Mexican Hat Rock Guide
There's a wealth of amazing things to do and see around the town of Mexican Hat, but what about it's namesake? Turns out, you can indeed hike to the top (well, just under the brim) of the iconic Hat Rock. It's a short trip up and down, but definitely not for those that aren't experienced at scrambling, or with a fear of heights.
When to Visit
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Summer and late fall are going to be very hot, so if visiting during those seasons, get an early start. Spring will be cool, and winters will be cold, with the possibility of snow--you definitely don't want to do this hike if it's slick out. Late spring is probably the busiest time of year, but I highly doubt you're going to run into anyone else while hiking the Hat Rock.
How to Get There
If you're arriving in the town of Mexican Hat from the south, continue on US Route 163 for about another mile: take a right turn down the dirt road that is labeled by a street sign for the hat rock. The road is usually well-maintained near the beginning, and for this hike you won't need to drive far: when the road branches, stay to the left for about 100 feet, and on the right, near the base of hill, is a small parking area and the trail start.
The Mexican Hat Rock
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Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour.
Distance: .7 miles roundtrip.
Park your car at the base of the Hat Rock and begin the trip up--you'll notice a faint trail to the top of the first mesa, though it isn't really marked. The route found on AllTrails was a huge help for me on this one, and I'd recommend downloading it beforehand, though Verizon users should have decent service out here if you don't have the AllTrails Pro and can't download maps to use offline.
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By now you've probably realized that this isn't exactly an official trail--that doesn't mean it's illegal or anything though. I've provided a photo below for reference on where to park, and a rough outline of the first 3/4th's of the trail.
"Parking area" for the trail start, and route up to the first, and toughest scramble.
Follow the trail to the top of the second mesa, where you'll find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out how on earth you get up to this thing: the cliffs in front of you are sheer, and pretty much impossible to scramble up. Also, there's multiple "trails" up here at the top of the second mesa, which is certainly confusing--another time where AllTrails comes in handy. Head to the right, eventually leading out onto what is pretty much a ledge wrapping around the bottom of the third mesa; the trail will become more faint, unstable, and shrink in width--sounds fun, right?
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Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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Follow the "trail" to the right, where unfortunately it grows more perilous.
With careful footing, hopefully you don't go sliding down the ledge and break a leg, but instead, reach a point where the trail confusingly ends: it's time to scramble, and unless I missed it, there's really only one spot to lead you up to the top of third and final mesa. Naturally, there are not a lot of solid places to grab onto or put your feed, so tread extremely carefully. Have I mentioned my disclaimer before?
The last part of the trail before scrambling (above) and the best spot I could find (below).
You survived the first scramble, congrats! With the Hat Rock in front (but still above) you, head to the right, carefully walking to the very back of the rock, where you'll find about three sets of mostly-vertical rocks, but with extremely solid areas to grab onto and footholds. From here, begin your final ascent until you find yourself underneath the brim of the Hat Rock itself!
The final ascent (above) and enjoying the view from the brim (below).
Congrats, you made it without dying! Ah, you want to go to the actual top of the hat? You'll probably need climbing gear then, and that's out of my realm--based on how skinny the base of this thing is though, I'm not sure I'd really want to.
The base of the Hat Rock.
Now what? Enjoy the view! From here you can see the cliffs of cedar mesa, Monument Valley, and the nearby Valley of the Gods, just to name a few. Word of caution: take note of the route going up, it is not easy to find heading back down otherwise--and take your time, especially on that first scramble. Oh, and if you want to check out some of the things you spotted from the top of the Hat Rock, probably best to head to my complete guide to the area here.
