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Mountain View

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.9-3.3 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 9,901 - 10,630 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Warner Campground
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike, scenic views




The Mountain View trail is located in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah. The trail begins near the 0.7 mile point of the Miners Basin trail where it climbs a side drainage of Shuman Gulch to a rocky overlook. Many of the mountain peaks of the La Sal Range are visible from the elevated vantage point of the Mountain View trail as well as the Abajo or Blue Mountains near Monticello, Utah, the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area. Directly below the overlook there is a good view of the Burro Pass and Dry Fork trails. The Mountain View trail by itself is about 1 mile long one-way. The round trip distance from the campground brings it up to 3.3 miles.


To get to the Warner Campground from Moab drive south on Highway 191, measuring from Center and Main, for 7.8 miles and turn left onto the Old Airport Road. Follow the signs for the La Sal Mtn. Loop Road driving for another 15 miles and turn right onto Forest Road 0063, the Warner Lake Road. It is about 5 miles along a graveled road to the Warner Campground after turning off of the La Sal Mtn. Road. There is parking near the trailhead in the Day Use Area.


From the trailhead follow the first 0.7 miles of the Miners Basin trail to get to where the Mountain View trail begins.


After branching off of the Miners Basin trail the route crosses a small wash and then begins climbing a side branch of Shuman Gulch.


Most of the route is secluded within a dark forest of pine and spruce trees with an occasional small meadow along the way.


Route finding as the trail nears the ridge depends on picking out the trail through tall stands of trees where there is very little undergrowth. The correct route is marked by a few tree scabs which are rectangles cut into the bark of the trees. Another telltale sign are the cut logs where fallen trees once blocked the path.


The trail comes out of the trees onto a meadowy ridge where it follows a cairned route to the overlook.


The overlook is a massive talus mound of rocks on the point of the ridge. Finding material to construct a cairn is no problem here. Be careful as you walk across the rocks that you don't step into a hole.


The overlook provides yet another viewing angle for some of the peaks of the La Sal Range.


Looking of the west side of the overlook is a nice shot of Mill Creek Canyon. The vertical cliffs of the upper part of the canyon are popular with rock climbers. The lower part of the canyon has several archaeological sites as well as one of Moabs favorite swimming holes.


Looking eastward are the two upper drainages that feed Mill Creek. The one on the left is Dry Fork and the one on the right is Wet Fork. The Burro Pass trail climbs the length of Wet Fork to the saddle in the ridge on the right which is Burro Pass. The Dry Fork trail climbs the canyon on the left. Both trails meet at a junction below the Mountain View overlook.


Hiking back down the Mountain View trail can be a pleasant experience. It isn't nearly as steep as the stretch of the Miners Basin trail between here and the trailhead. The point where the Mountain View trail begins off of the Miners Basin trail is about the halfway point to where the Gold Knob trail begins. If you haven't been to Gold Knob before you might consider checking it out since you are already halfway to where it begins. As far as the Mountain View trail goes, if you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.