Reds Canyon 2.0

This is a fantastic Jeep trip through the spectacular scenery of Reds Canyon.  Start out in Sinbad Country with rock art and a settler's cabin, then explore numerous mines left over from the uranium booms.  Almost all roads are rated GP with only a few short sections barely making it to 2.0.

Start and end at I-70 Exit 131 - Temple Mountain Road.  Your first section is through Sinbad Country, named for scenes in The Arabian Nights, the centuries old collection of folk tales from Arabia, Egypt, Persia and India.

Swasey's Cabin was built in 1921 in the heart of Sinbad Country by Joseph Swasey.  His family grazed livestock in the area for the latter part of the 19th century.

When you see the Lone Warrior rock art you will understand the name.

There is a GPS - gpx track at the bottom of the page.
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Swasey Cabin
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Lone Warrior
Continue past an interesting set of spires, then drop down into Reds Canyon.
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Spires
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Reds Canyon
Most references name the canyon "Reds" not "Red's".  Must be named for the various shades of red throughout the area.
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Red colors
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Still more reds
Uranium was first discovered in Reds Canyon in 1949.  Historical journals recount stories of men who blasted holes in the earth and stood by while clouds of yellow dust cleared.  It was a hard life and dangerous work.  Dynamite blasts or falling rock injured the careless or unlucky.  Radiation levels were high.  Mining ceased around 1965.

The Lucky Strike Mine is the first area of interest.  There will be a few chances to view Hondoo Arch.
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Lucky Strike Mine
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Hondoo Arch
The Conrad Mine has many shafts visible from the road.  The first ones are colorful but small.  A shaft farther in the canyon is big enough to drive a truck into.  Note the ceiling is held together with metal straps.
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Conrad Mine shafts
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One Conrad Mine tunnel
Muddy Creek Canyon is a great side trip with towering bluffs and beautiful layered deposits.
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Muddy Creek Canyon
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Cabin in Muddy Creek Canyon
Dirty Devil Mine was developed in 1951.  At one time there were 450 people, mostly in trailers.  There was even a schoolhouse.  One of the shafts splits into two shafts a short distance in.  ATV riders have ventured in against warnings of radiation.
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Dirty Devil Mine
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Dirty Devil shaft splits into two
Updated 2014.
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