making connections

Having done both Hidden Valley into the Behind the Rocks WSA and the Moab Rim trail into the Behind the Rocks WSA, we felt pretty sure that we could link the two and make a loop.  We did our research and did it Saturday morning, leaving before 7 a.m. from home after H had shuttled the truck to the Moab Rim parking lot on the Kane Creek road and riding his bike back.

Hidden Valley is just lovely

It was cool and a little humid, the sun not yet up over the La Sals.  We got on the Pipedream Trail at Jackson Street and walked south to the Hidden Valley trailhead.  This would  be the longest segment of the trails we hiked and we both gained and lost a decent amount of elevation on the rolling, rocky trail.  We saw four MTBers and lots of desert cottontails out enjoying the morning.

View from the pass

From the Hidden Valley trailhead, we hiked up to and through the valley: one hiker, one trailrunner, lots of birds and bunnies.  It was a gorgeous day with clear skies and cooler temperatures than earlier in the week.  When we got to the pass, we continued over and down to the Moab Rim trail/4x4 road.  We met one ambitious MTBer and saw three trailrunners in the distance but otherwise had the whole thing to ourselves.

Desert goth

After going up and over Tire Test Hill - we opted for the main trail, on the sandstone swells, as opposed to the much sandier wash - we continued up to the Moab Rim with its views of the Moab valley.  We started seeing numerous hikers at this point, including a bunch of locals who were out exercising their dogs before the day heated up.

Homemade potato chips - mmmmm!

The last bit was the descent of the gnarly OHV ramp back to the parking lot.  Having the truck waiting for us there, as opposed to walking home along the road, cut around four miles off our total mileage.  Plus we had our cooler there, which meant we could sit on the tailgate and talk to other hikers while we watched the jeeps and side-by-sides attempting the Moab Rim ascent.  We even saw that MTBer we'd seen earlier; as it turned out, he did the exact thing we did only in reverse.

View from Tire Test Hill

This was a great hike.  Temperatures were fairly cool and it ended up being easier than we anticipated; we didn't need the extra water we carried and finally got our nutrition right.  In all honesty, we hurt Milton's feelings because we didn't take him on this hike (he got over it).  But in our defense, we weren't exactly sure how long it was going to be or how long it would take us; now we know and if we ever do it again, he can come with us.  It was really fun, so maybe we will.

Colorado River view from the Moab Rim trail

Hike stats: 10.18 miles; moving time 3:26/speed 3.0 m.p.h.; overall 3:59/2.5; 1,800' elevation PLUS

Ride stats: 3.73 miles; 0:15:28; average speed 14.5 m.p.h.; top 22.1 m.p.h.