Powell Plateau — This is an easy excursion from the Bass Trail access, but the lack of any reliable water source anywhere, and a very large area to explore, make for a logistical challenge. The options are to visit shortly after the spring snow-melt and hope for the best or carry water across for a camp to allow more time. A day-hike to Dutton Point and back is a popular excursion and there is a faint track-of-use approximately halfway. The drop-off into Walthenburg Canyon is one of the most dramatic Grand Canyon escarpments, and any location along the east or west rim provides an unusual view aligned with the river.

The large surface of the plateau is essentially the same habitat as the rest of the north rim with a mature Ponderosa forest and good shade from the summer sun. The modern Kaibab bison are known to visit, most likely seeking the lower elevations in the winter.

Hiking with George Steck around the periphery of the plateau in 1990 was my first truly adventurous backpacking trip and got me started with off-trail exploration. This was a very difficult trip with long distances and many challenges, including a flash flood the first night out.

Trails — A constructed trail descends to Muav Saddle. The trail forks west to the hunters cabin and east going to White Creek on the North Bass Trail (may have water at the Coconino spring), but also continues up the opposite slope onto the plateau but then becomes faint.

Routes — The track to Dutton Point goes south somewhat parallel to the east rim. The track ends where the trail approaches a view from the east rim with a slope going down into the drainage that heads at the east rim and drains to the southwest. To reach Dutton Point, go down into this drainage and follow to where it begins to angle away from the east rim (a large fallen trunk bridges the ravine) and look for sign of travel going up, and follow the crown of the landscape to the southern tip.

2016 July - Dayhiking to Dutton Point and back for the 2nd annual Moron Festival. Camp at Swamp Point featured personal pizza on an alcohol stove by Adrian Jantzi