Chile Pepper News

Hells Canyon Trail in Lasal Mtns.

by Administrator on May.23, 2009, under Trail Conditions

Hell’s Canyon may be the gnarliest legal trail in the National Forest Service without man made features (let me know if you know one more gnarly). This trail laid dormant for a long time to every one but horseback riders until Max and friends at the Forest Service helped us clear the downed trees.

The canyon sits in the Pack Creek area on the South side of the La Sal Mts. The trail starts out fast and flowy at 9500 ft in high aspen groves and evergreens then continues down to scrub oak with nothing too crazy, just good La Sal Mt. biking. BUT… Just as you thought you had the trail dialed, you come out of the trees with a great view of Moab Valley and enter into scrub oak where the gates of Hell open up. This is where the trail starts to parallel the top of Hell’s Canyon and becomes steep, loose, rocky… super technical. Mommy!

Even though the upper section is good for most levels of riders the lower section is for expert riders or for aggressive hikers. You should be proficient at navigating in the forest and take map, compass, food and water. So if you are interested in the gnarliest trail in all of the NFS come into the shop and say I want to go to Hell.

Yours truly: Dark Lord


3 Comments for this entry

  • Katie

    Great photos! Looks like a GREAT ride. Thanks for posting it!

  • Jim Owens

    I read your post on Hells Canyon. I will be in Moab next week and would like directions to the trailhead. I am an extreme North Shore rider and am looking to ride something like Ride Don’t Slide in Whistler or Cop Killer in Pemberton, BC.

    I enjoy the Chille Drop and am looking for something more challenging than Burro down.

    Thanks,

    Jim

  • Dennis

    I like the posts on Chile drop. I would to travel to Hells Canyon once.

    Dennis, CA
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