Buckhorn Draw: The North Entrance to the San Rafael Swell

Talk about a big payoff for very little work. Driving down Buckhorn Draw has to be one of the most accessible beautiful places that nobody outside the local area knows about.
While I would still like to plan a big trip exploring the backroads of the San Rafael Swell from the North End to the south end, in the meantime it's really easy to just go sample the area on the very well maintained and easy to drive Buckhorn Draw Road. It's jam packed with scenery, wildlife, and rock art including my favorite Barrier Canyon Style art.
I was shocked at how much development is being done in the area. Historically the place has kind of been abused by a high number of rowdy tourists and no control to keep them from trampling and trashing the area. But since the new bill passing making it a National Recreation area they're getting things organized. Instead of the "setup camp wherever there is a flat spot regardless of the impact is causes" mentality; they're creating organized campsites with prefabbed firepits. I'm guessing a "camp only in designated spots" rule will be coming into effect as well. But now there are still plenty of sites but they're marked so you can see if they're occupied or not, or if there is room for 2-3 sites, or it's just one. The drawback is that it's going to be a pay to camp area beginning in the summer, but they're already putting money to good use taming the tourist impact a bit.
I think the days of it being a no mans land with OHVs parked on soft soils and plants; or camps blocking off entire canyons so they can have them to themselves is coming to an end.
KMZ GPS file of trip route: drive.google.com/file/d/17liq...

[@tomhoward8304]

I went through that country just last Thursday the 20th of May, and I agree, San Rafael is Utah's forgotten national park. Thanks for featuring this wonder place.

[@virginiafrank317]

Thank you for posting another beautiful video of my favorite state.

[@Saladmama57]

The sensitivity and respect for native rock art is appreciated. Thanks for the inspiring trip video. San Rafael Swell is a fave!

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Thanks for having us along.

[@hawghunter6849]

I have to thank you for my last trip. Drove Buckhorn and Burr trial and others you made videos of. Had the time of my life and will return asap. Thank you for sharing!

[@schadlarry]

Nice video work and story telling.

[@CactusAtlas]

I did the drive in a Volkswagen Golf last August, so can attest that it is possible. One of the best experiences of my life!

[@dandomancich6097]

Well done!

[@AllenManor]

I really appreciate your videos. So enjoyable and restful after a long day.

[@arnousteele4845]

Love your videos! The informative intros help us understand a lot more and get to learn so much more!

[@beach3girl459]

Gorgeous and informative video to this east-coaster. Thanks for sharing!

[@petervollers]

Great vid and info thx!

[@mjjensenpix]

Great episode! Time to go back for a more extensive visit.

[@Scrambler85]

Another thumbs up video 👍

[@claraallen12]

Thanks for your videos. I am enamored with this part of Utah as well.

[@exploresouthwest]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@AlanzFPV]

Solid video of a great place. Sub’d

[@mikeschmidt3362]

I did this drive once. It’s awesome!

[@Admirallmao]

You got to go drive Skyline Drive and check out Electric Lake and Indian Creek... You'll love it.....

[@mirandamom1346]

The Swell is swell. It’s the first place I hiked in Utah.

[@GeorgeS68]

Another great place.

[@Toad_Moto]

Great video, man.

[@NigelNaughton]

Spent a couple weeks they are recently. It's a pretty amazing place. That stuff they put down on the roads to mitigate dust is awesome.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

In the old days we just sprayed oil on the roads

[@NigelNaughton]

@@anthonyhitchings1051 yeah the farmers did that around here. Worked excellent. Oil is natural 😄

[@exploresouthwest]

I saw a sign up for a place they were doing it in a National Forest and they were using Magnesium Chloride, which didn't mean anything to me but I was curious what its health and environmental risks are. Turns out its naturally occurring in salt water, they also use it to solidify soybean curd into tofu. I'm sure spraying salt on the ground makes it harder for plants to grow; but you don't really want plants growing in the road anyway so it seems like a good solution to road stabilization.

[@NigelNaughton]

@@exploresouthwest all that dust that gets kicked up isn't too good for the plant life there too. Those plants that are there are pretty hearty. I'm sure they did an environmental impact study before they went ahead and sprayed. I really like the effect it has on the mitigation of dust ... Especially after you've been driving in dust for weeks on end. 😁

[@Auxbeam]

Hi Kindly ask if you guys are planning for more update?

[@billkipper3264]

It is absolutely incomprehensible to me that people would desecrate ancient art like that. It's the same as going into the Louvre and taking a sharpie to the Mona Lisa. Hell, I bet some of those idiots would do that too. People like that need a good old fashioned ass whipping. Shit like that just pisses me off to no end. Okay, sorry for the rant. Another great video. The Swell is definitely on my to do list. Maybe this Fall but probably next Spring.

[@grn9209]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@leonation6687]

Matt warner gave my grandfather one of his shot guns still have it in the family

[@sheerkhanful]

Given your experience on the trails in this particular region with a Toyota Tundra, how much of an impediment do you think it would be to do the same trails in a truck with a longer wheelbase? Like a crew cab truck with a 6.5 foot bed. I'm planning on buying one of the new Tundras and heading to Utah after retirement but it appears that the hybrid versions of the new truck will only be available in Crew Cab form. This concerns me because in a few of your videos you have to manage switchbacks and other turns where a tighter turning radius is more beneficial. I hope you're well, I do hope you'll post again in the future when it suits you.

[@philliphanvey6051]

Have you been to Robbers Roost on south end of swell?

[@exploresouthwest]

No, the south end is one of the personal blank spots on the map for me. I've been up and down the east side of the swell but that corner is always a little harder to get to. I never quite make it out there but want to.

[@yabadoo8317]

What happened to the gpx links 😔:/

[@yabadoo8317]

Good vid tho

[@exploresouthwest]

Oh yeah. The upload this time was a mess and happened while I was away. I fixed it, now there is the trip route in there.

[@marcos6654]

Do you have other Social Media like Instagram?

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah, usually updated more than this channel but the last month has been a bit behind. instagram.com/dustinbaughphoto/

[@salemk.3098]

awesome video! i think it has come to a point that off-road motorcycles, ohvs and desert racing pick up trucks like the raptor and trx should be banned from public land, their owners have caused lots of damage to the land. anyway, can you add the track file of your route?

[@mikestevens3023]

There are issues related to dirt bikes, etc. Usually, most of the problems are caused by a small minority that, quite frankly, behave badly across most aspects of their lives. However, before talking about banning, maybe you should think about the impact of that manicured road that makes access so easy and show and tell videos that publicize places like this...made by people are trying to make money by making them. Think about root causes!

[@salemk.3098]

@@mikestevens3023 the damage was being done even before youtubers, the blm and the usfs don’t have enough staff to enforce the rules, if those vehicles are not banned then access to that area will simply be closed as it is happening all over public land

[@mikestevens3023]

@@salemk.3098 no doubt true, so the real issue is that some people break existing rules because they've learned they won't get caught. How will ban change that? Again, root causes my friend.

[@salemk.3098]

@@mikestevens3023 I’ve seen bike, ohv and full size pick up truck tracks over vegetation and biocrust, that’s why they need to be banned otherwise public land will be banned for all of us

[@davetoal4629]

Yet another cash grab