Burr Trail: Switchbacks to Bullfrog

The Burr Trail from Capitol Reef to Highway 276 is actually quite a scenic drive in itself. I think many people head North along the Notom road after going on the Switchbacks but the trip out to Bullfrog has a lot to offer as well.
Recorded: October 30th-Nov 1st
Check out the SUV RVing Channel here, lots of great trips and find some campsites away from the crowds: / @suvrving
Driving the second half of the Burr Trail, starting at the picnic area at the top of the switchbacks and ending at the picnic area in Bullfrog a day later.
Honestly I thought the part of the trail after leaving Capitol Reef and crossing a badlands back to Highway 276 was going to be uneventful and boring but there are actually some really interesting places to hike to just a couple miles from the road. I think that since much of the campgrounds and lodging are so Lake Powell and boater centric this are flies under the radar for the rest of us. You could easily spend a while vacation exploring side trips down here as a landlubber (or for land based day trips when you want a day away from the water if you're a boater.
The entire Burr Trail is drivable in a 2WD passenger car if the road conditions are dry and good. The dirt areas aren't impassible but the corrugations will really put some wear on your suspension. The dirt sections are wide, well maintained, and don't have any surprise oil pan can openers, but all the traffic really affects the washer board effect of the dirt road. Don't go too fast or you'll start to skid and slide from the wheels spending so much time bounding in the air.
There is no organized camping until you're almost to Bullfrog but there is plentiful dispersed locations along the way. Bring a map since there is a network of other roads leading up to the mountains or out to the deserts.
Downloadable KMZ route file to import into GaiaGPS or Google My Maps:
drive.google.com/file/d/1TuD6...

[@misha4422]

Thank you for the encouragement. We had driven partway along the Burr Trail from the west in a low clearance rental. With two weeks planned this fall and plan to rent a high clearance car, we want to revisit the Burr Trail, plus exploring many other amazing locations in southern Utah. (We will NOT drive beyond our or the vehicleks abilities.)

[@starpyxis4542]

Thank you so much. I drove that exact route to Lake Powell and stayed a couple of days. Im so glad I found your video because I live on the east coast and it is not easy to get back west. I spend my days dreaming about this 2 month trip i took in MAY/June of 2021. now I can watch this video and relive the trip over and over,

[@tomreynolds4293]

I found it amusing that you said you could drive the switchbacks in a Toyota Camry. We recently drove up the switchbacks in...our TOYOTA CAMRY :). In fact we drove to the switchbacks and on to Boulder in it. No Problems.

[@onerider808]

Superb mixture of drone, fixed, dashcam, and 3D map footage. I had figured on 5-7 days doing this spring 24 on my motorcycle, stopping a lot for hikes, and camping along the way. This is great recon. I hope you do all SW Utah, E Nev and N AZ. I love CO and the Rockies, but that is truly a magic region.

[@davidniemela6605]

Great video! My first experience driving the Burr to the Switchbacks was absolutely astounding, this is still the best Utah scenery Ive ever seen, have driven this 4 times.

[@robertstone96]

Fantastic video with the best narration ever. The KMZ download link is a true pro bonus, thanks!

[@sissyberkieberkheimer3387]

I look forward to all your videos but you need to make more... Thanks again for all your hard work you put into these videos... Awesome work of the beautiful state of Utah...

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah, I'm trying to get more into the habit. And each video I come up with shortcuts to make the next easier. I have tons of old footage from trips that never makes it online. I need to just place catchup for a while in between the regular 9-5 job.

[@virginiafrank317]

Your videos of the beautiful state of Utah are amazing. Thank you for posting them.

[@delvinmorales9458]

Awesome. Been looking forward to part 2.

[@billj5645]

25 years ago I drove my Taurus SHO down the Burr Trail and on to Bullfrog, and didn't think anything of it. There was water in that "ford" area then, well really just the creek part, and I drove through it fast enough that I wouldn't risk getting stuck.

[@dandomancich6097]

Nice work! You gave a great tour of the Burr Trail.

[@kaparowitz7393]

Amazing mini-goblin valley. So cool! Thanks.

[@karimasonshaw]

We went through these last June on a 5 days Jeep ride. It was raining and there was some amazing gorgeous waterfalls.

[@davidviner5783]

Photography is unequalled !

