Ready for an adventure?!
Settle in for an 8 mile drive on a dirt and gravel road taking 30 mins to spot the trailhead parking lot. I was fortunate it was a dry week, so my little rented Versa survived. And since I didn’t know if I would succumb to the sand, I paid for the daily pass at the on-site kiosk and took off for a 3 hour trek into the unknown.
Following the natural winding wash, the trail meandered along for over a mile until the towering walls started to close in and the real adventure could begin.
The first steps entering the colorful labyrinth are adrenaline infused. Every curve is awe inspiring and you can’t wait to dive in further. There are a few obstacles to squeeze past and jump over prior to reaching the infamous stairs. I am fortunate on this mild winter day to have the canyon to myself and can’t lie that I scaled the ladder a few times just because I could!
After many more surprises, the canyon finally opens up into a massive “T” where you have the choice to continue forging along into Buckskin Gulch, which is the longest and deepest slot canyon in the world at 13 miles.
I veered off right as many fellow travelers had recommended. I jumped around on small boulders to try to bypass the puddles of water for another .5 mile, but the passage eventually become impassable without diving in waist deep. So I opted to turn around and continue for another mile in the opposite direction.
Before heading back up the canyon, I happily plopped down on a washed up log to enjoy my backpack lunch of cheezits, a banana and an uncrustable PB&J amongst the gorgeous canyon walls.
What a tremendous experience totally immersed in nature’s beauty and never wanting the day to end!
FearlessAdventures 