Black Dragon Canyon is an fun ride, (either flat or downhill the entire way!)  The ride across Rattlesnake Flat and the Jackass Benches is fast and furious! Once you enter Black Dragon Canyon, you will want to slow and enjoy the spectacular scenery!!  After exiting Black Dragon, you can climb a slickrock ramp that rivals the Moab Rim!  The ramp is one long lung busting, leg burning climb, followed by a "hang your butt WAY off the back, 10+ pucker factor" descent!!  Be careful once on top, it's about 1,000' straight down to the bottom of Black Dragon Canyon!

How to get there: Head west out of Green River on I-70 about 30 miles to exit 129. Turn right at the stop sign at the bottom of the on ramp.  There is a parking area immediately to your left. Head east on the dirt road that parallels the freeway.  ( I recommend taking a map along on the ride.  The one most recommended to me is: Recreation Map of the San Rafael Swell, by Rick Showalter. Canyon Country Publications. And a guide book, Hiking and Exploring Utah's San Rafael Swell, by Michael R. Kelsey. Kelsey Publishing, Provo UT (801) 373-3327)

Rating:

Scenery:

 

Length: 23 miles, point to point

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Click on the thumbnails below to see a larger version:

 

Some of the pictographs in Black Dragon Canyon.

Black Dragon Canyon.

Angi leaving the Canyon.

Chris making the lung burning, leg busting climb to the top of the slickrock ramp!

Black Dragon Canyon from on top of the slickrock ramp.

The trailhead from on top of the slickrock ramp.

The canyon, just south of Black Dragon.  It's a nice short hike!  If anyone knows the name of this canyon, let me know!!