|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 8.37 Miles |
1,700 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.37 Miles | | | |
| 1,700 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | After spending Labor Day fishing at Hidden Lake in the La Sal Mountains (28 trout caught!), I came back down to Moab and did a little canyon hike before heading up to Canyonlands NP. I was lucky to get the last site in the campground, and ended up sharing it with two German gents who didn't have a back up plan when they arrived and found the campground full.
I arrived at the trailhead just as the sun was popping up, and hiked the loop clockwise upon advice from a park ranger. This turned out to suit my preference, for in this direction the descent is on switchbacking trail, and the ascent out of the canyon is more of a bouldering climb which naturally slows one down to a reasonable pace.
The trail was for the most part well marked with cairns or followed a clearly worn tread, though there were one or two spots in the Syncline Valley section where cairns were missing due to recent water flow and a bit of searching was required to get back on track.
Not having hiked much recently, I decided against adding on the spur trail that goes towards the center of the dome. Near its junction was the only other tricky part which I had been warned of in advance. After following canyon/wash trail for a mile or two, the trail suddenly turns off and ascends a stone staircase to the inside and then continues on.
The Syncline Valley section of the trail was lush and green, but without much in the way of wildflowers. Once back on top after the bouldery ascent, I made good time back around to the trailhead, not having seen a soul the entire way. Breaking in a new pair of boots, my toes were sore enough that I declined to walk the shorter Vista trail, which I'm sure would have given a better sense of this geological feature than what you get by hiking around it. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
