Once back in Mt Carmel, I make a left turn and head thru ranch land towards the park's entrance. As I near the entrance, it's starts getting boulder-y.
I see a deer on the way. (And lots of blinking deer crossing signs.)
The East Rim Trail turn-off is just after the Park's entrance. From beginning to end, it's around 10 miles; you really need a drop-off and pick-up to make it work as the trail ends inside the main part of the park. Since it's 2 pm, I'm only walking a portion of it - I'm giving myself 1.5 hours and then I'm turning around. Hope I end up somewhere with a good view :)
Off I go thru the woods - mostly pine but there's a lot of oak leaf litter. The trail is sandy and follows a dry creek bed. To my left, big, huge rock of varying colors and patterns. Extremely pretty!
I'm making very slow progress as I'm looking and taking tons of photos.
I find one small patch of tiny yellow flowers
A little further along, one small patch of vetch.
There's also cactus poking through the ground -- they're a pink/red color.
The trail is pretty flat so far but the walls are starting to close in a bit.
I find a cactus growing in the lichen on a rock.
Finally, the trail takes a sharp left turn and I'm walking down a little canyon (not really a great word for it but it's the only one that comes to mind). There's a wall (20ft high) to my left and then a small drop-off to the dry creek bed and another wall. Lots of trees here.
Suddenly something brown and furry crawls down the rock wall, walks across the trail and heads down the drop-off. I'm thinking weasel or marmot -- but the body seems too wide and has too bushy of a tail to be a weasel. The crossing happens about 30 ft in front of me so when I get to the spot he went over, I look. All I see is a little squirrel in the tree looking my way. What I saw was NOT that squirrel - it was too big!!
One more turn and the uphill starts but its not bad.
Finally, there's an opening - oh my!
Such wonderful views of the canyon below - oh wait, there's my trail below. Hey, those rocks I was looking up to earlier, I'm on top now! Awesome!
There views disappear behind the trees again.
I keep going and finally get more glimpses of the big canyon. I thought about stopping but there were people already at the spots with the best views. Since I still had time, I continue on. I'm actually excited because it looks like the canyon may have an end point and I'm heading in that direction.
The trees along the canyon's edge block the views again.
I start seeing more deer tracks in the sand.
I think I'm getting close to the end as the trail is heading down hill. And then there it is; the end of the canyon!
Oh was it ever worth it continuing on!!! I'm at the end of the canyon (Jolly Gulch)! With a view 200ft below to the bottom Holy cow!
I sit to enjoy!
The trail actually continues on the other side of the canyon but I'm done for the day - my time is up; it's time to head back.
What a great hike! (I think I went almost 3 miles one way.)
As I head out of the park back towards Mt Carmel, I see one deer on my right and a little further there are at least 5 deer on my left. I can see why there is so many deer crossing signs!
After a stop to eat in Mt Carmel (excellent apple pie), the sun is finally out and it's casting a wonderful glow on the red rocks all the way back to Kanab! A perfect ending to a very busy and exciting day!
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