grandstaff canyon, main fork

When the three-day weekend presented us with the chance to go to Moab, we hopped right on it, despite the fact that the forecast was less than ideal: cloudy and cold, high 20s to mid 30s F.  There wasn't much precipitation being called for, however, so we headed down Friday mid-afternoon.

In the shade, the trail was pretty icy

As expected, Saturday dawned cloudy and cold (low 20s) so we waited quite a bit past dawn before venturing out for a hike with Milton.  Since exploring Fins N Things and the Porcupine Rim, and studying the map more closely, we determined that Grandstaff Canyon is actually huge, much longer than the popular hike to Morning Glory Natural Bridge.  It looked like it was accessible from both ends; since things are relatively quiet in Moab this time of year, we started at the main trailhead on the Colorado River.  There were several cars in the lot when we got there but we saw fewer than fifteen people and, once we turned off the main trail, we didn't see anyone.

There is actually a fainter trail going up the main branch of the canyon, following the path of the year-round creek.  Once we got past the choke of shrubbery at the canyon's fork, the vistas opened up and we were cruising up and down the sandy benches.  Milton was in his element, snuffling for small critters to chase, dashing up and down the sandstone ridges and happily charging into the frigid creek.

Next time we'll go further afield

We didn't go too far in as the clouds began to thicken and neither of us had brought waterproof anything; it was too cold to risk getting wet and chilled.  Still, the little taste of Grandstaff's main fork whetted our appetite for more: easy hiking, new (to us) terrain and no people.

Hike stats:  5.18 miles; 1:59 hours and 2.6 m.p.h. moving / 2:26 and 2.1 overall; 666 feet of elevation