Dome Plateau Trail
The Colorado River Canyon is an exceptional sight both from along the river and from the cliffs 1,700 feet above it. "Again-and-Again Hill" seems in the middle of nowhere.
Dome Plateau is a large highland area north of the Colorado River and east of Arches National Park. To reach the region from Moab, one must travel more than 25 miles of highway to enter either from U.S. 191 on the west, I-70 on the north, or UT 128 just beyond Dewey Bridge on the east. The southern highlands are forested with pinion and juniper and are cut by canyons. The Poison Strip and Yellowcat, which might be visited, is the locale of many old vanadium and uranium mines. The whole area sees little traffic these days. The trail rating is a compromise between the very easy parts and one hill that may require strapping some vehicles (or a circuitous bypass). Approximate mileage: 98 total, 30 off highway.
Difficulty Rating
4 (out of 10)
Scenery
The trail goes up the Colorado River to leave the highway just past the Dewey Bridge. It follows below the line of Entrada Sandstone cliffs that have three noteworthy arches in the first few miles. The plateau slopes upward to the south but is broken by canyons, two of which are crossed on the way to the prime viewpoint high above the Colorado River. The trail route returning northward views distant arches in Arches National Park and passes near La Boca Arch. Some interesting sandstone caves may be visited.
Road Surface
Most of the trail is dirt. The eastern part is sandy, rocky, and bumpy. One hill has rock ledges and loose rock. The northern and western areas have silty dirt that becomes impassable when wet. There are about 30 miles of paved access road at each end of the trail.
Highlights
The Colorado River Canyon is an exceptional sight both from along the river and from the cliffs 1,700 feet above it. "Again-and-Again Hill" seems in the middle of nowhere.
Dome Plateau Trailhead
(38.81292, -109.3034)