[@annettemueller4869]

Gordeous. Especially the 3D films!

[@mikerobbins5049]

Thanks for sharing. Will add the Burr Trail to my bucket list

[@chrisgerritsen2376]

Thanks for great video quality and narration!

[@fredhartman1325]

A+ job! Very helpful. Best video on this drive.

[@DarkSkyOverland]

Well done! Thanks for sharing.

[@mirandamom1346]

Yea! I’ve been waiting for this!

[@NasTimeAdventures]

Amazing scenery. Hopefully one day I can get out there myself and live out my cowboy fantasies. Cheers for sharing mate.

[@michaelmccamish4008]

Been on that road many times, the views are never the same.

[@Wisegogo]

This is good information I can get the road condition. Thank you so much.

[@heathkoerschgen6262]

Love your videos, brother!

[@channarosenblatt8197]

Thanks!

[@climbjt]

Nice work

[@mtnboy6201]

Good stuff !

[@ikmarchini]

Love your videos. Clearly laid out and well shot. Those hoodoos and goblins are spectacular. I drove up the Switchbacks in 2016 in a rented Kia Soul. Really not a problem.

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah, I don't see why they get hyped up as being such a big deal. As far as driving is concerned they're pretty easy, and even room to pass other vehicles. Although I bet for people with an issue of heights it's probably pretty extreme.

[@ikmarchini]

@@exploresouthwest Even Shafer Trail in Canyonlands is not a driving problem. It's about fear of heights.

[@stevbarto]

I grew up there, left in 2002. I remember when the picnic area was built and the water was MUCH higher.

[@dmbrew54]

Drove this in 2000 in my '92 Lexus LS 400. Not the smartest thing I've ever done, but made it. My cousin said he liked 4 wheeling in a Lexus.

[@williamgreenbank6374]

Good video bud. Like the maps and directions most videos forget to do it. Here in the uk they never do.

[@GeorgeS68]

Good vid! Now I have to go back so I can see more, Thanks. Poor Lake Powell, only 36% capacity.

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah it's sad to see the lake so low. It doesn't bode well for how much water were getting (or not getting).

[@climbjt]

You do nice work

[@num1weaver]

Fun to watch

[@adventurelifewithbob2960]

Enjoyed your. Idea.

[@martinforrester8249]

I may be mistaken. I thought the Burr trail went from Capital Reef to Boulder (Utah). I never did that route but wished I had. Utah is my very favourite State, having hiked and camped (tent) many times since 1992. Would love more content from you please. With long lapses between videos sometimes assume you have lost interest in your followers! Oldtimer Englishman from Shropshire who has a lifelong passion for the Southwest.

[@billkipper3264]

Excellent video. Can't wait to explore the area. Probably in the fall. My suggestion for the unknown hoodoo area is "The Shrooms" as at a couple points in the footage it looked like mushrooms.

[@exploresouthwest]

I agree! They reminded me of the cartoony stylize mushrooms of an old Disney movie or from a poster in 60's-70's headshop that has the "alternative tobacco" in the back room.

[@StereoSpace]

Looks like you've picked up some top of the line photo gear. Stunning photography and videography, especially the stills and from the drone. 11:09 that may be either rock salt of gypsum. They look basically cubic, so I'd go with halite. Both are common in areas where pools of water evaporate, so seasonal desert lakes / playas.

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah my main reason for going places it photography so I got quality camera gear that is usually oriented for stills first, and video second. But these days a good stills camera can also do good video. The problem is video only stuff since I'm not so video oriented. I really need to find a problem around a the action camera on the dashboard always focusing on the windshield glare instead of the terrain beyond.

[@thomaslewis1268]

Nice video and information. I've been exploring the Grand Staircase area for the last 3 years (doing lots of internet and KZbin searches), but this is the first time KZbin flagged your videos. Seems their algorithms need improvement 🤔. I look forward to your future explorations

[@MongoBongo271]

i live in the area the amount of people that get stuck and show up at my house asking for help to get their vehicles unstuck from the roads is completely insane, they need to be paved. sad thing is the park doesn't have very good information about road conditions, and actually have sent people to ask me if the roads to cathedral valley are in good shape or bad. pretty sad that they don't check it at least weekly. not to mention a lot of places in capitol reef are only available to those who have a 4 wheel drive, should have these beautiful places open for every one.

