The trailhead for the Hopi Salt Trail is about 15.2 miles from U.S. 89, travelling on unpaved roads.  The roads are not marked with signs.  You will encounter about 29 road junctions between U.S. 89 and the trailhead; navigation requires good preparation.  The GPS coordinates of the trailhead are:  36 degrees 12 minutes 55.59 seconds North, 111 degrees 41 minutes 48.93 seconds West. 

To prepare, it is suggested that you look at the following U.S.G.S. topographic maps (1:24,000 scale) that are available online at:  https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/maps/TopoView/

The Gap, Bodaway Mesa, Pillow Mountain, Salt Trail Canyon

It is also suggested that you use Google Earth to preview the driving route.

The route directions are:

From the gas station at The Gap on U.S. 89, drive north1.1 miles and turn left (west) onto unpaved road.  Follow this road for about 11.2 miles.  At any intersection you probably want to follow the most well traveled road.  Copies of the topographic maps will help you maintain the correct route at the many intersections.

Perhaps the only location where there might be a question about which fork is the “main” road is at mile 6.0.  Go straight ahead here and do not take the left fork.

At the 11.2 mile point, leave the “main” road and bear left.  The road you are now on will travel in an almost perfectly straight line for 2.0 miles. At the 2.0 mile point the road will make a very slight curve to the left.  In this vicinity the road becomes more and more like a “two-track” with vegetation growing between the wheel tracks.  2.5 miles after leaving the main road the route crosses a wash and the road splits into two parallel roads.  Beginning about here, a low clearance passenger car may have difficulty.  2.9 miles after leaving the main road, take the left fork.  3.2 miles after leaving the main road, take the right fork.  Here, rows of rocks on the ground to the right of the road outline a 50 foot by 50 foot square shape.  From this point, proceed another 0.2 mile and take the right fork.  Then another 0.3 mile and bear left where a road joins from the right.  Then proceed another 0.3 miles where you will see a parking area to the right and below you.  This is the trailhead. 

Roadway conditions may change with time.  We used these on October 12, 2016, and they worked well for us.