Page 5 - winter 2019
P. 5

Friends oF red rock canyon      5



























                      oenkopi means running water, but for Red   this route, you’ll get to the first marker that shows
                 MRock Canyon it refers to the geological       the trail going straight ahead or to the right, turn
               formation that is prominent in the Southwest in-  to the right. From here on, make a left at any trail
               cluding Southern Nevada. I think of the Moenkopi   junction you come to. If you choose to do the hike
                                          Loop as being a large   clockwise, go straight and turn at the second sign
                                          balloon with a small   where there’s a right arrow. If you go clockwise,
                                          string. It’s an easy   keep to the right at any trail junction you come to.
                                          trail of just about two   Whichever way you go, you’re at the end of the
                                          miles with an eleva-  string and are now going to hike the balloon loop.
                                          tion gain of less than
                                          200 feet. There are     In about ¼ mile,
                                          magnificent views     when you are behind
                                          of the Calico Hills,   the Visitor Center,
                                          Blue Diamond Hill     you’ll see a sign with
                                          and the Red Rock      three options. Turn
                                          Escarpment. Along     left here and follow
                                          the way you’ll see    the Moenkopi Trail
               the Moenkopi limestone and if you look carefully,   as it slowly ascends
               you can see the remains of sea creatures in the   toward the ridge with
               limestone.                                       great views. You’ll
                                                                pass through an area
                 The small string starts at the Visitor Center at   that was part of the 859 acres that burned in July
               the end of the Dedication Walkway near the up-   of 2005. You’ll notice that there has been some
               per parking area closest to the Visitor Center. It is   regrowth of the yucca at the bottoms of some that
               there where you can begin several hikes including   burned. You can see that it takes a long time for
               Moenkopi. Start down the small hill that switch-  the desert to recover from a fire.
               backs and brings you to the desert floor. You then
               head west along what was an old                                 In a short time, you’ll come to
               road in the area. You will have                               another junction at which you’ll
               to make a decision fairly soon—                               stay left. Going right will take you
               whether you want to do the hike in                            to the Calico I parking area. From
               a clockwise or counter-clockwise                              this junction, the trail starts up the
               direction. The marker for the turn                            ridge and you hike along Moenkopi
               off if you’re going counter-clock-                            limestone. This is where you might
               wise is just after the weather station                        stop and take a closer look to see if
               to your right. If you choose                                  you see the remains of any sea life.
                                                                                            (Continued on page 7)

                                                                                                 Winter 2019
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10