Sunday, April 27, 2014
Since I never made it to Flume Creek Canyon yesterday, Diane and I decided to hike it this afternoon together. I wasn’t expecting too much from this hike, but it turned out to be a really beautiful and fun hike. Had we only stayed on the main trail it would have been just another desert hike, but since we decided to get off the main trail and hike in the bottom of the canyon it was much more enjoyable. Getting off the main trail and into the bottom of the wash was a great choice because there were some cool narrows to hike though and the canyon eventually boxed up at the end under an impressive dry waterfall. Once we reached the end we had to backtrack a little way, but then we had fun climbing up a steep route out of the canyon to join up with the main trail again.
Leaving the Pollock Bench trailhead towards the canyon.
Flume Canyon Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I finally came across my first claret cups of the season today.
Claret Cup by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eventually the trail started following the narrow canyon below. At this point we decided to climb down and hike through the narrows.
Slot Below by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The narrows weren’t particularly deep, but it was a fun place to hike.
Flume Canyon Narrows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Flume Canyon Narrows II by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After taking a few photos of me from above, Diane joined me down in the canyon.
In the Narrows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Narrows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Under an overhang.
Under the Ledge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Things were pretty green down here.
Grassy Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eventually we reached a dead end under a large dry waterfall.
At the End by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We backtracked down the canyon a short way and then found a steep place to climb out and joined up with the main trail again.
Climbing Out by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Following the upper trail…
Upper Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Around the Bend by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Shortly after the trail looped around and started heading back towards the trailhead we passed this little hoodoo.
Hoodoo by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Hiking Back by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Cool clouds over the Book Cliffs…and a little snow from the previous night’s storm, too.
Book Cliffs Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Leaving the wilderness behind…plenty of wildflowers around.
Wilderness by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We had a lot of fun on this local hike and I know it is an area we will be returning to again in the future.