Sunday, March 29, 2026
Although I was initially hoping to get more hiking in this weekend, I wasn’t feeling very well on Friday evening and decided to stay home to get some long overdue work done to my 4Runner on Saturday instead. Then on Sunday morning I thought I was feeling better, so Diane and I headed out early to hike the Ribbon Trail from the top to the bottom and finish up by following Andy’s Loop to the Tabeguache Trailhead. We chose this hike to get in as much elevation descent as we could near home to help us prepare for a hike into the Grand Canyon via the Bright Angel Trail that’s coming up in just over a week. It’s been a while since I last hiked the Ribbon Trail and usually I hike up to Little Park Road at the end, so this was a nice change of pace.
After dropping off a vehicle at the Lunch Loops Trailhead we drove up Little Park Road to the Ribbon Trailhead and started hiking just before sunrise.
Diane watching the sunrise from the Ribbon Trail.
This sandstone bowl was catching the warm light nicely as the sun came up over the Grand Mesa.
We had never noticed this little arch near the trail before.
It turned out to be a nice colorful morning along the Ribbon Trail.
Continuing down the slickrock trail.
We took a short detour to look over this pourover into Ribbon Canyon.
There was definitely a lot of consistent downhill on this trail, which is exactly what we were looking for!
Ribbon Canyon Twist
The Teardrop Pool only had a little water in it this time.
Out of the shallow canyon and following the trail towards the Eagle’s Wing.
Eagle’s Wing
Andy’s Loop Trail
We followed the rim above Echo Canyon at the edge of the Colorado National Monument.
Looking across to the Serpents Trail.
Crossing a moonscape in No Thoroughfare Canyon as we followed a few different trails down to the trailhead. By the end of the hike I wasn’t feeling very well again and went to sleep as soon as I got home for the rest of the day and night- I had come down with a pretty bad cold.
I see this is several weeks ago now, but it’s nice to see *both* of you out and about and enjoying yourselves again (even if you were coming down with a cold). Looks like you had a nice time and perfect weather!
On the edge of my seat for the Grand Canyon trip, that sounds great!
Yes, I am way behind on getting the photos and trip reports posted right now…
It’s always better to be on a trip or planning the next one, than it is to be processing photos and writing about the past. Sounds like you’re doing it right!