The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Mineral Bottom Trail in Utah

# Mineral Bottom Trail: Utah's Thrilling Desert Drive

Want a road that'll make your heart race? The Mineral Bottom Trail in Grand County, Utah is absolutely stunning—and not for the faint of heart. This scenic 14.6-mile route (also called Horse Thief Trail) sits just outside Canyonlands National Park and serves as the gateway to the western half of the White Rim Trail.

The unpaved BLM129 runs east-west from UT-313 down to the White Rim Trail, and oh boy, does it deliver drama. The first section is a wide county road that rolls along smoothly enough, but then? Buckle up. You'll encounter a series of spectacular switchbacks that plunge toward the Green River valley with a max gradient of 21%—some seriously steep terrain that'll test your driving skills.

**When conditions are right**, this is a fantastic adventure for high-clearance two-wheel-drive vehicles (though 4WD is recommended for peace of mind). The payoff is gorgeous vistas and an exhilarating drive along the river's edge. Route-finding is super straightforward, so navigation isn't the challenge here.

**Here's the catch though:** stay away when it's wet. Rain turns this into a muddy nightmare, especially those switchbacks. The road gets slippery fast, and if you're not careful on those cliff-hugging turns, you could be stuck for hours. The 2010 washout that obliterated chunks of the road proves Mother Nature runs the show here.

Summer months bring intense heat and afternoon thunderstorms—aim for morning drives and bring plenty of water. Hit this trail in dry conditions, and you've got an unforgettable experience. Get caught in the rain? You might just be waiting it out for a while.