Tusher Tunnel

The Moab area is a wonderful area to explore. With two national parks, a state park, and a few scenic drives, one could spend countless hours in those attractions alone. And rightly so--those areas are incredibly beautiful. However, those areas don't hold all the beauty in the area. There are many areas outside of the normal tourist attractions that offer beautiful sights. Some of these areas, however, require a little more work to get to than those in the parks.

Tusher Tunnel is one such attraction. Tucked in the hills near the Bartlett Wash Recreation Area, this attraction offers low crowds, beautiful rock formations, rock art, and more after only a short ride on a moderate OHV trail.

What You'll Need

If you're looking to visit the Tusher Tunnel, here's what you'll need:

• A "High-Clearance Vehicle" (Most stock SUV's and Trucks should make it. Some passenger vehicles will likely make it as well but should proceed with caution.)
• Decent hiking shoes
• Sunscreen and water
• A flashlight or headlamp
• Other supplies you bring on short hikes

Getting There

The OHV trail to Tusher Tunnel begins in the Mill Canyon OHV area. This area is known for the 3D Trail and for the dinosaur tracks and bones found nearby. The turnoff to the area can be found on the West side of Highway 191 2.7 miles South of the Moab Regional Airport or 4.4 miles North of the intersection with Highway 313 (the road to Canyonlands).

Once on the road, you'll cross some railroad tracks after which the pavement will end. You'll then follow the road around the hills. After being on the road for 0.6 miles, you'll come to a parking area that's often used for loading and unloading side-by-sides and other OHV's and prepping for longer treks on some of the more technical routes in the area. You'll want to enter the parking area and proceed North-West on BLM road 343.

Once on BLM road 343, you'll stay on that road for approximately 2 miles. Throughout the drive, you'll see occasional signs for Tusher Tunnerl. Follow those and you'll be fine. After those 2 miles, you'll come to a crossroads with the SevenMile Safari Route. BLM Road 343 will turn Noth, the Sevenmile Safari Route will go South, and the road to Tusher Tunnel will continue in a West/Southwest direction. You'll want to continue straight on the road to the West/Southwest.

You'll follow this road for another 1.2 miles before turning South as you approach the trailhead for Tusher Tunnel. During these 1.2 miles, you'll have two opportunities to head down into the wash. This generally isn't encouraged and you should stay on the OHV trail as much as possible. You will need to cross the wash once, but driving in the wash is discouraged by the BLM. The wash is very sandy and can pose problems for vehicles that are not properly equipped to handle the sand. It also increases the erosion that occurs in these washes which jeopardizes the area.

It should also be noted that these last 1.2 miles before the final turnoff are the roughest of the entire trail. While most SUV's and trucks will be able to handle it without issues, you will need to exercise caution at some points and the pitch of the road does get a bit uncomfortable for most people that aren't experienced with this type of off road driving. Trust your vehicle and go slow and you should be able to tackle this trail without issue.

After those 1.2 miles, you'll come to a fork in the road. Take the fork that heads South. After another 0.2 miles, you'll come to a clearly marked trailhead. Pull over and park and grab your camera and anything else you'd like to take for the short hike to and through the tunnel.

Once you're ready for the hike, you'll follow the trail to the West for about 100 feet before turning South and ascending to the base of the rock face. From there, turn right (West) and ascend the trail until you see an opening at the base of the rock. This is Tusher Tunnel. The entire tunnel is about 300 feet long. You can't see the other end of the tunnel because it curves slightly to the East. Proceed into the tunnel and you'll shortly be able to see the other end. Feel free to plow on through or take your time. The view at the other end is great but it's also fun to see what you can find in the tunnel itself.

Once on the other side, note the drop-off and keep your children (if you're traveling with any) close. While not the worst drop-off in the area, it still isn't something you want anyone to fall down. Feel free to explore the other beginnings of tunnels in the area as well. Please respect any rock art of remains from previous inhabitants of the area and practice leaving no trace as much as possible. By respecting the area, you're preserving everyone's ability to continue to visit this place and enjoy the area.

When you've had your fill, head back the way you came. Alternatively, you can head North until you come to BLM road 343 again and follow that back to the Mill Canyon area. If you're up for more adventure, there are plenty of OHV trails in the area for all skill levels. If you like dinosaurs, the tracks at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail are a must and the bones a the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail are fascinating. Both are easily accessible by any vehicle.

My Thoughts

The Tusher Tunnel was recommended to us by a friend and I'm glad they tipped us off to it. It was an enjoyable drive and the area was neat to explore. It was cool to see how (relatively) close we were to the highway yet you'd never know this existed until you're right on top of it. This was another relatively peaceful area away from all the crowds at Arches yet it offers just as much history and wonder as many sights in the park.

As I explored this area and thought of the rock art and other signs of ancient inhabitants, I can't help but wonder what daily life was like for them. It makes me appreciate their skill and strength and inspires me to be a better steward of the land both in learning how to use what's around me better and in learning how to take care of what's around me even more. I believe the world is here for us to use and we should use the things that we need to provide for our families and have a good life, but that this world is also a great gift that we should take care of and not abuse. Spending time in the great outdoors always reminds me of this.

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