Chicken Corners Trail


The trail name dates from older days when only the least "chicken" passed Chicken Corners. 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.

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.

Road Surface: The road begins as gravel but becomes mostly red dirt and sand with the occasional appearances of sandstone bedrock.

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 Corners is a point where the benchland pinches down to a narrow passage that tips toward the river 400 feet below.

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