Yellow Rock Trail

Yellow Rock is located in the southern end of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, along Cottonwood Canyon Road.  The trailhead parking is located at the corner of Cottonwood Canyon rd and Brigham Plains rd.  After parking, cross Cottonwood Canyon rd and enter a trail next to the road sign.  There is several game trails here but all lead to Cottonwood Creek.  Cottonwood Creek is a dry wash most of the year but be away of flash floods if rain is in the forecast.  Keeping as straight a direction as possible and reaching the wash, cross to the other side and follow the trail up a steep dirt path.  This trail is not maintained and is very steep.  Once on top of a shelf, there is great views of Cottonwood Canyon to the east and southeast.  To the west is the first views of Yellow Rock.

There is some cairns marking the way but there is several different routes.  Choose one in the direction of Yellow Rock.  When ascending Yellow Rock, there are no cairns.  Choose any path up, and enjoy the colorful rock.  At the top of Yellow Rock there is 360  degree views of amazing and colorful Escalante N.M.

On the way down, choose a different section to descend for variety of colors.  Follow cairns back to the shelf and descend back down to Cottonwood Creek.  It is worthwhile to walk a little of the creek in this section as it is lined with treee and very interesting.

Note: Cottonwood Canyon road is not passable when went, even with 4 wheel drive.  Clearance is not an issue however, several sections in steep areas of the road are made of bentonite clay and becomes the consistancy of a greasy lubricant.