The trail name dates from older days when only the least
"chicken" passed Chicken Comers. Travel is
easier, but it remains as scenic as ever. The trail
follows the Colorado River downstream, squirms through
lower Kane Springs Canyon, climbs and then descends
the "Cane Creek Anticline" (spelling of the
name is in dispute) over Hurrah Pass, and rejoins the
river, a few hundred feet above it this time. The end
of the vehicle trail is directly across the river from
Dead Horse Point.
Trail Scenery:
Following the Colorado River canyon is a special treat
in this area where it cuts deeply through a variety
of rock layers. Lower Kane Springs Canyon is even deeper
and much narrower. The climb to Hurrah Pass reveals
another part of the Colorado River canyon - much wider
than before and more than 2,000 feet below the mesa
tops. The Hurrah Pass portion winds along over dark-red
sandstone layers and occasionally overlooks startling
precipices. There is an unusual limestone arch at the
roadside. The final mile is on a bench about 400 feet
directly above the river.
Trail
Road Surface:
The road begins as gravel but becomes mostly red dirt
and sand with the occasional appearances of sandstone
bedrock.
Trail
Obstacles and Highlights:
There are petroglyphs (ancient rock art) at the roadside.
The ford of Kane Creek ranges from dry to window-deep
(impassable after a real storm). The stop at a mound
of especially red rocks visits some unusual caves caused
by erosional undermining of hard sandstone layers. Chicken
Comers is a point where the benchland pinches down to
a narrow passage that tips toward the river 400 feet
below.
Trail
GPS Coordinates :
Waypoint Mileage Latitude Longitude Turn / Direction
01 0 N38° 28' 54.5" W109° 37' 28.5"
S
02 2.5 N38° 28' 14.0" W109° 38' 52.2"
L
03 4.4 N38° 27' 10.9" W109° 40' 03.2"
R
04 6.8 N38° 25' 45.6" W109° 41' 18.6"
R
05 10.0 N38° 27' 03.4" W109° 42' 54.6"
S
06 11.5 N38° 26' 29.2" W109° 44' 09.0"
T
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