Heart of the World | Thursday, May 29, 2025
I headed out after work this afternoon to the East Entrance of the Colorado National Monument so I could continue working on my Heart of the World project by hiking the Devils Kitchen and Echo Canyon trails. These are two trails close to home that I have hiked a number of times in the past, but I now realize that it’s been quite a while since I have hiked either one of them. After quickly looking through my old Trip reports it seems that the last time I hiked to the Devils Kitchen was almost a decade ago and the last time I was in Echo Canyon was way back in 2013. I guess I have been long overdue for a return and it was nice to revisit these locations at the east end of the Monument this afternoon, even if it was pretty warm out!
Starting the hike by descending into No Thoroughfare Canyon. This part of the trail has changed a lot since the last time I was here since there are now ropes lining the trail on both sides to keep people on it.
Yellow Cove
The Devils Kitchen
Getting out of the warm sun inside the Devils Kitchen.
A view over the Grand Valley through a narrow slot between sandstone spires that make up the Devils Kitchen.
Kitchen View
I hiked a little ways up the bench above the Devils Kitchen for a better view.
A couple more Devils Kitchen views…
Starting the descent from the Devils Kitchen on my way over to Echo Canyon.
I stopped to visit the nearby petroglyphs.
There was a nice view as I started to climb the Old Gordon Trail.
I liked the way the light was illuminating the red rim of Echo Canyon below the Eagle’s Wing highpoint.
The cactus wildflowers were putting on a show this afternoon of magenta and yellow.
Echo Canyon Passage
Following a ledge in Echo Canyon.
Echo Canyon
Looking back to the Eagle’s Wing as I made my way back to the trailhead.
I had seen a lot of lizards along the trail this afternoon and was hoping to see a collared lizard, which happened just before I made it back to the trailhead!
