Grand Gulch, hiking in (and out) via Government Trail

(Go to Vicki and Sheila's August/September 2005 Vacation main page)
Grand Gulch is the crown jewel of back-country hiking to Ancestral Puebloan dwellings and rock art. August is considered the off-season and September begins the fall season. We thought late August would be acceptable hiking. Well, we were pushing it. It was hot, stormy and at one point, Vicki stepped in quick sand! The rangers reported water sources in the canyons were unreliable, so we we hauled all our water in.

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Grand Gulch, hiking in via Government Trail

The Goverment Trail is one of only a handful of ways to enter Grand Gulch. The trail is 3.3 miles on the mesa top from the carpark to the main canyon.

Sheila hiking in
 Vicki at Government Trail overlook at Grand Gulch
 View of Grand Gulch from Government Trail overlook
 View of Grand Gulch partially way down from Government Trail overlook
Ants and aphids in Grand Gulch
Grand Gulch by Polly's Island Wildflowers in Grand Gulch Wildflowers and Sheila in Grand Gulch Crane or heron footprints in mud

2 days later, hiking out via Government Trail

We were planning to spend up to four days in Grand Gulch backpacking (hauling all camping gear with us). Our stay was cut short by storms -- we didn't want to risk getting caught in flash floods in the canyon bottom.
Storm clouds over Grand Gulch Storm clouds over Grand Gulch Storm over Government Trail
 Sunset over Government TrailOur shadows in sunset after storms

(Go to Vicki and Sheila's August/September 2005 Vacation main page)