canyon - North Arm

Lake Canyon - South Arm

Pioneers' Route - closed to vehicles
The pioneer's route goes through the lower elevation valley in this area.

Pioneers' Route

Trunoff to HIR Trail - from Nokai Road

Jeep path to Pioneer Descent

Wash /road turnoff to wagon wheel

Nokai Rd fron half track

Highway to halftrack near airport

Lake Canyon Rd - via airport

Lake Canyon - via halftrack

Lake Cayon from the south

Highway 276 turnoff

Turn off - steep not advisable for trailers