Sunday, June 15, 2014
Since Diane and I were home today and had no other plans elsewhere, we decided to wake up early and hike The Ribbon Trail before it got too hot out. This is a trail that has been on my to-do list for a while and I was glad to finally be able to check it out. This is a popular mountain biking trail that starts up on Little Park Road and follows large expanses of slickrock along canyon rims and is mostly downhill the whole way. We brought both our vehicles and left one at the bottom trailhead so we could hike down from the top. While most of the trail is downhill, there is still a good climb at the end to reach the lower trailhead along the road.
Near the top of the trail there was this nice striped sandstone canyon.
Ribbon Rim by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Large expanses of slickrock to ride or hike down.
Sandstone & Sky by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Following sandstone along the rim of a canyon.
Rim by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A sandstone bridge that the trail follows.
Sandstone Bridge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Beautiful sandstone formations overlooking the Grand Valley.
Over the Valley by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Striped Bowl by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Faint trail across the slickrock.
Faint Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Blue sky and clouds over sandstone.
Slab by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Sandstone Scenery by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
An interesting small canyon with a shallow water-filled slot carved into the bottom.
Small Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The lower part of the trail leaves the slickrock.
Rim Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were still some desert wildflowers blooming along the trail.
Desert Flowers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The sun looked cool breaking through this layer of clouds.
Sun Through Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Near the end of the Ribbon Trail shortly before it connects with Andys Loop.
Wash Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View from Andys Loop as it climbs back up to Little Park Road.
Ribbon Trail Country by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Inside a tunnel along the trail.
Tunnel View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Diane exits the tunnel on the other side.
Exit by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Looking back towards the Colorado National Monument from near the end of the trail.
Boulders by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View of the face of the Colorado National Monument from Little Park Road as we drove back down.
Face of the Monument by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr