Maybe the toughest hike we've ever done.

The pause that refreshes
Coppertone pauses before heading down the steep trail leading to the bottom left of the photo.
User: Austin Explorer - 9/28/2005

Location: Caprock Canyons - Upper Canyon Trail

Rating: 4stars
Difficulty: 5stars  Solitude: 4point5stars
Miles Hiked: 6.30 Miles  Elapsed Time: 4 hours, 44 minutes

Comments: Much of this trail is relatively flat and crosses numerous dry streambeds, but the ascent and descent portions of the loop are pretty rough. The ascent up follows a steep streambed part of the way and scrambling over boulders was required. The descent on the back side of the ridge was rocky and steep and required careful footing and more than a few handholds for stability. The hot weather took its toll on us as well. We saw no one else on the trail and only saw a highway off in the distance for short period of time from part of the ridge top, or else we'd give this a solitude rating of 5.

Log Photos
Trail View
Gypsum
Coppertone on the trail
Creekbed
The hike up
Coppertone at the grotto
Austin Explorer at the grotto
More climbing
Look how far we've come
Red rocks
The pause that refreshes
Nowhere to go but down
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