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.
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Winter 2019