Mill Creek Arch and Cave House Moab, Utah - Flat Pass
- peteuga
- Dec 27, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Moab’s Mill Creek is most famous for the waterfall on Left Fork, but for some reason, I always seem to find myself exploring the Right Fork. Right Fork starts right in town with a lovely creek in a canyon with lots of rock art. However, for this hike, I started about 10 miles south of town near Ken’s Lake. Off-roaders will know this area as the exit to the Steel Bender Trail, sometimes known as Flat Pass.
There is an interesting, abandoned cave house just below the arch. I have taken people to the cave house many times because it is near our Moab vacation rental, known as Moab Adventure Condo. Its close proximity typically makes for a good first taste of Moab after a long day of traveling. We can unload our Polaris RzR and make the easy drive to Flat Pass. Though often overlooked, the sun always hits Flat Pass just right in the afternoon and makes for one of the best photo opportunities in Moab as the rocks come alive in the long angles of the glowing sun.
After spending a few minutes taking in the views at Flat Pass, it's a quick and easy descent into Mill Creek Canyon. There is a small farm down in the canyon, so the trail is easy to navigate. You likely could drive the trail in any high-clearance truck or SUV if you take your time and go slow. Once on the canyon floor, it is a short distance to the cave house, and it takes about half an hour to explore. Sorry, but I don't know the history of the cave house.
I take pride in my ability to locate things like rock art and arches, but I must credit my daughter, who spotted the arch last spring. As we arrived to explore the cave house with some out-of-town family members, she asked, "What arch is that?” I replied, "It’s not an arch; it’s a cave house.” She then said, "Look up higher,” and that's when I saw it.
Well, you see, finding things like that arch are no good for me. The thought of the arch eats on me, and there is something in me that makes me have to get close to the arch. I need to touch it and feel it. For a normal person, seeing the arch from the ground is all they need. I guess I’m not normal, I have to get up to the arch. The problem is that there is no clear way to get out of Mill Creek Canyon and up on top of the rocks where the arch is located.
So, when I got there this one particular afternoon, I spent a few minutes scoping the area for a way up through the rocks. All I could find was a small gap in the rocks, so I decided to give it a shot. Before I could start my climb, I first had to cross Mill Creek. The creek is deep but just barely wide enough to try and jump over. When I say barely, I mean barely. Luckly, I got across without getting wet.
The crack up through the rocks was almost impassible. The short side canyon was steep and a jumbled mess of boulders. There was no footing available, and I had to jump from one rock to the next. After jumping boulder to boulder and crawling under and around unforgiving scrubby trees, you are left with a decision to make. Which gap do I try to squeeze through to get over to the arch?
After reaching the top, I made a few wrong turns in narrow gaps that eventually got pinched out before I could locate the gap that would lead to the arch. Finally, I was able to locate the correct gap to get out of the canyon and start moving towards the arch. But even here, I was greeted with a pour-off I had to get around just to enter the gap. Once in the gap or slot, the trail bottom was easy enough. There were a few scrambles but nothing to write home about. As I ascended the slot, I kept my eye on the left wall, looking for any crack in the wall that I thought I might be able to use to get to the arch. It wasn’t too long before I found an accessible ledge, and I was just able to get up into. I was thinking to myself, “If I fall no one will ever find me over here”.
I eventually got to the top, and after a few dead ends, I knew I was where I needed to be. Sure enough, right on the edge of the cliff was a beautiful arch glowing in the warm winter sun. Just in case you didn’t realize, no one ever comes up to this arch, it’s hidden. Unfortunately, when I got to the edge, the wind was blowing extremely hard, so hard, in fact, that it was difficult for me to keep my balance.
Over the howling wind, I could hear whistles and shouts and what I thought was someone telling me to “get down” and “to get off that”. It was really strange, and there was no way anyone from below could see me. I think it may have been someone, maybe with kids, looking at the cave house 200 feet below the arch.
I’m glad I made the trip up here and pioneered a route to the top. In the future, maybe I will take an extra adventurous guest with me past the cave house and all the way to Mill Creek Arch. Forget letting them get their feet wet on Moab, I will give them a baptism by fire.
The trail past Ken’s Lake climbs to the top of a small pass. I am not sure of the office name, I have seen both Flat Pass and Sunset Pass. The trail is very scenic and is actually a dirt road that any car can drive down. At the top of the pass are some hoodoos, and they make for lovely pictures during the late afternoon.
You can still access this arch even if you are in a car. Once you drive up and cross over the top of the pass, I would find a good parking spot and walk down the backside. If, however, you are in a truck or high-clearance SUV, you should have no problem descending. At the bottom of the descent, to the left, the right leads to the end of the Steel Bender trail and some neat cowboyglyphs. You will immediately see a small dam across Mill Creek for diverting water to Ken’s Lake, Moab's water source. Find a convenient place to park and walk across the dam. You will see a slot canyon coming into your left while crossing the dam, that is your hike.
You can view my GPS route if you have Strava account, free to join.
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