4×4 Off-Road ~ Hiking ~ Glen Canyon
Trip Overview
Studhorse Mesa is accessed by a dirt and gravel road near Page, Arizona that climbs to the top of the mesa and connects several hiking objectives and viewpoints. The route provides vehicle access to features such as Studhorse Hoodoos, Skylight Arch, Sherbet Fingers, and an old seismograph station, with optional spurs and a more challenging loop drive through deep sand and slickrock that requires a capable 4×4. While many visitors park and hike from the mesa top, the road network itself is a worthwhile off-road outing with changing conditions depending on weather.
Studhorse Mesa ~ Out and Back
Type of Road: AWD with clearance
Length: 12 Miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Improved gravel road with one rocky section
Destination: Skylight Arch and Hoodoos.
Elevation Gain: 425 feet
Directions to the Road
Turn west off Highway 89 at mile marker 555.2 onto the deteriorating asphalt road named Ferry Swale Rd. Navigate potholes on the asphalt or bounce over the whoops on the dirt road for 0.75 miles, then turn left onto a well-maintained dirt road that follows the powerlines. Head west for 1.5 miles to a fork in the road. Bear right if you want to visit the old Seismograph Station, or left if you’re heading directly to the Hoodoos and Skylight Arch. From here, you have two options: for a smoother route, continue to the Transformer Electrical lines and turn right onto Blue Pools Road; for a bumpier, scenic drive, take Wildcat Road along the mesa edge. Be cautious of rocky sections on Studhorse Point, marked as a 4×4 area in yellow on the map, which can be challenging for low-clearance vehicles. To avoid difficult spots, stay left and avoid heading straight up the 4×4 section. Once on top of the mesa, the roads are milder. Note that Wildcat Road has a steep section requiring AWD between the Seismograph and the Hoodoos. If you prefer to avoid this, use Studhorse Point Road for both entry and exit when visiting the Hoodoos.
Drive Description
This is a mellow drive that takes you on top of a flat topped mesa that hosts the Studhorse Hoodoos that are right off the side of the road and the fantastically unique Skylight Arch, an easy 2 mile, out and back hike to an unusual arch that could be more accurately described as a hole in the earth. This impossible looking, geologic feature will make your head spin from the vertigo you get as you approach the edge and gaze into the abyss below and is well worth the effort. In addition, there is a loop road that goes around the whole circumference of the mesa and offers several great viewpoints of Lake Powell and the Grand Staircase National Monument. On the north west corner of this loop road there is a short side road that will take you out to the Sherbet Fingers; A short hike over some narrow ridgetops that are streaked with Sherbet Ice Cream looking pink and orange sandstone and chunks of dark cap rock that look like chocolate chunks sprinkled on top of the geologic dessert. On your way home you may want to take a quick detour to see the old, abandon seismograph station. At one time in the past it recorded earthquakes but now only serves to hold the street graffiti painted on it.
Studhorse Mesa Loop Drive
~ Ferry Swale to Big Water ~
Type of Road: 4×4 and ATV
Length: 16 Miles one way (without the Skylight Arch detour)
Difficulty: 4×4 = Challenging ~ ATV = Moderate
Terrain: Deep Sand – Steep Rock Crawling
Destination: Loop Drive
Elevation Gain: 425 feet
Drive Directions & Description
This fantastic 4×4 loop drive takes you through the red slickrock of Ferry Swale to the white sands on Studhorse Mesa and beyond to Big Water. It’s ideal for a half-day adventure or can be combined with Paria Overlook or other connecting trails for a full or multi-day excursion. Turn off Highway 89 at the south entrance to Wahweap and pass Beehive Campground. Hook left around the mesa on a gravel road that quickly transitions to deep sand, requiring four-wheel drive to start your journey. Enjoy moderate downhill terrain for a few miles until you reach a rocky section where you’ll curve right over sandstone. At a fork with BLM signage, take the right fork under the power lines to the slickrock mesa. Contour this mesa for several miles, exploring the cool caverns weathered into the ridgeline.
Eventually, you’ll enter the main wash with EXTREMELY SOFT SAND for half a mile. Keep your engine revved and speed up to avoid getting stuck, and consider airing down your tires. At the end of the sand wash, enjoy some fun and easy rock crawling to reach the top of the slickrock mesa. Take in the great view to the south! On the mesa, driving is on maintained gravel roads with several options following the powerlines, with Blue Pools Road being the most direct. Turn onto Wildcat Road or Studhorse Point Road to the east to visit Skylight Arch and Studhorse Hoodoos. About a mile and a half past the Studhorse Point Road junction, you’ll encounter a challenging white rock band requiring technical driving, especially for full-size trucks. Expect steep, narrow, and difficult 4×4 terrain. After descending the white rock band, the route moderates towards Big Water. Look for small off-shoot roads from Blue Pools Road that lead to steep sand fingers in the cliff line of East Clark Bench, offering additional exploring opportunities.