The next tour stop was a supposed route (again, a 1977 description) down into the Grand Canyon drainage system via Trail and Parashant Canyons. Like any travel endeavor in the Arizona Strip, this next destination entailed many miles - first north, then nearly 20 miles east, and then back south. Five and half hours later, we were sitting on the rim of Trail Canyon, peering intently at the road leading into the depths below. The route could clearly be seen snaking down and out of view in the canyon. Just as clearly, we could see what appeared to be a major washout at the base of the first long switchback below.
A short drive into the canyon confirmed our suspicions. A pair of culverts in the old roadbed had not been sufficient to handle the flow of water and the road was badly eroded. A mere 5 feet of width remained and the only marks across the narrow strip were clearly ATV tracks. A yawning pit a full 6 feet deep and twice as long to the driver's side threatened to deter us, and a badly undercut roadway further dampened our exploratory spirits.
After so much peril to our vehicles the previous day at the Savanic Mine, was the crew up to challenges here and the adventures ahead in the unseen and unexplored canyon depths below? The answer might be obvious to long time readers but you will have to wait until part two of The Big Adventure for confirmation.
| GPS COORDINATES* | LATITUDE (D, MM.MMM) | LONGITUDE (D, MM.MMM) |
| Riverside Exit on I-15 | 36, 46.228N | 114, 14.045W |
| Devil’s Throat | 36, 25.640N | 114, 08.950W |
| Tassi Ranch | 36, 15.364N | 113, 57.461W |
| Open Route to Grand Wash Cliffs | 36, 18.279N | 113, 55.774W |
| Savanic Mine | 36, 16.279N | 113, 48.058W |
| Twin Point Overlook | 36, 05.584N | 113, 28.550W |
| Old Sawmill Site at Green Spring | 35, 59.144N | 113, 37.814W |
| Trailhead for Trail Canyon | 36, 18.595N | 113, 20.128W |
*The coordinates on this page are not part of the GeoStash Contest.