SW Trip Day 14 - Hike Snow Canyon State Park

Back in the desert.

10/23/13 Wednesday

After our ride yesterday, we drove to Snow Canyon State Park just outside of St. George and got the last available campsite.

Hiking the Hidden Pinyon Trail.

Snow Canyon is a cool area with a variety of red rock, slickrock and lava formations.

There’s enough scenery that a number of major films have been shot here, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Jeremiah Johnson.

Looking from the Hidden Pinyon Trail overlook across to the Three Ponds Trail.

Hiking up the sandy wash of the Three Ponds Trail.

We hiked a series of trails in a clockwise loop from the campground, starting with the Hidden Pinyon Trail and then crossing the West Canyon Road to the Three Ponds Trail.

Where are the ponds?

Nancy thought the trail led to the ponds in the photo on the cover of the park brochure, so we kept hiking until the trail ended in a narrow drainage.

Headed back out.

There were only a couple of small ponds in the sand, so the picture was obviously taken somewhere else.

Hiking back out the long sandy wash.

There was an annoying half-mile of sand hiking back out.

Hiking up the Lava Flow Trail.

We then looped around on the Lava Flow Trail, which climbs a little bit to provide a view.

Holier than thou.

There’s a small lava tube where the Lava Flow Trail meets the Butterfly Trail.

Winding through larger formations

The Butterfly Trail meanders through short gullies before giving way to the Petrified Dunes section.

Hiking up the dunes.

The Petrified Dunes Trail was all slickrock, similar to Moab, just not as smooth.

Things got rocky between us.

The trail here is unmarked except for signs sticking up every hundred yards or so.

Dropping down off the Petrified Dunes.

We hiked for six hours, covering about nine miles.

Dinner at sunset.

Snow Canyon has nice secluded campsites, and nice restrooms with showers.

Enjoying our last night of camping.

Most of the campsites back up against a rock wall and are surrounded by bushes and piñons, so you feel like you’re in your own little world.

This is one of the best campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at—highly recommended!

SW Trip Day 13 - Bike Hurricane Rim Trail

Iconic.

10/22/13 Tuesday

We saw a few buffalo on the side of the road while leaving the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The start of the Hurricane Rim Trail next to Highway 59.

Our goal for the day was to drive to Hurricane, Utah and ride the Hurricane Rim Trail.

Gooseberry Mesa in the background.

The Hurricane Rim Trail is part of a 24 mile loop called the Hurricane Rim Loop. This trail system was designated an “epic ride” by the IMBA.

Approaching the steep canyon of the Virgin River.

We didn’t have time to ride the entire loop, so we did an out-and-back on a scenic section.

Sagebrush country.

The trail winds its way around drainages until reaching the cliffs above the Virgin River.

Looking down to the Virgin River.

Desert flora.

Zion National Park in the background.

A dam and a canal were built in the canyon in the late 19th century. The canal is no longer used, but you can hike it.

A view of the canyon rim, with the mountains stretching from Zion to Gooseberry Mesa.

Riding back along the rim.

The trail is part of a larger trail system managed by the BLM, including Gooseberry Mesa, which we rode five years ago.

Rock and roll.

The trail has a few technical sections, but is mostly intermediate riding. There’s great views but no real exposure to deal with.

Yes, you’re in the desert.

We rode about 13 miles or so.

This has been a cold vacation: this was our first warm day since leaving Truckee!

You can do it, Honey!

The terrain was pretty rolly, with only one difficult, short climb.

Back at the start above Hurricane.

I think the IMBA made this an epic ride (like a lot of their choices) mainly for the length of the trail and the scenery. As far as pure riding, there are more fun trails but few as scenic.

SW Trip Day 12 - Hike North Kaibab Trail

Early start.

10/21/13 Monday

The Grand Canyon National Park was closed as part of the federal budget kerfluffle, but re-opened a week ago from an influx of state and private funds.

We planned to hike the North Kaibab Trail, only going about halfway down because hiking to the river and back is too far for one day.

Looking for Ra at the Coconino Overlook.

We hiked the South Kaibab Trail seven years ago and witnessed a spectacular sunrise. So, we got out early, hoping for similar views.

Descending below the gray rock.

It soon became apparent that the North Kaibab Trail is much different from the South Kaibab because the trail goes down a drainage instead of along a ridgeline.

Therefore, a spectacular sunrise would not be forthcoming.

The Supai Tunnel, 1.7 miles down.

It was disappointing to find that the views would not be nearly as good as those on the South Kaibab Trail, but we kept going to see what the trail was like.

Winding down into the red rock.

The trail is pretty on its own, but you have no views of anything else.

Just past the Supai Tunnel.

One advantage of an early start was getting to hike in the cool of the day.

About two miles down the trail.

Trail repair.

The trail was in great shape except for one spot.

Crossing the Redwall Bridge.

The Redwall Bridge is three miles down.

Losing our shade.

Hiking through the Redwall section.

The Redwall section is the most dramatic part of the trail, with long stretches hacked out of the cliff face.

Heading back up.

We turned around just above Roaring Springs, about 3,000’ feet below the North Rim.

One last look.

It was a nice hike, just not nearly as scenic as the South Kaibab.

We got back with enough time to explore the area around the Visitor Center. They had stripped the shelves of all products due to the government shutdown and recent re-opening.

The view from Bright Angel Point, near the Visitor Center.

Cooking up grub.

We couldn’t drive to nearby viewpoints because the roads were closed.

However, we had the North Rim Campground almost entirely to ourselves because of the shutdown. Thank you Tea Party nitwits!

SW Trip Day 11 - Drive to Grand Canyon

In the center of it.

10/20/13 Sunday

We spent the day driving from Mesa Verde to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

We had to stop by the Four Corners monument, largely due to Nancy being a fan of Breaking Bad.

The facilities.

On the reservation even the monuments are impoverished.

Walking across the old Navajo Bridge.

The drive west features scenic Navajo Bridge crossing the Colorado River just below Lees Ferry.

Looking down at Marble Canyon and the Colorado River.

The Vermilion Cliffs from the west end of Highway 89A.

After Lees Ferry, there’s a long flat drive through a valley before climbing up to a view of the Vermilion Cliffs.

The view from the North Rim campground.

We made it to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon just before sunset.