Cohab Canyon

Bill on Cohab Canyon trail

After talking to our neighbors from California in camp we decided to hike out Cohab Canyon. It is the closest trail to our campsite. It certainly looked intimidating from the trail head. Rose rather steeply and wound its way upwards until you lost sight of the trail's location.

We were told it leveled out and they would not classify it as moderate to strenuous. I hate climbs of steep rocky trails, but figured I would trust the review. We headed out after breakfast while the temperature was still fairly cool.

View from midway up the Cohab Canyon Trail

The climb uphill actually wasn't as steep as it looked from the roadway. Maybe all the biking has helped the climbing too. One can hope! Once at the 'top' of the trail it leveled out and you passed through a sort of slot canyon...high walls on both sides with mostly sandy bottom. We wandered along until we reached the spur trails uphill towards the Fruita Overlooks. 

The trail wandered about good bit. We even made a comment that we hoped we could find it on our return from the overlooks. We did not...passed the correct way down the trail on the 1st attempt. Noticed a couple of new flowers that 'weren't there when we went uphill' so we knew we had followed the wrong path. We turned back to pick up the correct trail downhill and promptly broke a rule by creating a rock pyre so others could find the proper downhill trail. No need to get lost in the canyons.

A nice hike without a crowd of people.

*click photos to enlarge

Pitted rock walls from water

Trail heading back downhill

The trail through Cohab Canyon

Bill in the slot

 

A dead end slot canyon

Freemont River & Fruita below from Cohab Canyon 

Desert sage lizard