Upper Hunter Rim

This is a scenic, moderate alternative route to the middle section of the Behind the Rocks trail, which follows the upper rim of Hunter Canyon. It offers excellent views across the canyon into the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study area and great dispersed campsites.

The route starts just after climbing out of the wash with the "High Dive" obstacle on the Behind the Rocks trail, with a right turn on a lesser-used track that winds around to the north to the rim of Hunter Canyon. From there, it follows the canyon rim for a while before dead-ending at a spectacular viewpoint/campsite on a point sandwiched between the canyon rim and a tall slickrock fin. Doubling back from there and turning right, you pass through a flat area at the base of more slickrock fins with additional dispersed camping opportunities. Turn right again to follow an easy sandy track that parallels the Behind the Rocks trail across a state trust land parcel, skirting the base of some sandstone cliffs before ultimately rejoining the Behind the Rocks trail just before Hummer Hill.

This route receives significantly less traffic than the main Behind the Rocks trail, and is much easier, with only a few moderate rock-ledge obstacles. It can be an easier bypass to the Vertical Ledges obstacle at Waypoint 16 of Behind the Rocks. Multiple dispersed campsites can be found near the trail's northernmost point, though the one at the main viewpoint is very exposed to wind. More sheltered campsites can be found amid the tangle of short spur trails further back from the rim.