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Wedding Canyon Loop 2019

New Year’s Day | Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Happy New Year! This year Diane and I woke up early on New Year’s Day and headed over to the Colorado National Monument so we could hike the Wedding Canyon Loop at sunrise like we do almost every year. We arrived shortly before sunrise and were the first vehicle at the Monument Canyon Trailhead. When we started hiking the temperature out was in the single digits and the early morning dawn light was just beginning to illuminate the landscape. There was fresh snow on the trail from a big snowstorm the previous day, but there wasn’t quite as much snow on the ground here as there was at our house. We watched the clouds change color as we made our way to the mouth of Wedding Canyon and then hiked up the canyon to Independence Monument, which is the halfway point of the loop. From there we followed the lower Monument Canyon Trail back down to the trailhead making a complete loop around The Island. As usual, it was a great way to start the new year, even though it was cold out!

Diane bundled up at the Monument Canyon Trailhead and ready to start hiking.

Bundled Up at the Trailhead

Following the Wedding Canyon Trail through the snow along the boundary of the Monument.

Winter Hiking

There was a touch of magenta in the sky over the Grand Valley shortly before sunrise.

Grand Valley Morning

Diane stopped for a quick photo before descending the first switchback.

Cold Morning Hike

Hiking through a snow-covered pinyon and juniper forest.

P&J Trail

Diane starting the climb up into Wedding Canyon ahead of me.

Into Wedding Canyon

A nice view over the Grand Valley from the mouth of Wedding Canyon.

Wedding Canyon View

Looking up to the Sentinel Spire and Book Cliffs View.

Wedding Canyon Snow

Hiking below the sheer cliffs of The Island.

Cliff & Clouds

Snow Traverse

Snow Traverse

We were just about to the halfway point of our hike when we got this view of Independence Monument.

Halfway Point

When we arrived at Independence Monument we found that someone had brushed the snow off this inscription, which is part of the Declaration of Independence that was carved by the fiance of John Otto. The snow that was left in the carved letters made it much easier to see than it normally is.

Declaration of Independence

Looking straight up at the western tip of The Island.

The Island

Independence Monument

Independence Monument

One last look back at Independence Monument as we hiked down Monument Canyon.

Independence Monument 2019

About halfway back to the trailhead we passed the first people we would see all day, plus a large group of bighorn sheep just below the trail.

Bighorn Sheep

Sandstone & Snow

Sandstone & Snow

Snow on the steps of the lower Monument Canyon Trail.

Lower Monument Canyon Steps

After returning to my Jeep we drove back home and warmed up in the hot tub for a little while before we headed back into Utah and met up with our friend Jared so we could spend the evening in Arches National Park.

>> Wedding Canyon Loop Photo Gallery

2 Comments

  1. KC
    KC January 4, 2019

    Very nice pictures.Looking forward to your 2019 adventures.

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