4×4 ~ Off-Road ~ Southern Utah
4×4 Trails Overview
West Clark Bench is a series of off-road trails near Big Water, Utah, and Page, Arizona that provide access to the edge of the Paria River Canyon. These two-track dirt roads are relatively moderate and can be explored with most high-clearance vehicles. Views of White Pocket, Coyote Buttes, Glen Canyon, and Grand Staircase-Escalante can be found from these trails.
Type of Road: AWD & 4WD
Area : 10 miles East & West, 5 miles North to South
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Smooth, solid roads with occasional soft sand and light rock crawling.
Destination: Overlooks
Elevation Gain: 1200 feet
Directions to Roads:
~ From the East: Mile marker 17.8 directly across from Cottonwood Canyon Road. There are brown BLM signs indicating the turn onto Cottonwood Canyon Road.
~ From the Center: Mile marker 13.5 in the town of Church Wells. There will be a corral on your right at the turn.
~ From the West: Mile marker 7.5 In Big Water, Ethan Allen St. There will be signs for the Bureau of Land Management Visitors Center at the turn off.
West Clark Bench Area Description:
West Clark Bench is a delightful network of mellow dirt roads that get you to a series of overlooks into the depths of Paria Canyon, and panoramic views of the Wave & White Pocket within the Paria Plateau. While some offshoots require 4×4 capability, the main roads are well-packed and suitable for AWD vehicles. The four overlooks make for a great half-day exploration and can be combined with the Paria Overlook trail for a longer adventure. At each overlook, you can hike to sandstone outcrops or along the rim for better angles and to explore the contorted rock formations. Keep an eye out for Big Horn Sheep, Antelope, and Mule Deer in the area!