Hellhole Trail, Kayenta (Ivins)

Unduly named except in the hottest part of summer, this 4.5 mile round trip hike through soft sand along an unnamed wash up into the majestic sandstone canyons of Kayenta’s Red Mountain Range, is a great way to shake off the cobwebs of a long work week.  The trek begins at an unmarked trailhead that can be found on 400 West about 1 mile past the Kayenta welcome sign just outside of Ivins. At the 1-mile mark you will come upon the first major wash along the black-topped route. Park on the south side of the road near another Kayenta sign where there is room for perhaps 2 or 3 vehicles.  Head down into the wash and then upstream to the north. Most of the year, the route is completely dry. Wear sturdy shoes or boots as the sand is very powdery and ‘toe grabber’ stones adorn the wash aplenty. As you get into the canyons the rocks become larger, and some scrambling is expected. Moderate to advanced technical skill is needed to reach the very end of the canyon, but the work is well worth the effort.  If there is heavy rain in progress, this wash can become dangerous. There is bed and bank, however, so exiting the gully is not a problem during flash flooding. At the top of the canyon spectacular waterfalls are created during thunderstorms. Photography during these periods can be exquisite. Think safety first. Late afternoon when the sun is back out and the Red Mountain is soaked with rainwater, the scenery here is absolutely stunning!

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