Aldaron
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 1,487
I've been so busy lately that I haven't posted a trip report in forever. I'm still busy, so I'm going to try to keep this one short, but I thought I would get a trip report posted.
The last week in March 2014, two friends from Tennessee flew out and we spent a week in the desert. We spent a few days in Grand Gulch (that part of the trip will be a future TR) and a few days in The Maze. After leaving Grand Gulch, we had planned to head straight out to The Maze, but the weather report was calling for 50 MPH winds the next night, so we elected to start a day later. I'm very glad we waited...we tried to camp out near Ticaboo that night, but the crazy wind sent us scrambling for the hotel in Ticaboo.
We started at Golden Stairs because I didn't want to drive either of the roads that head closer to the Maze. The drive out to Golden Stairs is fine...there was a little bit of 4x4 just before the trailhead, but it wasn't anything bad. The hike down Golden Stairs was nice. China Neck was pretty cool.
It had great views of Ernie's Country and the Orange Cliffs.
From the top, it's hard to believe the trail will find a way to the bottom...far, far below. But it does. The trail makes a steep descent above the Mother and Child rocks, and then runs back along the cliff for nearly a mile before it makes another steep descent down to the valley. It was a little frustrating to walk half a mile towards the Maze and then walk 3/4 of a mile back away from it...but that was the only way for the trail to find breaks in the cliff bands.
This trail is pretty exposed, but there wasn't anything dangerous as long as you watch your footing.
After the second descent, you reach the bottom that you thought you would never reach, and then the trail follows a wash before reaching the road. Eventually, the road leads you back to the bottom of the Mother and Child that you feel like you were directly above two hours earlier.
The road walk was actually pleasant. We only saw one vehicle, and I always find it relaxing to amble along a deserted double-track. There were nice, inviting views of Ernie's Country.
And eventually you round a corner and see the Maze.
Water wasn't a problem because it had rained the day before so there were plenty of potholes with water, and the first night was really nice.
I awoke early in the morning and hiked back up to Standing Rock and got a great sunrise over the La Sals and Land of Standing Rocks.
We then spent the day exploring some of the canyons.
We spent the rest of the day exploring around and spent another night out. The next day two of us made the hike back out of the Golden Stairs. My other friend walked the Dollhouse Road back towards Teapot Rock because he wasn't comfortable making the steep climb back up Golden Stairs. We made it back to the truck and then drove a couple of miles down Dollhouse Road and picked him up.
I had hoped that I wouldn't really like the Maze and this trip would suffice as my only backpack into the area. That didn't work out. I loved it out there. I don't know what was really different, but it was a very unique area. I couldn't think of any other area in southern Utah that was similar to the Maze. Unfortunately, that means I'll probably have to go back and spend more time. I want to spend more time down in the canyons, and I want to explore Ernie's Country. To do it right, I'm afraid that I'll have to drive in from the Dollhouse Road. And I don't like the idea of doing that. I guess I'll just have to get over it, though.
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The last week in March 2014, two friends from Tennessee flew out and we spent a week in the desert. We spent a few days in Grand Gulch (that part of the trip will be a future TR) and a few days in The Maze. After leaving Grand Gulch, we had planned to head straight out to The Maze, but the weather report was calling for 50 MPH winds the next night, so we elected to start a day later. I'm very glad we waited...we tried to camp out near Ticaboo that night, but the crazy wind sent us scrambling for the hotel in Ticaboo.
We started at Golden Stairs because I didn't want to drive either of the roads that head closer to the Maze. The drive out to Golden Stairs is fine...there was a little bit of 4x4 just before the trailhead, but it wasn't anything bad. The hike down Golden Stairs was nice. China Neck was pretty cool.
It had great views of Ernie's Country and the Orange Cliffs.
From the top, it's hard to believe the trail will find a way to the bottom...far, far below. But it does. The trail makes a steep descent above the Mother and Child rocks, and then runs back along the cliff for nearly a mile before it makes another steep descent down to the valley. It was a little frustrating to walk half a mile towards the Maze and then walk 3/4 of a mile back away from it...but that was the only way for the trail to find breaks in the cliff bands.
This trail is pretty exposed, but there wasn't anything dangerous as long as you watch your footing.
After the second descent, you reach the bottom that you thought you would never reach, and then the trail follows a wash before reaching the road. Eventually, the road leads you back to the bottom of the Mother and Child that you feel like you were directly above two hours earlier.
The road walk was actually pleasant. We only saw one vehicle, and I always find it relaxing to amble along a deserted double-track. There were nice, inviting views of Ernie's Country.
And eventually you round a corner and see the Maze.
Water wasn't a problem because it had rained the day before so there were plenty of potholes with water, and the first night was really nice.
I awoke early in the morning and hiked back up to Standing Rock and got a great sunrise over the La Sals and Land of Standing Rocks.
We then spent the day exploring some of the canyons.
We spent the rest of the day exploring around and spent another night out. The next day two of us made the hike back out of the Golden Stairs. My other friend walked the Dollhouse Road back towards Teapot Rock because he wasn't comfortable making the steep climb back up Golden Stairs. We made it back to the truck and then drove a couple of miles down Dollhouse Road and picked him up.
I had hoped that I wouldn't really like the Maze and this trip would suffice as my only backpack into the area. That didn't work out. I loved it out there. I don't know what was really different, but it was a very unique area. I couldn't think of any other area in southern Utah that was similar to the Maze. Unfortunately, that means I'll probably have to go back and spend more time. I want to spend more time down in the canyons, and I want to explore Ernie's Country. To do it right, I'm afraid that I'll have to drive in from the Dollhouse Road. And I don't like the idea of doing that. I guess I'll just have to get over it, though.
Featured image for home page:
