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| Hiking | 9.70 Miles |
1,095 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.70 Miles | | | |
| 1,095 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Headed up north to Flag Saturday morning to hike Walnut Canyon, which I've been wanting to do for a couple of years. Parked at the Sandys Canyon TH and started off. The trail heads down into Sandy's Canyon through a Ponderosa forest. We made a detour at the Marshall Lake Trail junction to take some pictures of the Sandstone cliffs and then continued on. At Skunk Canyon (AZT section 33), we decided to continue down Walnut Canyon, making a stop at the two alcoves and the cave before continuing on. This section of Walnut Canyon is absolutely stunning! Sandstone cliffs line the canyon walls, filled with Pine, Oak, and Aspen, along with a multitude of flowers, Arizona Grape, and, yes, even some Poison Ivy. We hiked roughly 4.5 miles down canyon with the trail a little brushy at times, but overall in great shape. It was cloudy for most of the way, which kept the temps down, but made for horrible picture lighting. The humidity was also cranked up with storms in the area, which made it a sweatfest for me  . We made it back to the TH just in time as a rain shower came as we started driving. Before heading back to the Valley of Fire, we headed over to the Walnut Canyon monument and spent some time there walking the loop, checking out the ruins. After finishing that loop, we started the Rim Loop when the skies opened up and drenched us. We got back to the car, soaked with a chilly 63 degrees out, stopped at a place to change, had dinner, and headed home. On the way home on the I-17 just north of Black Canyon City, the traffic came to a quick dead stop as we witnessed a motorcycle into the guard rail and the rider down on the ground. I won't provide the details, but it did not look good at all and literally happened seconds before we got there. There were a ton of cars stopping to help, so we decided to continue home. After getting my car got home just before sunset. A long but awesome day in a beautiful canyon, thanks S for joining me. |
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
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| Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
. Did the Rim trail first and then the Island Trail. Walnut Canyon is beautiful in and of itself. The ruins just add a deeper significance. Trails are all paved and do a nice job of letting you see a portion of the ruins without jeopardizing there well being. Really amazing at how well some have survived and just as amazing at how some had been desecrated over the years,
), then the full length of the Rim Trail. Crystal clear but very warm day. Going to wait for cooler weather to complete the hike.
