FALLEN ROCK OVERLOOK
UTE CANYON TRAILHEAD
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For the next 7½ miles Rim Rock Drive is once again on a bench of the Kayenta Formation between cliffs of the Entrada and Wingate Sandstones. From Upper Ute Canyon View the road goes southeastward along the canyon rim about three-tenths of a mile to a parking area. A short trail leads down from the parking area to fenced Fallen Rock Overlook; the view shown in [figure 35] is from this point. As noted in the caption of [figure 35], and on [page 108], the Ute Canyon Trail zigzags down the slope from the road a quarter of a mile southeast of the parking area, but there is no parking area at the trailhead, so it is safer to park at Fallen Rock Overlook and walk to the trailhead. The connection with this trail and the Liberty Cap Trail also is discussed on [page 108]. On one hike down this trail we saw two elk, which is a rare sight at such a low altitude, for they generally stay on or near Piñon Mesa.
UTE CANYON
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About a mile to the southeast, just beyond the steep dropoff on the left, there is room to park, walk a short distance through the trees to the east, and observe a fine view of main Ute Canyon, as shown in [figure 52]. Just beyond on our right are the cliffs of the mottled salmon-and-white Slick Rock Member overlain by the all white Moab Member, as shown in [figure 18] and described in the accompanying text.
Half a mile southeast, where the road makes a gentle U-turn and continues northeastward, we reach the highest point on Rim Rock Drive at an altitude of about 6,640 feet. Note that the piñon and juniper are larger, and the bushes are larger and greener at this altitude, for the average precipitation increases as we go higher.
LOWER UTE CANYON VIEW
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