Recapture Pocket
Personal Notes
This page presents our personal notes on our visit to Recapture Pocket east of Bluff, Utah.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
2:09 p.m.
From Bluff we headed up Highway 191 toward Blanding. Just a couple of miles north of Bluff we ascended a narrow canyon. There is a dirt road that turns off from to the right (east) at Map Coordinates (NAD83): 37 18.068N; 109 31.934W; at an elevation of 4,593 feet.
We followed the paved road until it began a long curve to the south. On the left (northeast) there is a dirt road that comes in from the north from under some tall power lines. This is Country Road 252. It is at Map Coordinates (NAD83): 37 17.925N; 109 29.491W; at an elevation of 4,564 feet. Continue north and then northeast and then almost due east as the road passes near drilling rigs and some large outcrops north of the road.
2:11 p.m.
You will then come to County Road 217 (Cow Canyon). Turn north onto this road.
2:14 p.m.
There are lots of small drilling roads in this area. Watch for the sign marked as San Juan County Road 249 (Bluffs Bench). Continue on this road.
2:18 p.m.
Watch for the road marked as County Road 2801, heading northwest. It crosses a cattle guard.
2:24 p.m.
We drove too far north and had to turn around. There are lots of oil drilling operations and new roads. It gets confusing.
2:30 p.m.
We stopped in a wash along the road, where there are prominent brown outcrops and lots of interesting erosional features. These features are between GPS Coordinates (NAD83): 37 19.385N; 109 28.346W; at an elevation of 4,585 feet and GPS Coordinates (NAD83): 37 30.242N; 109 13.826W; at an elevation of 4,881 feet. This is probably the Recapture Pocket.
There are no facilities, no signs, and no developed trails. But one could take off cross country and explore the interesting features and side canyons. The area is not too large and the canyons are not very deep. Due to the exposed nature of the area, and the lack of any vegetation worth noting, this area is no doubt quite hot and inhospitable during the summer months. It might be best to visit this location in the spring or the fall, when temperatures are more comfortable.
