JohnTheLuck
Member
Day 34:
Start point: Clifton CO
End point: Clifton CO
Distance driven: 164 km
Distance hiked: 15 km
We are really lucky to have this excellent weather since even today we had a beautiful blue sky virtually cloudless except a few at the end of the day.
We went back to the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area to go on another trail in another area. The Devil's Canyon Trail goes through various rocky layers enabling us to go back in geological time. A series of panels provided information on the formation of these rocks. The trail forms a loop and does not start directly at the parking lot but on another path that we had to go through partially.
As the previous intersections between the various trails were all well-marked, we expected to find a marker at the beginning of the trail. As there is none, we got lost a bit by missing the start which was masked by a bush. So we traveled a lot of distance before meeting another intersection and realizing that we were not in the right place. This error led us to a point of view from which we could see clearly the trail we wanted to hike. So we went back to a known point and was very careful. We knew we were supposed to end up at the bottom of Devil's Canyon.
After finding the beginning of the trail, we began to appreciate its beauty and learn informative signs.
A little further on, we reached an old uranium mine, which is in a very precise white-green rock layer. The state of Colorado obviously blocked the entrance for security reasons.
Further on, we passed a succession of promontories with beautiful columns carved by the action of water and wind. In addition, the creek flowed through a deep layer of black granite.
At the south end of the loop was an old cabin that still contained some objects. This cabin was evidently situated near the confluence of two creeks, which were, however, dry today. On the other hand, there was definitely water in depth given the presence of cottonwood trees.
The return of the loop takes place on the other side of the canyon while the trail is much more straight. The various mounds all offered a superb view of the mouth of the canyon in the distance, bordered by orange cliffs.
After returning to the 4Runner, we drove a section of the Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway flowing through deep gorges passing through rocks dating back over 2.2 billion years. We only traveled a few miles before returning to Clifton because we had to do some laundry. We will certainly travel this road on a later journey.
Tomorrow we take the road to Vernal in Utah.
.
Start point: Clifton CO
End point: Clifton CO
Distance driven: 164 km
Distance hiked: 15 km
We are really lucky to have this excellent weather since even today we had a beautiful blue sky virtually cloudless except a few at the end of the day.
We went back to the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area to go on another trail in another area. The Devil's Canyon Trail goes through various rocky layers enabling us to go back in geological time. A series of panels provided information on the formation of these rocks. The trail forms a loop and does not start directly at the parking lot but on another path that we had to go through partially.
As the previous intersections between the various trails were all well-marked, we expected to find a marker at the beginning of the trail. As there is none, we got lost a bit by missing the start which was masked by a bush. So we traveled a lot of distance before meeting another intersection and realizing that we were not in the right place. This error led us to a point of view from which we could see clearly the trail we wanted to hike. So we went back to a known point and was very careful. We knew we were supposed to end up at the bottom of Devil's Canyon.
After finding the beginning of the trail, we began to appreciate its beauty and learn informative signs.
A little further on, we reached an old uranium mine, which is in a very precise white-green rock layer. The state of Colorado obviously blocked the entrance for security reasons.
Further on, we passed a succession of promontories with beautiful columns carved by the action of water and wind. In addition, the creek flowed through a deep layer of black granite.
At the south end of the loop was an old cabin that still contained some objects. This cabin was evidently situated near the confluence of two creeks, which were, however, dry today. On the other hand, there was definitely water in depth given the presence of cottonwood trees.
The return of the loop takes place on the other side of the canyon while the trail is much more straight. The various mounds all offered a superb view of the mouth of the canyon in the distance, bordered by orange cliffs.
After returning to the 4Runner, we drove a section of the Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway flowing through deep gorges passing through rocks dating back over 2.2 billion years. We only traveled a few miles before returning to Clifton because we had to do some laundry. We will certainly travel this road on a later journey.
Tomorrow we take the road to Vernal in Utah.
.