Hey Joe Canyon, a site of some mining ruins, is a short tributary to Labyrinth Canyon of the Green River. To get into the canyon, one must travel

about 20 miles of pavement and 10 miles of good dirt road to the rim of Spring Canyon, where a spectacular ledge road winds down a 600-foot cliff to the canyon bottom. The trail follows the canyon about 2 miles to the Green River and is now a regularly maintained county road (“regular maintenance” is required because it regularly washes out). Another 9 miles upstream along the river in Labyrinth Canyon is Hey Joe Canyon. The trail along the river is

subject to rockfalls and collapse. The trail was down-rated a notch this year because of the county maintenance on part of the trail, but there are many more rocks poised to fall on the road along the river. Although we occasionally cut back

the brushy tamarisk alongside parts of the trail, fancy paint jobs may prefer another trail. Approximate mileages: 85 total, 45

off highway. Scenery: The access roads include the paved one in Sevenmile Canyon and good dirt roads in the open plateau country and into Spring Canyon to the Green River. Spring Canyon is a jewel. The trail enters Labyrinth Canyon at Bowknot Bend, a large loop of the river where the river doubles back and threatens to short-

cut the loop in the near future, geologically speaking. There are abandoned mining roads on both sides of the river; remains of the cable that ferried equipment across the river may be seen. Road Surface: The road into Spring

Canyon once carried ore trucks and heavy equipment but it is still subject to erosion from storms. It is now being maintained as part of the Grand County road system. The roads in Spring Canyon and Labyrinth Canyon are good dirt except where erosion has narrowed them or left rockfalls that required hand labor to make them at least passable. Obstacles: There are no fixed obstacles on this route; the hard places move around as erosion continues. Some of the older rockfalls have been crossed so much that they are getting easy, but who knows what ‘08 will bring. Wet weather would require cancellation of the trip; the road is scary when dry and terrifying (dangerous, too) when wet.

Associate Leaders: Melissa Fischer, Bryan Hoskins, Rick Moore & Dana Woodruff.To be used: Thursday (Bob Micklick) and Big Saturday.

Hey Joe Canyon Trail Ber Knight, Leader Rated

54 MOAB JEEP SAFARI 2009