Butler Canyon Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features River/Creek · Views

This route is one of the day-tripping opportunities between Hite and Hanksville. The rich riparian growth makes this trail occasionally very challenging throughout the first half.

To get started, park near UT 95 and follow the remnants of a doubletrack road for about 600 feet until you reach the canyon wash. There is usually very little or no water in Butler Canyon, which leaves a lot of sand and makes hiking moderately strenuous throughout the entire trail. Tall grasses and willow thickets will equally slow you down.

After 1.2 miles, you'll reach a pour-off that you need to bypass on the right. Climb onto the scaling ledges early on to get to higher ground. Keep right afterwards when a major side canyon opens on the left. The thickets can be nearly impenetrable here. After about 1.7 miles, Butler Canyon assumes the more typical character of a desert canyon, which makes navigating the route a lot easier. Use the slickrock to get around most of the sand.

Two more side canyons open up on the left, but stay to the right. At the last fork, Butler Canyon continues on the left. Follow the right fork and you'll reach an alcove after 500 feet. Right before the alcove, there is a barely noticeable path up a very rocky slope. Carefully ascend the slope to gain the ridge where panoramas of the Henry Mountains await you.