A Hike Through Hunter Canyon

Gopher Flats
Moab, Ut
May 10, 2018

Hunter Canyon is one of those special places Joe and I love this time of year.  This amazing 3 mile out and back trail offers a bit of everything...a twisting canyon, towering sandstone cliffs, burbling water, gnarly cottonwood trees, and lots of wildflowers in May.  It is mostly flat with lots of creek crossings and a little rock scrambling over fallen boulders.  Cottonwood trees and towering canyon walls provide lots of shade. 


This day we were on trail at 8:00am just as the sun was filtering into the canyon.  

Hunter Canyon Arch is barely visible... 

 ...look for it about 1/2 mile into the canyon.

Water in the desert is a real treat making this one of our favorite hikes.  

Springtime in the desert offers an abundance of colors.

Fairy Trumpet Flowers

Prickly Pear Cactus

Yellow Salsify 

Desert Mallow 

Tamarisk

Aster

And we saw our first Sego Lily for the year.  It is Utah's state flower.

I hope if you are ever in Moab, you add Hunter Canyon to your list of things to do. 

Female Cottonwood trees produce tiny red blooms that are followed by masses of seeds with a cottony covering. 

A lot of the Cottonwood trees in the canyon are very old, knotty, and gnarly.  Do you see the lizard ?

Some of the cliff walls had seeping water and gardens.  The trail hugged the walls for awhile. 

 Well, until next time, take care and...

HAPPY TRAILS !