Our previous plans to do a trail ride onto the Beckwith Plateau were canceled due to scheduling conflicts and high water in the Price River.  The SEUOHV club was not going to let the unusually high water in the Price River stop us again, so on Saturday, October 16 approximately 40 ATVs  met at the Woodside Station to put on warm gear and prepare for the 55-mile round trip to the Clinton Oil Company drill site located on top of Beckwith Plateau.  We were accompanied by three BLM employees for this ride.  Tom Gnojek (Price), Pam Swanson (Price) and Jeff Williams (State Office) were along for the tour.  These people were all excited to have the opportunity to visit some of the land that they are managing.  None of them had ever visited this vast area so they had never seen the cherry-stemmed road that travels through this WSA.  Personally, I am excited when our land managers visit the land in person rather than relying on maps and pictures while stuck in their offices.
  I had been asked to lead the ride and although I don’t own a “four wheeler” I did borrow one from Dave Child for this trip.  I had made previous arrangements with Roy Pogue (owner of the station and much of the property along the Price River) for use of his property as a staging point.  The group left the Station at 9:30 a.m. and traveled the 8 miles to Trail Canyon where we stopped to view Indian writings (pet & pic).  We had already passed up five for six rock art sites along the way due to time constraints.  I figured that the only obstacle to pose a problem would be the river crossing (another 1/4 mile beyond Trail Canyon) so I purchased a pair of chest waders and Scott Wheeler used them to explore the crossing for the best possible route.  After spending about 15 minutes wading the river (falling down once and filling the boots with COLD water) Scott finally decided on the best route.  With the help of Victor Turner (riding the only motorcycle), Dixon Hussey and others, everyone made it safely across the river.  The only “fall off” that I witnessed was Bert Bentley’s dog who bailed off as Bert’s machine climbed up the South bank.  Having Scott wading in the river enabled him to do some “coaching” as he walked alongside each person and explained exactly what they should and should not do.  The river was running much higher that we had expected so the help provided by Scott, Victor, Dixon and others was much appreciated.
   Once across the river the road is easily followed and is in great shape.  No mechanical maintenance in more than 25 years but the road is 40 feet wide in places and still contains at least two culverts and one reflector post.  The road travels an additional 19 miles after crossing the river.  Our first rest break was at the base of Elliott Peak.  This peak is the highest point along the cliff line east of Highway 6.  You can see it from almost anywhere as you travel the highway between Price and I-70.  Also, from this point was a good view of a large cut that H.E. Lowdermilk blasted during construction of the road in 1974.  Lee Swasey was working for Johansen and Tuttle Engineering at the time and participated in the survey work for the road.  Lee shared his memory of being let off by the helicopter each day and told to work his way toward the lunch stop somewhere on the Plateau.  Lee had vivid memories of the day that he had worked on this particular cut. The helicopter had landed on the top of the cliff and let him out to shoot elevations down to Howard Tuttle who was holding a mirror at the bottom of the grade.  When they finished Lee climbed back into the chopper and  the pilot lifted off and then dove straight off the cliff at a 45-degree angle.  Lee says he screamed “like a little school girl.”
   Our next stop was at a fantastic look-off from the head of Long Canyon.  From this point you can look straight off 1500 feet to the highway below.  Elliott Peak (or Mount Elliott) stands another 700 feet higher than this spot.  The route from the river to Long Canyon has many fantastic views of the Price River Gorge to the East and Cedar Mountain and Chimney Rock to the West.   For those with the time, energy, ability and desire . . .  the hike to the top of Elliott Peak is a must.  The view from on top is spectacular and provides a 360-degree view of the area.
After leaving the look-off, the road switches back to parallel Long Canyon before climbing to the top of Beckwith Plateau.  It is in this area that the only “technical” part of the road is encountered.  There is a heavily eroded area with loose rock and a short, steep section that intimidated some of the rookie ATVers.  More experienced riders took over the controls of a couple machines and everyone was soon back on their way.  The mesa is flat and covered with Pinyon Pines and Juniper trees and is very easy to travel.  Signs of any off-route excursions are non existent.  The scenery from here to the drill site isn’t as spectacular as it is between the Price River and Long Canyon but it is in this area that you will find the two culverts and reflector post.
   This entire ride gives you a feeling of solitude.  It is obvious that not many people have had the opportunity to visit this place and you are truly having a “wilderness experience” from atop your ATV.  As you travel along this 40-foot wide “cherry stemmed” road you say to yourself, “this is how Wilderness is supposed to be,
 accessible to the young, old and disabled!”   Our group included all of these people and I dare say that without the use of an ATV none of them would have ever experienced this opportunity to see, touch, feel and enjoy this land.
   Upon reaching our destination at the Clinton Oil Company drill site everyone parked and enjoyed a quick lunch.  I had made a sign to place at the drill pipe that read; “ROAD ENDS HERE, and there are no other roads/trails beyond this point.  We have flown over the area and no other road/trails exist.  Please do not travel beyond this drill site as all land beyond this point is Wilderness Study Area.”   This was followed by our club’s initials, S.E.U.O.H.V., and hopefully this will help to stop any damaging off-route travel.
The Beckwith Plateau road provides access to a remote Wilderness Study Area.  If you really want to experience “Wilderness” as it should be, I suggest you pack your camping supplies onto your OHV and camp somewhere along the road.  From there you have the opportunity to hike and explore a vast WSA.  The plateau is huge and I’m sure it holds many special surprises waiting to be discovered.
   Because this road is within a WSA, it is mandatory that all vehicular travel be limited to the original constructed route.  The BLM has told me that if this area is abused by off-route travel that they WILL CLOSE the entire road.  It is up to all of us to educate the public and help to police these areas.  If the road is closed to those, who “abuse” . . . It is US, who “lose.”

Alan J. Peterson