Super popular hikes aren't often appealing to me and I've driven through the gorge enough times to know that the Coyote Wall trailhead is usually packed with cars. Almost as bad as Dog Mountain, another gorge hike I've managed to avoid for the almost 16.5 years I've lived here. But this week Jacob and I had a brisk and rainy weekday off together so it seemed like the best possible time to try a popular hike. We arrived just before 9 and were the first to park at the trailhead. Good start.
This area is popular for a few reasons including the stunning views of the gorge, the wildflower scene, the mountain biking action, and the general Instagram-friendly look to the place. Douglas' grass widow was the most conspicuous flower blooming on our hike.
Western Meadowlarks were singing and Bald Eagles soared low over our heads as we gained elevation. Our plan was a shorter loop involving the Moab and Little Maui Trails, but we got a little confused and took a longer route. It was great though! The weather cleared up and the sun came out.
Jolly green giants
Nonstop scenery
We even had some first-of-year birds like Western Bluebirds in the oaks, visiting a potential nest hole.
We were admiring the view up the gorge when another eagle came into view, this time a Golden!
At our feet, prairie stars and desert parsley were getting into the swing of things.
Lithophragma parviflorum
We found our first Say's Phoebe of the year catching bugs from one of the barbed wire fences.
Eventually we ended up on the loop we had intended to follow.
The whole area is thick with geological features that I will not pretend to understand, but I do know that these are basalt cliffs:
And this is a waterfall:
On the way down there were tons of ground squirrels and Jacob made me take pictures of all of them.
Back at the beginning of the trail I tried to take a panorama phone pic to show the whole wall, but it made part of the wall (on the left) look super tiny.
It ended up being a pretty great hike at a little over six miles. Beers and grub at Red Bluff Taphouse in Stevenson rounded out the day perfectly. Good times!!!
This area is popular for a few reasons including the stunning views of the gorge, the wildflower scene, the mountain biking action, and the general Instagram-friendly look to the place. Douglas' grass widow was the most conspicuous flower blooming on our hike.
Western Meadowlarks were singing and Bald Eagles soared low over our heads as we gained elevation. Our plan was a shorter loop involving the Moab and Little Maui Trails, but we got a little confused and took a longer route. It was great though! The weather cleared up and the sun came out.
Jolly green giants
Nonstop scenery
We even had some first-of-year birds like Western Bluebirds in the oaks, visiting a potential nest hole.
We were admiring the view up the gorge when another eagle came into view, this time a Golden!
At our feet, prairie stars and desert parsley were getting into the swing of things.
Lithophragma parviflorum
We found our first Say's Phoebe of the year catching bugs from one of the barbed wire fences.
Eventually we ended up on the loop we had intended to follow.
The whole area is thick with geological features that I will not pretend to understand, but I do know that these are basalt cliffs:
And this is a waterfall:
On the way down there were tons of ground squirrels and Jacob made me take pictures of all of them.
Back at the beginning of the trail I tried to take a panorama phone pic to show the whole wall, but it made part of the wall (on the left) look super tiny.
It ended up being a pretty great hike at a little over six miles. Beers and grub at Red Bluff Taphouse in Stevenson rounded out the day perfectly. Good times!!!
Scenery. Year birds. Lack of people. Basalt! Good good good. When you come visit you have permission to photograph my ground squirrels.
ReplyDeleteBasalt is always deserving of exclamation.
DeleteWow it's an awesome place! I like that it's all open, so rare to have an open view all around. Nice waterfall!! He bent your arm... I'm about ready to start tossing these grey squirrels in a cage and take them on a "long ride" aggregating varmints.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the openness is awesome so there's always a sweet view. I hear ya on the squirrels!
DeleteUsually when I'm the first to park at the trailhead... I'm in the wrong place!
ReplyDeleteHa!!!!
DeleteYou nailed that waterfall I.D.!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's taken 39 years for me to be this good. You'll get there someday.
DeleteI do love that first-car-to-arrive feeling. I also love seeing squirrel pictures, so thank you Jacob!
ReplyDeleteHa, I'll let him know the squirrel was appreciated!
Delete