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Directions

Slick Horn Perfect Kiva

 Slickhorn #1 Trailhead Information:
          The Slickhorn #1 Trailhead is accessible to all vehicles in good weather. Primitive camping is available at the trailhead.

          From Blanding, Utah travel south on Utah Highway 191 for 3 miles to the junction of Utah Highway 191 and Utah Highway 95. Travel west 28 miles on Utah Highway 95 to the junction of Utah Highway 95 and Utah Highway 261. Travel south on Utah Highway 261 for approximately 13 miles to mile marker 19.1 and a well maintained, unsigned, dirt road heading west (N37° 23' 47", W109° 56' 38"). This unsigned dirt road is opposite the signed Cigarette Springs Road which heads east.

          Turn west (right) onto the unsigned dirt road and follow it for 2.7 miles to a fork signed "Government Trail" (N37° 24' 26", W109° 58' 52"). Do not follow the road to Government Trail, instead turn south (left) and follow the road for 1.7 miles to a small unsigned spur road (N37° 23' 29", W110° 00' 07") heading west (right) . Turn west (right) and follow the small unsigned spur road for 0.5 miles to the Slickhorn #1 trailhead. The trailhead contains an information kiosk and a BLM trail register.

Slickhorn #2 Trailhead Information:
          If you have a second vehicle or a mountain bike you can eliminate 1 1/2 miles of road walking by setting up a shuttle at the Slickhorn #2 trailhead. The Slickhorn #2 Trailhead is accessible to all vehicles in good weather. Primitive camping is available near the trailhead.

          From the Slickhorn #1 Trailhead you need to follow the small unsigned spur road for 0.4 miles back to the main road. At the main road turn south (right) and follow the road 1.4 miles to the Slickhorn #2 trailhead, which is indentified as the point where the wash crosses the road.

Route Information:
            From the Slickhorn #1 Trailhead (N37° 23' 23", W110° 00' 30"), follow the wash west. After 1 1/2 miles of easy hiking down the wash bottom you will encounter a impressive dryfall (N37° 22' 57", W110° 01' 57") that is the biggest obstacle you will encounter on the route.

          Getting around the dryfall is not really difficult if you follow instructions. From the top of the dryfall you need to scramble south (left) up to the next major bench. The correct bench is easy to identify as it is guarded by a large hoodoo that appears to be wearing a hat. Once on the bench follow it down canyon for about 1/4 mile to where it pinches down and comes to an end. Near the very end of the bench you will locate a weakness that allows you to scramble down to the next level. The weakness is difficult to see until you are almost standing on top of it. The entire bypass route is normally well cairned so a sharp eye might help you navigate this section. Once you have located the weakness just scramble down the typical Cedar Mesa wedding cake tiered sandstone to the bottom of the canyon (N37° 22' 43", W110° 02' 03").

          After you have reached the canyon bottom hike downstream approximately 300-yards to where you can gain access to Slickhorn Perfect Kiva (N37° 22' 42", W110° 02' 14"). Slickhorn Perfect Kiva is located on the west (right) side of the canyon at the base of a large cliff in a great alcove. From the canyon floor you can't see the ruins, but the obvious alcove is easy to locate. You must scramble up to the alcove. The route up to the ruins is never difficult if you take a few minutes and exercise good route finding skills.

          After visiting Slickhorn Perfect Kiva continue hiking downstream and enjoy the scenery. After 1 1/2 miles of easy hiking in the canyon bottom you will reach the confluence of Slickhorn #1 and Slickhorn #2 (N37° 21' 57", W110° 02' 55"). At the confluence you will find several panels of rock art and a well preserved granary to the west (right) along the base of the obvious cliff. Both the rock art and granary are easy to locate. The rock art consists of both pictographs and petroglyphs.

          After visiting the rock art and granary turn east (left) and begin hiking up Slickhorn #2. You will encounter some minor scrambling through boulder fields and over dryfalls in this next section. Hike upstream 1 1/4 miles and you will reach the confluence of Slickhorn #2 and Slickhorn #3 (N37° 22' 14", W110° 01' 53"). Take the north (left) fork and continue hiking upstream for 2 1/4 miles to the Slickhorn #2 trailhead (N37° 22' 23", W109° 59' 50").