When asked if we wanted to join our friends Claudia and Ralph on a family camping trip to the San Rafael Swell, it was an easy “Yes!” Although we had just been in Southern Utah for the “Ring of Fire” events, we were excited to head back down for a few more days. The “Swell” as it is referred to is an area of approximately 2,800 square miles in Emery County. Not as popular as the surrounding national parks, it is an area that we had never explored.

After a quick 1-day turnaround to wash clothes, say “Hello” to the cats, repack, and grab our mountain bikes, we were on our way. A relatively short 3 1/2 hour drive and we were there. Claudia and Ralph had gone down to grab a camping spot the day before – unreserveable and huge, they were sure to fill up as this turned out to be Fall Break for several of the school districts.

Several great biking forays were on the Good Water Rim Trail which is a 15 mile well-maintained intermediate level mountain bike trail running along the rim of the “Wedge,” also referred to as the Little Grand Canyon.

One morning we took a driving adventure down through the Buckhorn Wash. We stopped at the Dinosaur Track – yes, just one! and then saw a small herd of Desert Bighorn Sheep just around the corner.

Next stop was the Buckhorn Wash Pictograph Panel – very impressive and different from the petroglyphs we saw the week before. (The pictographs are essentially painted on the rocks where the petroglyphs are chipped into the rocks.)

Just a ways past the pictograph panels was another campground right on the San Rafael River where the cottonwoods were putting on a great fall color show.

Beautiful weather, great company and food and some fun exercise made for another great adventure in Southern Utah. Lots more to explore in the San Rafael Swell!