We loafed a bit, made some reservations for our future destinations and generally fooled around before hopping into Charlotte for a spin up to Red Canyon State Park about 5 miles east of our RV park. We had a brochure describing all the trails within the park and, stupidly, I selected a trail called Arches Trail that was allegedly only 3/4 mile long with a vertical component of 185′. The first 100 yards were great but soon the trail surface turned to loose, thin broken rock over colorful but treacherously sloped bedrock. Between the uphill and downhill torture sections, the path runs along the top edges of bluffs and it is narrow which just delighted my spouse, a women known for her aversion to abrupt edges at the tops of bluffs.
Now I don’t get around like I used to but this place was pretty humbling when it came to the more vertically challenging sections. Uphill climbs crossed over large stepped sections of boulders that kept my progress at a minimum. Downhill sections were a guaranteed slip and fall unless moseying along at geezer speed. I can do geezer. The result is that you must either concentrate your vision at the path or admire the gorgeous scenery in this place while falling down on the jagged rocks. My age and girth and lousy conditioning may have played a role in my almost immeasureable progress.
The scenery is wonderful here, even if you do admire it while looking up from the ground. There are many nifty hoodoos and an abundance of arches or holes in the formations. The rock formations exhibit a truly amazing array of colors. We did not spot much wildlife; only a few lizards.
After struggling through the entire loop, we finally arrived back at the truck for a much-needed gasping session before departing to another trailhead for something called the “Hoodoo Trail” which departs and returns to the park visitor center. This trail was right up my alley; short with very little vertical rise and actually provided with stable walking surfaces. It is a great walk for the elderly, uncoordinated or disabled so it turned out to be right up my alley.
Red Canyon is beautiful, even from the parking lot at the visitor center. I suggest close scrutiny of the trail guide brochure should you be uncoordinated, lazy, clumsy or out of shape because even the short hikes gave me a run for my money.
Without falling down along the trail, we got some pictures that can be seen if you click here