Temple Mountain Road with Family Butte - Lower San Rafael Swell

[@Hookmodo]

Thank you taking the time to make these great videos! I found your channel as I prepare for my own trip out to the southern swell to explore the many old uranium mines in the area. I followed your video on my google earth trip planning KML map and I can't help but think you went way past Family Butte! I'm glad you did, because this is a road I plan to take and I'm glad to have seen it. You pass Mine #2 of Rod's Valley evidenced by the large tailing pile at 11:36 in the video off to the left, well north of Family Butte. This might have been why you felt you were headed in the wrong direction! From what I can tell the butte you were referencing is an un-named one (on Google Earth and Caltopo at least). Anyways, sincerely many thanks for such great video of these roads and trails, it really helps when planning a trip to this beautiful part of our country. Keep them coming! Best, Matt P

[@cactushill]

Matt...Thanks for the wonderful comment. I saw the tailings you were talking about. We plan on going back to the area in the fall (2023) and we will see if we can find and identify "Family Butte" 😉. Have a great trip when you head out to this area! Thanks again for commenting and viewing our channel. It is sincerely appreciated!

[@a7wd]

I agree with Matt. The first butte in view when you turned off the "main" road is Family Butte. The pinnacle toward the end of the video, where you turned around, is sometimes called Half Family Butte. It's un-named on USGS topo maps, too. I have been studying the maps for a future trip in this area, but they don't provide a look at the road conditions as your videos do, so thanks for showing the full route.

[@Hookmodo]

@@a7wd I was out there at the end of May 2023 and the dirt roads were better than I was expecting. Definitely want higher clearance 4WD SUV but was not needed most of the time. The worst road I came across (besides the very unfrequented mine access roads) was the southern most portion of CR1012, south of its intersection with west bound CR1019, and even then, high clearance 4WD high was all that is needed (and probably not even that judging by some of the cars I saw at Hidden Splendor mine!).

[@walterbright1396]

Thanks again for the preview. For years I passed Goblin Valley, like 40+ years and finally in 2017 stayed there for the first time. There was lots of traffic coming from the west and I wondered back then where the road would lead to. I like camping in the outback. But I don’t have a Jeep. I have a Marquis. It looks like in good weather the camping areas might be accessible even to it. As for the cyclist, he looked like me complete with my BOB Trailer (Beast of Burden). That is how I primarily explore Utah off the beaten path. At least where it’s not too sandy.

[@cactushill]

No problem Walter. I would say I wouldn't go too far in with your Marquis. There are a couple of campgrounds near the entrance and then hop on your bike and go for it. Thanks for the comment and viewing our videos. It is sincerely appreciated!

[@lynnnorthrup8914]

Thanks for sharing. We have done part of this and took I-70 turn and explored Swayze Cabin. Last month we planned to to back to Hidden Splendor Mine but had to turn back due mud and snow. We do a portion on Behind the Reef road. I haven’t edit all that footage because CPAs are busy at this time of year. Also haven’t had time to dig into the new drone either. Charged the batteries, did firm update, and a quick maiden flight. Gonna like this drone and a real upgrade from the mini!!!!! Thanks for the info on Blue Ribbon Coalition and Lost Trails Guidebook.😀👍

[@cactushill]

No problem Lynn. We are going to be in the same area this fall and plan on exploring the trails you mention. Also, we plan on going to Family Butte and taking the road to the "Right" as I think that goes directly to the Family Butte. I will then break out my new drone(TBD). Hope you survive tax season. Just mailed the checks to the Fed and to Utah to pay our taxes. Fun, fun, fun!

[@billj5645]

I don't recall you saying anything about offline maps while you are driving. I use GAIA maps on my phone. If you pay even their lowest subscription fee you can download the maps to your phone and they work even if you don't have cell reception. The maps have most very small roads on them and also will indicate some minor attractions. Regarding perspective of the camera- a go pro or similar camera frequently used by content creators typically has a fairly wide angle lens and this is what affects the perspective. It can make trails look narrower and make dropoffs seem farther down than what you see with your eyes. As far as the steepness of trails there is nothing in the camera to indicate how much it is pointed up or down whereas your eyes and brain register this when you are doing it in person. We did Reds Canyon last year- we came in from the north from Buckhorn Wash and did the west and south part of the loop counter-clockwise going out past Temple Mountain. We didn't have time to look for Hidden Splendor but we did see wild horses somewhere on the south or east side of the loop.

[@cactushill]

Bill I just got a Garmin Overlander before this trip and I have discovered some more features since this trip that will definitely help us out in the future. We have multiple "GPX" files loaded on it and we also have a Garmin Explorist+ that stays in touch with the GPS satellites. I tried "GAIA" but I just didn't like it. Maybe I just didn't give it a chance. One thing that had a negative influence, regarding GAIA, was I kept watching this couple's videos, here on KZbin, and GAIA kept sending them on ATV and smaller trails and they were in a Jeep Gladiator. Anyway, I am working on our next video which will be of "Reds Canyon Loop". We did see some wild horses on the McKay Flat section of the road. Also, I think your explanation about why the video never shows how steep things makes sense and is spot on. Thanks for the comment and viewing our videos. It is much appreciated!

[@billj5645]

@@cactushill I have noticed that GAIA basic GAIA maps don't distinguish between what you would consider an established jeep trail and something more suited for ATV. We ended up on one of those and had to turn around and go back. GAIA has some advanced map overlays that might help with this. I will map out things on my GAIA map and then I will look at google earth satellite views to see what things really look like.