that squirrel wished we'd gone to millcreek again

On Friday, A wanted to do something other than Millcreek.  Dog-friendly hiking options in Moab in the summertime are limited as you really do need to stay near a water source.  Millcreek is of course a wonderful trail and we are grateful that it's so near our house.  But we do it a lot and sometimes you just want to mix things up a little.  (Not Milton - he doesn't care where he goes as long as he gets to go.)

Before the sun came over the mountains

Another option is Grandstaff Canyon.  It (like Millcreek) is very popular and very busy but when you go the secret way, you avoid the people until the very end.  So H dropped A and M off at the antenna on the Sand Flats road with arrangements to pick them up down at the Grandstaff trail in a couple of hours.  He then went back to the house, did a half hour trail run and a 21 mile road ride (headwinds both ways, seemingly) while we made our way down the canyon.

Sun coming into upper Grandstaff

We walked in to Fins 'N Things, then dropped into the Wilderness Study Area of upper Grandstaff at the overlook.  You can stay on the trail, which gets a little exposed for dogs, I think, or you can make your way down into the wash and just follow the creek out.  Just like when we did this last, this does involve some fighting through vegetation, clambering over downed trees and just plain tromping through the water.

Datura (don't eat it)

Just before our route connected with the main Morning Glory Arch trail, the canyon opens up and the trail (such as it is, what with the fading in and out) moves away from the creek.  It was here that Milton had his very best day ever: he caught a ground squirrel.  He was psyched; the squirrel was not.  He did end up dropping it and it scurried away into a burrow, apparently/hopefully uninjured.  I had to leash Milt and literally drag him away but soon enough, out of sight meant out of mind and we continued on our way off leash.

Layers

H picked us up shortly after we got to the trail head.  He'd had the foresight to pack a cooler with snacks and beers and we sojourned to our favorite picnic spot overlooking the Colorado River so I could regale him with his dog's hunting exploits.  This hike is only about 5.7 miles but it was hot enough and windy enough that I figured that was enough exercise for one day.

Right before the Great Squirrel Incident of 2025