Sunday, April 15, 2012
After spending the previous day at Rifle Falls with Amanda we decided to spend Sunday morning taking a hike we have wanted to do for a while in in the Colorado National Monument. The last time we had planned to hike the Black Ridge Trail, it snowed, so we cancelled our plans because we feared it would be a muddy and slippery mess in places. Like the previous day, the weather forecast overnight was calling for storms, but luckily the Monument didn’t see any precipitation. The Book Cliffs, on the other hand, were coated with snow as we drove to the Monument.
Snow and spotlight on the Book Cliffs as we drove up into the Monument.
Snow on the Book Cliffs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A view down into Fruita Canyon as we drove to the trailhead.
Fruita Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Scenery at the beginning of the hike as we climbed up the trail.
Rocky Hill by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Parts of the trail follow and old two-track.
Old Two-Track & Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This old sign was hidden off to the side of the trail. It’s hard to read anymore, but the part I can make out says ‘Stock Drive Way’
Stock Drive by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were some nice puffy clouds floating above us for a while.
Puffy Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View across the Grand Valley at the snow on the Book Cliffs.
Snow Across the Valley by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A sign marking the CCC Trail junction.
CCC Junction by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The trail crossed a rolling field covered with grass as we near the boundary of the park and cross onto BLM land for a while.
Grassy Field by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I liked the light on the ridge in the distance.
Ridge Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A nice view over Devils Canyon. I’ve hiked in that canyon before, but never seen it from above like this.
Devil’s Canyon View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We had to cross this ‘rock bridge’ that separates two canyons.
Rock Bridge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We finished the hike at the end of the trail near the Visitor’s Center.
Black Ridge Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
As we drove along Rim Rock Drive on our way back home, I stopped for one more photo over this fork of Monument Canyon.
Monument Canyon Fork by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
It turned out to be a perfect morning for hiking. It wasn’t too hot or cold, and there were plenty of white puffy clouds in the blue sky with some storm clouds off in the distance. We also got to explore a new area of the Colorado National Monument.