Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

3TV · 2011-09-12 18:03:39

Trail begins one mile south of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, in southern Utah, one mile north of the Arizona state line, on the west side of Sand Dunes Road, and travels west, northwest to Mt. Carmel Junction. This trail is largely sand, with some slickrock. In the Virgin River Gorge you will need to cross the Virgin River roughly 30 times, and this trip is not recommended in spring time. Plan on eating lunch at the Thunderbird Lodge in Mt. Carmel Junction at mid-day (they have exellent food), then returning via the same route in the Afternoon. Total distance is roughly 35 miles. We took the trip this last weekend with the wife and I in our Rzr XP 900, one of our sons on his KTM 300 XC, and our other son on his YFZ 450. It rained all day, so I don't have pictures from this trip. The stream crossings were more difficult than usual for this time of year, and our son on the YFZ 450 needed assistance six times to make it through the toughest stream crossings. The Rzr XP and the KTM dirt bike made it no problems. There is a long steep sand hill at the south end of the river crossing section where you climb out of the Virgin River Gorge that will provide a challenge for low powered side by sides.

Here are pictures from a previous trip.

RANGERDALEXP · 2011-09-12 19:10:36

That is some nice looking country

chournos · 2011-09-13 05:44:56

We'll be heading down there this Sunday. I've been on this trail once about 10 years ago and tried to find it last summer with no luck.
How does someone find/ride this trail for the first time?
Thanks

3TV · 2011-09-13 06:12:26

We're going back down there this Saturday. Any chance you could be there a day early, and we'll show you where the trail is? Then again, maybe we could go a day later.

In any case, the easiest way to find the trail is to start from the Mt. Carmel Junction end. You enter the Virgin River Gorge just south of Mt. Carmel Junction and follow the main road in the canyon until you come to the closed gate that is a few miles down the road. Turn left at the gate and follow the trail in the river bottom, it is the only way through. The second easiest way to find the trail is to drive down Sand Dunes Road from the Coral Pink Dunes, to the Arizona state line, then turn around and coime back one miile. There is a BLM sign on the east side of the road, and a staging area on the west side of the road. Follow the road to the west until it drops into the Virgin River Gorge, then follow the trail north to Mt. Carmel Junction. There are several forks in the road along the way, and you may need to backtrack a time or two. You will need to locate the Virgin River Gorge in the distance and just keep heading that way. There are slickrock bluffs that you will skirt the southern base of just before dropping down into the gorge (see pictures above).

I need to bring my GPS this trip and write down some coordinates.

chournos · 2011-09-13 08:09:45

I've got little league football games on saturday and will be heading to st george around 4 pm saturday afternoon. Was planning on driving to Coral Pink Sunday morning for the day. Dont know what I could bribe you with, but would love to have you show us the way Sunday.
Coral Pink is becoming one of my favorite places to ride!
We'll be doing Sand Hollow half a day on Monday before we head for home. (West Point, half hour north of SLC)

3TV · 2011-09-13 08:21:21

I was just looking at the five day weather forcast on the navigation system of my Jeep on the way to work this morning, and it says for southern UT they are predicting thunderstorms on saturday, but sunny weather on sunday. We did this trail in the rain last weekend, so I'd rather do it in the sunshine this time. I'll plan on Sunday. Send me a PM so we can pick a place and time to meet up. We'll be coming from the north, on highway 89, and passing the dunes on the way to the trailhead.

chournos · 2011-09-13 08:32:40

PM Sent.

Badley · 2011-09-13 19:21:31

Sunday :cry: I need to ride...

chournos · 2011-09-14 05:57:15

Brad, can you make it? We'll be doing sand hollow half a day on monday as well as the Coral Pink ride on sunday.

3TV · 2011-09-14 08:38:18

Come join us Brad. Southern UT just got 2 1/2" of rain last night. The river crossings may be "interesting" on Sunday if there was enough rain for some flash flooding. Chournos, do any of the other UTVs that are going have a winch?

chournos · 2011-09-14 09:07:18

1 winch for sure possibly 2 depending which machines I bring. Does your XP have one?

3TV · 2011-09-14 11:02:38

No, I've only owned it for eight days now, and I don't have a winch (or anything else) yet.

Badley · 2011-09-15 09:47:19

Would love to go, but I would have to travel back Sunday :cry:

chournos · 2011-09-20 12:56:14

A shout out to Phil for guiding us from Coral Pink Sand Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction, a 45 mile round trip. I must say the Philly sandwich at Mt Carmel beats my normal PB and J trail sandwich all day long!!! Here are a few pics.

usr_pics

3TV · 2011-09-20 17:46:15

We sure had a good time, and only almost sank the XP one time.

Chournos, Link for pictures no worky. :?

#1 2011-09-12 18:03:39

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#2 2011-09-12 19:10:36

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#3 2011-09-13 05:44:56

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#4 2011-09-13 06:12:26

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#5 2011-09-13 08:09:45

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#6 2011-09-13 08:21:21

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#7 2011-09-13 08:32:40

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#8 2011-09-13 19:21:31

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#9 2011-09-14 05:57:15

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#10 2011-09-14 08:38:18

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#11 2011-09-14 09:07:18

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#12 2011-09-14 11:02:38

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#13 2011-09-15 09:47:19

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#14 2011-09-20 12:56:14

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

#15 2011-09-20 17:46:15

Re: Coral Pink Dunes to Mt Carmel Junction

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