I did this trip last month with my demented friend Hubba. This is the 2nd or 3rd time he has joined me and I think I got him hooked. We were looking for something in the mountains to try and get the hell out of the heat for a couple day's. I had read about Rattle Snake Creek before but have never talked to anybody that has been and had not seen any pictures. It starts at the North Entrance of Cedar Breaks two miles from Brian Head and comes out in the bottom of Cedar Canyon three miles from town. About 11 miles. Seemed like a plan to us so we headed out early on a Saturday morning and found the trail head. I had a half assed topo of the area with me but rather than that didn't know much about what lay ahead. It turned out we weren't the first explorers to the area, their was a well beaten path but despite that we did not pass another person until the last mile of the hike.A very big bonus because nothing ruins a cool place like contact with strangers. The cool weather to start the hike was perfect sitting at about 45 degrees. The first few miles we spent hiking through green meadows packed with wild flowers and views of the red rock of Cedar Breaks. Very pretty walk. After that the trail drops you into Rattlesnake Creek. A beautiful little stream with lots of waterfalls surrounded by a thick pine forest. We hiked along this stream for about three miles before turning south where we climbed a ridge that drops into Ashdown Gorge. This is where I was pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting to drop into a kickass mountain slot canyon. Technically not a slot but surprisingly narrow in places. Incredible place made even more beautiful and interesting just by the simple fact that I had no idea it was coming. We explored a couple side canyons with very pretty waterfalls and camped at Flanagain Arch. The next morning we hiked out to the highway where you are suppost to have a car waiting. Just for some extra adventure though I voted for taking just my truck. So we started hiking up the narrow Cedar Canyon road trying to thumb a ride. Not much room to walk with out getting ran over. Getting a ride turned out to be more difficult than I expected. Freaking untrusting people these day's have seen to many movies. We hiked another 5 miles up canyon before a cool kid from back east who was working for the forest service and coincidentally had just completed the same hike the day before picked us up and drove us all the way back to my truck even though he was heading the other way. Some strangers are alright after all. Our total hiking miles ended at 16.5. Nice little walk and a hell of a good time.
