This is
a marked trailhead with a distance of 850 yards round trip, approximately
20 minutes total hiking time. The difficulty rating is moderate,
season is spring through fall with moderate to heavy public use.
TRAIL
ACCESS
Travel 3.2
miles north on State Route 158 (Deer Creek Road) from State Route
157 *Kyle Canyon Road). On the right is a parking area. To the
left is the trailhead.
TRAIL
DESCRIPTION
Robber's
Roost is a short loop trail which climbs up a canyon to a couple
of caves. It then winds through a forest of Pinion Pines and Mountain
Mahogany before returning back to the main trail.
Legend has
it that Robber's Roost was a hideout ofor bandits during the days
of the old Mormon Trail. The caves not only offered shelter, but
also an excellent vantage point for spotting would-be attackers.
The canyon had the advantage of terminating near the caves, thus
giving the outlaws the ability to easily fence off the back of
the canyon as a corral.
This was
a place where robbers could exhange their trail-weary horses for
fresh, strong ones. Many times the bandits concealed stolen goods
and livestock at Robber's Roost that had been snatched from travellers
on route to California and Utah.
TRAIL
RULES
*Be Considerate.
* Do not
litter. Leave trail in the same condition you found it or better.
*Stay on
designated trail. Short cutting switchbacks causes erosion, makes
ugly scars, and destroys the existing trail.
* Do not
deface trees or trail signs.
* Bury human
waste at least 200' away from the trail and at least 6 inches
deep.
FIRE
RULES
*It is advised
that you NOT build fires at Robber's Roost. Fires leave unsightly
black soot on cave and cliff walls.
* Fire and
smoking restrictions are put into effect during times of high
fire danger. Watch for signs. Generally during the summer months fires are prohibited except in camp
ground and picnic
areas and only in fire rings.
WATER
* Take drinking
water with you.
* Before
drinking all spring water, it should be boiled to destroy harmful
micro-organisms.
MECHANIZED
VEHICLES
*Motorized
vehicles and bicycles are prohibited in the wilderness area.
