November 19, 2009
After spending the morning hiking Jackass Canyon, Timmy and I drove up to Lee’s Ferry and hiked Cathedral Wash.
Cathedral was a better experience than Jackass – it was shorter, easier to get to the River, and more scenic. The canyon had a few obstacles that called for a bypass – just enough to get our attention – but none that were difficult.
I was so enamored with the hike that I returned multiple times in the ensuing years. It’s a great place to take less experienced hikes, and rewarding in its scenery, destination, and the bit of scrambling that’s involved. I particularly like to bring a few beers and enjoy them at the River’s edge.
more photos in Cathedral Wash:
The Spencer Trail
There was just a little daylight left after hiking Cathedral Wash, so we used the time that remained to try the nearby Spencer Trail.
The trail is located at the far north end of the developed area at Lee’s Ferry, beyond the boat ramp. It’s a steep climb that leads to the top of cliffs that bound the west side of the River, to the top of the Paria Plateau. The official trail ends there at the top of the cliffs.
It ended up being a race against sunset. We failed to reach the top of the trail before full darkness, and ultimately chose to turn around, but still achieved some nice views in the twilight.
Leave a Reply