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Sand Canyon Trail - 3 members in 8 triplogs have rated this an average 5 ( 1 to 5 best )
8 triplogs
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Sep 27 2024
avatar

 Guides 177
 Routes 249
 Photos 10,213
 Triplogs 2,215

74 male
 Joined Feb 12 2002
 Gold Canyon, AZ
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Sep 27 2024
AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215
Hiking7.80 Miles 2,084 AEG
Hiking7.80 Miles
2,084 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Got an early start on a forecasted hot day, glad we did, saw no one else till late in the hike, no one present at the lower trail head. Nice variety of ruins and as stated no rock art to be seen.
_____________________
It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain
 
Jun 21 2023
avatar

 Guides 2
 Routes 512
 Photos 5,579
 Triplogs 4,277

69 male
 Joined Mar 01 2009
 Aztec, NM
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Jun 21 2023
Pivo • Triplogs 4,277
Hiking4.71 Miles 507 AEG
Hiking4.71 Miles   1 Hour   57 Mns   2.42 mph
507 ft AEG15 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
MyRudy
Moved to lower elevation for this hike. Interesting geology and ruins here. Also a winery just down the road to check out.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Battle Rock
_____________________
 
Jun 03 2023
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 27
 Photos 4,621
 Triplogs 975

56 male
 Joined Aug 23 2005
 Pike National Fo
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Run/Jog avatar Jun 03 2023
sneakySASQUATCH • Triplogs 975
Run/Jog7.80 Miles 2,084 AEG
Run/Jog7.80 Miles   1 Hour   18 Mns   9.75 mph
2,084 ft AEG      30 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was a side trip north to south as I had a shuddle. We originally planned meeting up Bandelier, but Tsankawi trail closed until October to build a parking lot. Decided kids hadn’t been to Mesa Verde area and daughter is in soft boot for fracture of talus bone so we opted for Mesa Verde. Museum for canyon of the Ancients is currently closed. Trail to overlook open and we did this day before. Got info on this trail. We checked out the un excavated sand canyon pueblo which is pretty large as a family then the family drove to the other trailhead while I ran it checking out the spur trails along the way. Most of the dwellings have signs closed 10-15’ from the alcoves due to lack of enforcement and looting of the dwellings so I spent less than 30 minutes total at the sites. It was more of a leg stretch anyway. Geology is cool. Switchbacks weren’t bad just couldn’t get up to speed on them. Made up for it in the middle flat red dirt section. Trail becomes rocky toward the end. Drive to other trailhead took family 40 minutes and it was lunch time so they really weren’t there very long before I showed up. Distance pretty close to above with the spur trails. I liked that some were loops for running purposes so not much back tracking.
_____________________
:o
 
Jun 24 2018
avatar

 Guides 100
 Routes 63
 Photos 2,548
 Triplogs 184

76 male
 Joined Nov 21 2015
 Grand Junction,
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Jun 24 2018
Steph_and_Blake • Triplogs 184
Hiking7.80 Miles 163 AEG
Hiking7.80 Miles   4 Hrs      1.95 mph
163 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
See Description.
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Stephanie and Blake Barnard
 
May 30 2017
avatar

 Guides 37
 Routes 556
 Photos 10,872
 Triplogs 1,052

43 male
 Joined Jan 21 2013
 AZ
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar May 30 2017
FOTG • Triplogs 1,052
Hiking10.15 Miles 1,237 AEG
Hiking10.15 Miles   4 Hrs   22 Mns   2.32 mph
1,237 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This is a great little trail, if you are a fan of canyons, the high desert and Indian ruins.

The trail is well signed and marked with rock baskets to guide hikers. After the first mile the ruins really start and there seems to be one around every corners, giving one the feel of touring a prehistoric village. The trail seems to be popular, in particular, with the mountain biking community, however, we hiked it on a Tuesday and did not see anyone on the trail until near the TH. We turned around as the trail started to make the climb out of the sandy canyon bottom. The trail is only at 5000 feet and exposed, so start early during the warm months and bring plenty of water.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sleeping Ute Mountain
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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  2 archives
Feb 14 2016
avatar

 Guides 171
 Routes 253
 Photos 6,100
 Triplogs 1,135

44 male
 Joined Apr 03 2006
 Pocatello, ID
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Feb 14 2016
PaleoRob • Triplogs 1,135
Hiking0.50 Miles 125 AEG
Hiking0.50 Miles      40 Mns   1.00 mph
125 ft AEG      10 Mns Break7 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Jen and I took a hike around Castle Rock. I didn't start the track recording until we were just about to go off on the spur trail away from the main Sand Canyon trail. The parking lot was packed, lots of folks and dogs out on the trail today.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Pinyon Jay
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mesa Verde Anasazi Building - Unknown Function
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sleeping Ute Mountain
_____________________
"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon
 
Jan 01 2010
avatar

 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Sand Canyon TrailSouthwest, CO
Sand Canyon Trail
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Jan 01 2010
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking11.00 Miles 1,600 AEG
Hiking11.00 Miles
1,600 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After exploring a bit of this trail durng an East Rock Creek loop hike earlier in the week and seeing two impressive cliff dwellings, I wanted to see more. I set off from Cortez on a sunny New Year's morning down roads of solid ice, hoping that some of the snow from earlier in the week had melted off of the trail. Not a bit of it had, but hiking in 6 inches of fresh powdery snow isn't bad, so I hit the trail. Just beyond the last turnoff for East Rock, tracks from other hikers ceased, and I had Sand Canyon all to myself. Almost every bay in the Entrada sandstone with an alcove held a cliff dwelling. One, with 9 rooms, particularly impressed me, as it had what looked (to my untrained eye) like a kiva. Eventually the ruins and alcoves gave way to Sand Canyon wash, which the trail followed to the base of the north wall of the canyon. Knowing that if I continued to the end of the trail (which had been my goal) that I would be hiking well after dark, I chose to turn around at the top of the switchbacks. Although the top of the canyon was in sight, I'd have to save the last mile and a half for next time. Hiking back, noisy ravens brought life to the otherwise quiet canyon. The sun set, my nalgene bottles began to ice up, and I returned to the trailhead at dark, without having to get out the headlamp. It was a great hike. I highly recommend!
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Goodman Point  Sand Canyon  Sleeping Ute Mountain
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Dec 29 2009
avatar

 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
East Rock Creek LoopSouthwest, CO
East Rock Creek Loop
Southwest, CO
Hiking avatar Dec 29 2009
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking6.00 Miles 750 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   2 Hrs   10 Mns   2.77 mph
750 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Sand Canyon Trail
Partners none no partners
When everything else in the area is snowed in, this one isn't. Yay! I left the snow flurries of Cortez and hit the Sand Canyon Trail. Went a bit further this time and saw two impressive cliff dwellings I hadn't seen before. Shady areas had mild snow. The ground was frozen, and so was the mud (which was very minimal). I returned on the East Rock Creek Loop, returning to the trailhead at dark. Another great hike in a beautiful area.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mesa Verde Anasazi Building - Unknown Function
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
average hiking speed 2.09 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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