![]() Campsites and toilet facilities are available to the north. You arrive at a trail junction at the bend of Horseshoe Mesa around 2.5 miles, from which you can embark on extended trips along several inner canyon trails. Rocky sections interrupt the otherwise packed-dirt trail. Cottonwood Creek deepens to your left as you head north a few piñon and juniper trees offer modest shade. The cobbled trail leads into tight switchbacks, descending through the Supai Formation and leveling into a gradual descent the rest of the way to Horseshoe Mesa. A brutal set of switchbacks ensues down sandstone slabs that make for rough walking.Īround 1 mile, you reach Coconino Saddle (named for the contact zone between Coconino Sandstone and Hermit Shale), which offers exceptional views looking south into the upper valley of Hance Creek.įrom here, traverse east across the head of the Cottonwood Creek drainage. Contour around a promontory, turning your back to the thin ridgeline that extends from it. The trail levels out briefly as you cross a gully onto a west-facing slope. Log stairs form switchbacks down the Kaibab Limestone cliff face, with uneven surfaces amplifying the feeling of exposure. The trail begins on the north side of the looped parking area and wastes no time beginning its descent. The Grandview Trail follows remnants of a route formerly used by miners and mule trains to cart copper ore from Last Chance Mine on Horseshoe Mesa to the canyon’s rim.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |