Piute Pass Trail

Trail Overview

Piute Pass Trail is a 2.3-mile point-to-point trail (4.6-mile if you turn around) rated 4 of 10 located in San Juan County. Depending upon the vehicle, this may be an easy or moderately difficult trail. The Piute Pass Trail starts at Highway 95 and runs west through a narrow canyon, across a flat plateau, then up a steep climb to the pass. The trail is dirt and loose rock, which makes the trail interesting enough. But the real difficulty lies in the narrow ledges that must be traversed. The ideal vehicles for this trail will be dirt bikes and ATVs. Larger vehicles will be challenged to stay on the trail. There is adequate space at the top of the pass for 3 vehicles to turn around (approximately 1 hour one way). Although there are stories of full-size vehicles continuing from this point and running either the north or south pass trail out to Red Canyon, current trail conditions do not make it look feasible. Be advised that there are no places to turn around on the final climb to the pass, and from what could be seen, there are no places to turn around on the downslope if a traveler decides to continue. This is an extremely remote area so plan your trip accordingly. There are no services for 70 miles in any direction.

Photos of Piute Pass Trail

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Difficulty

The trail consists of loose rock, dirt, and sand with some slick rock surfaces. There's some erosion; expect washes, gulches, and rock steps no higher than 18 inches. 4WD is required. Good driving skills are a plus. Tall tires (33+ inches) and limited slip are a plus. Enhanced suspension travel and good ground clearance are helpful.

History

The trail over the pass dates from before any Anglo settlement in this part of Utah. On July 15, 1884, a U. S. Calvary scout named Joseph S. Wormington and a cowboy named James "Rowdy" Higgins were killed in a battle with Indians at Piute Pass. These men were part of a posse of cattlemen and Sixth Calvary - F - troop soldiers from Fort Lewis, Colorado, who were chasing a band of renegade Ute and Paiute Indians led by Mancos Jim. The Indians had stolen 150 horses from the round-up grounds in Verdure, Utah. After a 75-mile chase, the Utes and Paiutes led the posse and soldiers into an ambush.

Technical Rating