Bell Canyon is a beautiful smallish slot canyon. It first cuts through the San Rafael Swell and then eventually joins with the Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon. There is an interesting variety of forms some of which can be viewed from high up on the canyon wall.
Trail Rating
Overall rating = easy
Distance: 2 miles total – easy
Elevation gain: <100 feet - easy
Terrain: hard packed trail through the canyon - easy
Exposure: None -easy
To see the trail rating system used here see Trail Rating System
Getting There
This trail is located off SR 24 between Interstate I70 and Capitol Reef National Park near Goblin Valley State Park. Drive 24 miles south from I70 exit 149 to the temple Mountain Road, or 20 miles north from Hanksville.
Turn west onto the Temple Mountain Road and drive 5.2 miles to the Goblin Valley Road.
Take the Goblin Valley Road southwest along the face of the reef to theLittle Wild Horse Road just short of the entrance to Goblin Valley State Park.
Take the good dirt road to the right for 5.0 miles to the prominent parking lot at Bell and Little Wild Horse Canyons.
Directions from Goblin Valley State Park
Bell and Little Wild Horse Canyon Parking and Trailhead
For a one page printout of the directions click Directions to Bell Canyon
The Trail
From the parking area hike north up the wash for ½ mile.
You will encounter a small dryfall, which can be easily bypassed on the left. About 150 yards past the dryfall the canyons splits; straight-ahead is Bell Canyon (northwest), turn right (northeast) for Little Wild Horse Canyon.
Bell Canyon is about ¾ miles in length. Either return the same way or combine Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon in a loop. We hiked each canyon separately on successive days.
These are some of the pictures that we took.
