- Joined
- May 19, 2012
- Messages
- 2,007
![DSC04377.jpg DSC04377.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71699-25b84cad6c5d0d1f884f9e34035004a5.jpg)
I have been here before @ the end of the road, years ago. I was curious to see where Slickhorn Road ended. I was not very impressed, evidently, as I had not been back. I have been most places on Cedar Mesa, the exception being this small canyon system, Water Canyon. I had been to the mouth of this canyon on my way down Grand Gulch once. We only went a little ways up.
BTW Thanks to @mike_offerman and @Bob for info on this hike.
I stuck my head out of my tent that 1st morning, and I was immediately glad I was here. It was in the low 30's with no wind, and it would heat up to about 50 that day. Perfect, as long as you were in the sun.
![DSC04390.jpg DSC04390.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71700-14f25655d719722e1deb8eff82e9e84b.jpg)
![DSC04392.jpg DSC04392.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71701-e933565691fa530b2076e834837b61d6.jpg)
Our plan was to head SW for the head of the southernmost canyon, and work our way north. We wanted to find a different way into the canyon system. All of the canyons were inaccessible to us (at least to me). We tried to find the route described by Mike and Bob but we could not see it. So we headed that canyon and headed west, where we found this little side canyon. We had to take our packs off 3 times, a little sketchy at times but not too bad.
![DSC04357.jpg DSC04357.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71703-5e254afb3141c3e49b9e7ce35498f105.jpg)
![DSC04396.jpg DSC04396.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71733-dbbf7b347c5caafba095388cc17679cc.jpg)
![GoogleEarth_Image.jpeg GoogleEarth_Image.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71784-86ccc0f5b8bd420ec0154e41ac576b0d.jpg)
The head of the southernmost canyon:
![IMG_2698.JPG IMG_2698.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71704-80d3189504d7c395e53640491fc3f237.jpg)
![IMG_2700.JPG IMG_2700.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71705-b1e1cd2ce9f37a12715c2b99bb14306b.jpg)
Looking towards the canyon we hoped to enter:
![IMG_2702.JPG IMG_2702.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71706-5432f7025d917e1851ded4c9ab168ef2.jpg)
After a slightly scary descent, we were in a sandstone paradise, pools, cottonwoods, pinons and silence.
![IMG_2708.JPG IMG_2708.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71707-da66e4f48c54b2e7a0b8d3acdbfebade.jpg)
![IMG_2715.JPG IMG_2715.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71708-8bea256f04f80695aa269d41a341266b.jpg)
We came upon this drop off, easy to negotiate along the creek bottom. We decided to stop for a break, then we decided to stay here for 2 nights. It was a beautiful place to camp. This canyon has an intimacy, a scale, that does not make you feel small.
![DSC04432.jpg DSC04432.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71709-840b94d8693fb846138ac86d6ad22a1c.jpg)
![DSC04411.jpg DSC04411.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71710-f07505dfe1b9677284a7168452cbb4ed.jpg)
![DSC04511.jpg DSC04511.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71711-b6860fcdebf077e886e6d89b5b885778.jpg)
![DSC04444.jpg DSC04444.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71713-e97704173f35aec390329edea95e9b82.jpg)
Next morning:
![DSC04462.jpg DSC04462.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71712-8a2b2bad0c5df593a1072d2560c70134.jpg)
We had sun very early. Very nice.
![DSC04479.jpg DSC04479.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71714-ca22c3059543a545a49d382ad7d6d594.jpg)
![DSC04491.jpg DSC04491.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71715-824a6eb023e499321b702ce076182439.jpg)
I did not really want to go on a day hike. I would happy exploring our immediate surroundings, but I wanted to see if we could reach the mesa via a side canyon below. It's always nice to have a good loop hike.
This is the little fall below our camp, on our way down canyon:
![DSC04504.jpg DSC04504.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71717-81a20c11591ccb7e28f9eef6d350b710.jpg)
![DSC04399.jpg DSC04399.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71718-69569ba46e61058a82d1a86089d6c9fb.jpg)
At the junction with the side canyon on the right LDC. We went up maybe 1.5 miles. It was a fun hike, fun route finding.
![DSC04540.jpg DSC04540.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71719-cfe84ef27d4950304750bb9893763dd7.jpg)
![DSC04549.jpg DSC04549.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71720-63d42393871d7487ecd6083a5c380367.jpg)
![DSC04559.jpg DSC04559.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71721-20434cef89907ee037872aa5ed973b23.jpg)
![DSC04593.jpg DSC04593.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71722-bcd002f30532ecc2f7dcf2d44643eb46.jpg)
![DSC04604.jpg DSC04604.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71723-5e819aa77667741d6e1122d53ccd9cc4.jpg)
![DSC04588.jpg DSC04588.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71724-6366ddf47df0c80cae6340677eb2569c.jpg)
This was where we turned around. Maybe there is a way out. Maybe not.
![DSC04636.jpg DSC04636.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71734-d194bdea4248b337a68ad2efef136a35.jpg)
Next morning:
![DSC04668.jpg DSC04668.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71737-cfe8fb995e6aac5df0095dd62b1ca91f.jpg)
![DSC04474.jpg DSC04474.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71716-a3cebce5b5cb5054e1f7d4a74bfb60e2.jpg)
Gotta go home. Packing up:
![DSC04716.jpg DSC04716.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71727-69fa9c5a640cd7814c433734e33111cf.jpg)
The hike out:
![DSC04721.jpg DSC04721.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71728-1c8edd107cd4ac4526620f6215354c7f.jpg)
Looking back at our canyon:
![IMG_2734.JPG IMG_2734.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71729-315f4b8df698fe0372c745e9ab7f6af7.jpg)
![IMG_2735-1.JPG IMG_2735-1.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71730-da617172fcad8cd0404c886731226eaa.jpg)
![IMG_2740.JPG IMG_2740.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71731-b0de849d377c2eed7efde43de2ef1f69.jpg)
Back at the end of the road.
![IMG_2750.JPG IMG_2750.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/71/71732-8c1d6d7b9f3d0b8d8f768f157a364fff.jpg)
I am happy to have spent some time here. There is more to see.
Greg
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