After Work Adventures | Tuesday, October 17, 2023
With each and every day quickly getting shorter and shorter at this time of the year, I only have a couple of weeks left where I can possibly squeeze in a few more After Work Adventures, so after work today I headed up into the Colorado National Monument to go on a short hike into upper Ute Canyon. Although I have hiked down through Ute Canyon from the upper trailhead a number of times before, this time I wanted to hiked up the canyon until I reached the large pour-over at Suction Point. It turned out to be a pretty nice place for an evening hike in the Monument.
A view from the Upper Ute Canyon Trailhead as I started my descent into the canyon.
Ute Canyon Trail
Ute Canyon Wall
Wingate Wall
After a bit of a bushwhack the wash soon opened up and the hiking got easier.
Echo Wall
The canyon narrowed up and the light got nice after going around this point.
Hiking through upper Ute Canyon.
It wasn’t much longer until I was looking into the large alcove below Suction Point.
Suction Point
Looking up at the pour-over at Suction Point.
Suction Point Alcove
One last look into the alcove before I turned around and started hiking back down the canyon.
Although it seemed like the fall colors in Ute Canyon are a bit behind this year, this golden Cottonwood tree caught my attention on the way back.
Hiking down the wash in Ute Canyon.
I liked this Juniper tree and the stripes on the canyon wall at this bend of the canyon.
Upper Ute Canyon
Here’s a final view down Ute Canyon to Fallen Rock as I started hiking back out of the canyon. Although I’ve hiked down the switchbacks into Ute Canyon many times before, I think this is the first time I have ever hiked up them.
I stopped for a quick photo at the Red Canyon Overlook as I made my way back out of the park.