[@farmecologist3395]

This was on our route for our road trip last year...but we chickened out because we were in a low clearance vehicle. It actually looks doable with a FWD car....so it's back on the list!

[@Starbreaker666]

More, please...

[@svilen1975]

Utah is so incredibly beautiful to me. Some people I talked to say "Drive by state". Idiots, they have no clue. I won The Wave lottery for September, just can't wait.

[@xxxYYZxxx]

The southern section to Bullfrog is an easier drive than the Notom Rd., albeit not as scenic from the road. To compensate, the UT-276 heading from Bullfrog back north towards UT-95 & UT-24 is a spectacular section of paved road with excellent scenery. Passenger cars should take the southern route to avoid obstacles and take the paved highway 276 back north if needed, as it takes about the same amount of time as driving the slow and rutted Notom road directly.

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah, that drive was fantastic. Even if people aren't going on the Burr Trail just a drive out to Bullfrog is pretty impressive.

[@NigelNaughton]

I just did this drive a couple weeks ago and it was pretty awesome. I didn’t like Bullfrog much. There wasn’t much to do and you had to pay to get into it...basically there were just lots of boats going in and out. I tried to go down a dispersed camping area but man was it sandy!! Backed out of it and then went up 275 to 95 and then camped out on Burr Point.

[@geraldzimmerman8777]

I beleive that unmarked area that looked like Goblin Valley is Hamberger Rocks

[@fredparkinson1289]

Isn't that the road that passes by the Muley Twist at the top? Muley Twist canyon is beautiful and lower Muley Twist takes you into the Waterpocket Fold.

[@michaelbochristensen5058]

Nice video. I liked my trip to Burr Trail. Where was the unnammed Goblin Valley? Do you have a gps track? Thanks Michael

[@xvsj-s2x]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@frankhughes2332]

Great video. I'm interested in mountain biking this road in the opposite direction of your trip. Did you ever encounter any cyclists on the trail?

[@ruben25900]

Amazing video, we just did that in October of 2020. What a beautiful place, do you go to Escalante?

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah I've been through there quite a bit. It's really the best place to use as the "base camp" town in the area to get gas, and snacks.

[@GlennSSmith]

Are the overlooks along the trail marked in any way or do I need a map ?

[@exploresouthwest]

Yeah there is a small sign and a very obvious turn out for road to the strike valley overlook. I'd always say bring a map to be safe but it would also be hard to get lost sinve the road is well traveled.

[@geraldzimmerman8777]

Been down this 2x, drove it once, like you said in a passenger car. The controversy of paving this, it was the same for Nine Mile Canyon. The greenies wanted it dirt, but it was decided to pave 9-mile to preserve the petroglyphs from all the dust from mining trucks in the area. I wish it the Burr Trail was fully paved. It would stop erosion, just like they did on Cap Reef's scenic drive. I remember when it was all dirt.

[@lylelay]

"They know enough to stay away from people" When the people aren't looking. Don't leave anything that smells like food where a coyote can get at it. That includes things you've touched after touching food. Leave it out - it'll be gone.

[@a7wd]

Very fine video. Thanks, especially, for the KMZ; I hope to get up through that way again this year and want to check out those hoodoos. Surprised you didn't stop at Hall's Creek Overlook which is a spectacular view. The road is very rocky, but I made it in my Tacoma (though maybe I shouldn't have done the last little bit). The very top is in the national park, but just below the ridge is BLM so camping is allowed. Here are a few photos here: bosquebill.blogspot.com/2016/10/September-2016-Part3.html I've been enjoying your channel and getting good ideas on places to visit.

[@exploresouthwest]

I was going to goto Hall's Creek Overlook but I was running behind on my schedule and decided to explore more on the area to the southwest. I was actually going to go offtrail a bit into the foothills of the Henry mountains but that ended up being too much of a detour as well.

[@a7wd]

@@exploresouthwest So much to see, so little time!

[@runswithbeer]

Also, if you take rocks or things from some sites, you can have bad luck follow you until you return the item. I know two people in my life that this has happened to, and after they took the rock back their bad luck stopped.

[@crash9632]

Black top means anyone can go there I vote no black top..not everything is meant for everyone. This place will be ruined

[@climbjt]

Nice work

[@climbjt]

Nice work