The Sevenmile Rim trail leaves Highway 191 just north of Highway 313, about 11 miles north of town. It passes the old Cotter uranium mine and switches back to reach the cliff rim above the mine and Highway 191. The intense mining activity left a maze of core-drilling roads on the mesa top, and the trail seeks the most interesting of these. It travels south near the cliff rim above Highway 191 before turning west above Sevenmile Canyon, which carries Highway 313. Along the way, Uranium Arch will be visited. The trail joins other roads in the vicinity of Merrimac Butte, Monitor Butte, Determination Towers, and Big Mesa. Most of the trail is easy but has an optional climb near Uranium Arch and a sandy hill near the end that is sometimes full of holes. A sidehill slickrock portion around the south side of Merrimac Butte may be intimidating to the "scaredy-cats" (which includes most of us), but all of us have completed it unscathed. Wounded or tired vehicles can bypass the worst obstacles, but the bypasses are often a long way around. Approximate mileages: 50 total, 21 off highway. |
