Travel-Curious

Travel Curious

For independent travelers who want to dig deeper

Recapture Pocket

This is a little-known but interesting location, the interestingly named “Recapture Pocket” which is just a few minutes east of Bluff, that is full of goblins and hoodoos slightly reminiscent of Goblin Valley State Park.

Recapture Pocket near Bluff Utah

 

There are three main groups of formations relatively close to each other. Half the fun is exploring the area to see what you can find. I asked more than one local what the name referred to, but so far I didn’t have any luck finding anyone who knew.
 

Note

  • Approaching sunset the hoodoo areas are in shadow early because of the buttes directly to the west of the area that is going to block the sun, get there a couple of hours before sunset. Sunrise shouldn’t have any issues. 
  • Dogs okay
 
Getting  there
  • From Bluff, take UT-162 east for 4.9 miles and turn left on an unmarked gravel road ( 37.298293, -109.465708 ).
  • Drive 1 mile and make a left (west) at the junction with (Trading post road) Country Road 217 ( 37.311256, -109.461199 ).
  • Continue 0.5 miles and take the next right (north) onto unmarked Bluff Bench Road for 0.8 miles and continue left at the fork, continuing 0.3 miles to reach the first group of formations.
  • The second group is located another 0.3 miles further.
  • To reach the third group, return to the fork and take it left (north) for 0.9 miles and turn right just past the slickrock patch and storage tanks for another 0.3 miles.

 

The interesting rock formations of the Recapture Pocket

Some of the taller stacked rock formations

One of the larger formations

Last light on the Recapture Pocket are near Bluff Utah

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