Pete's Mesa Route

Pete's Mesa Route is an 8.4-mile out-and-back from the Chimney Rock area to a high ridge above The Maze. The cairned line runs about 4.2 miles one way; walking back makes roughly 1,600 feet of total climbing. Allow about six hours on foot, separate from the long drive into the district. This is a hard day for experienced backcountry hikers, with broad open-country views as the payoff.

Expect mostly slickrock, where the path is easy to lose against the stone. Follow cairns and pay close attention at turns; the National Park Service describes Maze routes as minimally maintained, often unmarked, and difficult to navigate. Sources do not define the far end the same way: the mapped named line finishes on the ridge, while one account continues farther to the mesa edge. The 8.4 miles here cover the mapped route only, so check current route information before extending beyond its last cairns.

Once the ridge opens, you can look toward the La Sal Mountains, Land of Standing Rocks, and across the Maze. The Chocolate Drops stand out as a landmark: slender columns of Organ Rock Shale capped by White Rim sandstone. For a photo, keep the pale slickrock in the foreground and the layered red cliffs behind it; that gives the view a sense of scale.

Start at the Chimney Rock campground access. The National Park Service map puts Chimney Rock about five hours by road from Hans Flat, and getting to the trailhead requires a long high-clearance 4WD approach through the Maze. Pete's Mesa is day-use only; no overnight camping there. Pets aren't allowed on park hiking trails. Water and toilet facilities at the access weren't verified, so don't count on them.