Note that if the Salt Creek alternative discussed in Stage 6 is taken, then the route described below will not be taken.

The cross-country route from Butler Wash (S07P05) across the WSA towards the northern edge of Beef Basin is not particularly straightforward, despite it appearing relatively benign on a Topo map. The problem is that much if the area comprises long, shallow, snaking drainages which one needs to drop into, and climb out of, on a very regular basis to make any forward progress. Trying to avoid any particular drainage just seems to result in having to cross another one soon after. Attempting to avoid these completely by taking a route across the nearby higher sandstone buttes is also problematic, since there are several large pour-offs that can’t easily be navigated. Even after traversing this area, it is still necessary to ascend a set of steep sandstone cliffs in order to reach the northern section of Beef Basin. 

In summary, I wouldn’t recommend taking the cross-country route across Butler Wash WSA to enter Beef Basin from the north.

It would therefore probably be easier to take the traditional Hayduke Trail route, which follows Butler Wash south, before entering Beef Basin in its North-East section (The maps above show the cross-country route in red, and the wash route in blue).

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The information below contains locations for the cross-country route, and also for the preferred alternative wash route. 

(I haven’t taken the wash route, but the coordinates supplied are taken from the pictured Topo map in the Hayduke Trail guidebook)

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Upon entering Beef Basin the going is very straightforward along good dirt roads. The troughs at Stanley Spring are an excellent source of water (S07P30).