The Secret Hoodoo Garden: A Guide to the Rimrock Hoodoos

⛰️ The Secret Hoodoo Garden: A Guide to the Rimrock Hoodoos

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you have to work for. While the famous Wahweap Hoodoos are spectacular, their long, flat trail is a significant commitment. Craving a hoodoo fix on a recent trip, we turned to our maps and a sense of curiosity, uncovering a different trail leading to the magnificent Rimrock Hoodoos. This hike was a true expedition—requiring a capable vehicle, a bit of bravery, and a willingness to explore. The reward was an unforgettable afternoon spent in a secret garden of sandstone giants, a place that has stayed with me as one of my most epic Utah adventures.

---

⚠️ Know Before You Go: Essential Safety Guide

The Rimrock Hoodoos are in a remote, rugged area. Your safety is your own responsibility. Please read this carefully.

• ♦️ ROAD CONDITIONS ARE CRITICAL: Cottonwood Canyon Road is impassable when wet. The clay turns to deep, slick mud that will trap even 4WD vehicles. Check the weather forecast and call the Kanab BLM Visitor Center for current road conditions before you go.
• ♦️ VEHICLE: A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is non-negotiable for this road and its pull-offs.
• ♦️ NAVIGATION: There is **NO cell service**. You MUST have offline maps (like Gaia GPS or downloaded Google Maps) and know how to use them.
• ♦️ SUPPLIES: Bring extra water, food, and fuel. You are a long way from any services.

🗺️ Adventure at a Glance

• 🏞️ Location: Off Cottonwood Canyon Road, Grand Staircase-Escalante, near Kanab, Utah
• 🥾 Activity: 4x4 Driving, Off-trail hiking, Scrambling, Hoodoo Exploration
• 📏 Distance: ~1-2 miles round trip, depending on how far you explore.
• ⏱️ Time to Explore: Allow 2-3 hours for hiking and photos.
• ⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO THE RIMROCKS

This VR Getaway drops you right onto the ledge with these incredible sandstone giants. It's the best way to experience the scale and beauty of this hidden spot without the scary drive!

---

🧭 How to Find the Trailhead

Part of the magic of this hike is the discovery. I won't give you a pin, but I'll tell you how we found it.

1. Scout on Google Earth: Before your trip, scan satellite views of Cottonwood Canyon Road. Look for the distinct, whitish, eroded badlands of the Rimrocks. You can often spot the faint social trails from above. While you're at it, see if you can find the incredible "White Valley" formations nearby!
2. Use Gaia GPS: The trail is marked on some navigation apps like Gaia. Look for trailheads on the west side of the road, approximately 10-20 miles north of the intersection with US-89.
3. Look for the Pull-off: It is an unmarked dirt pull-off on the left (west) side of the road if you are heading north from US-89. Drive slowly and keep your eyes peeled.

2D Short for Rimrock Hoodoos

🥾 The Journey: A Scramble into a Secret Garden

The Hunt off Cottonwood Canyon Road

Finding this trail was an adventure in itself. After turning onto the scenic Cottonwood Canyon Road, we found a pull-off that matched a trail I had scouted on my Gaia GPS app. The initial hike across the desert plateau is straightforward, but the real challenge begins when you reach the cliff's edge.

One of the largest hoodoos in the distance.

The Descent

The main trail seemed to head left along a path that looked a little too intimidating for our comfort level that day. So, we improvised. We scouted along the rim to the right and found a manageable spot to scramble down to the lower trail system we could see below. Once we were down, the path became much clearer, forking in two directions. We chose to go left, as Google Earth had suggested the hoodoos were bigger on that side. The trail from there was much less scary and easy to follow.

The trail winds through a gallery of sandstone sculptures.

A Garden of Sandstone Giants

The reward for our scramble was immediate and breathtaking. We found ourselves on a wide ledge filled with an incredible variety of hoodoos. Some were tall and ghostly white, others were stout and topped with heavy caprocks. We spent the afternoon wandering among them, feeling like we had discovered a secret sculpture garden. I've heard the other fork in the trail leads to even more hoodoos and possibly a slot canyon, which is just another reason I'm so eager to return and explore more of this amazing area.

---

🤔 Rimrocks vs. Other Nearby Hoodoos?

This area of Southern Utah is a wonderland of hoodoos. Here’s how the Rimrocks stack up against other famous nearby formations:

• Rimrock Hoodoos: The most adventurous. Requires a 4WD vehicle and scrambling skills. Best for solitude and a feeling of pure discovery.
• Wahweap Hoodoos & White Valley: The longest hike. A 9-mile flat walk, mostly in a wash. Best for a full-day commitment and seeing massive, ghostly-white hoodoos.
• Toadstool Hoodoos & Blue Canyon: The most accessible. The main Toadstools are a short, easy walk from a signed trailhead. Best for families and a quick, rewarding stop.
• Burr Trail & Horse Canyon: A surprising delight. A scenic 4WD road with side canyons full of unique, purple-colored hoodoos. Best for combining a drive with short explorations.

One of our favorite spots in the hoodoos. 

⭐ Final Thoughts

The Rimrock Hoodoos hike is a perfect example of what makes exploring Utah so magical. It’s an adventure that requires preparation and a bit of grit, but the reward is a truly unique and wild experience, far from the usual crowds. This stunning ledge of hoodoos has become one of my most cherished hiking memories, and I hope this guide inspires you to find your own secret garden in the desert.

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,

Shauna from VRGetaway