Lick Wash, Grand Staircase-Escalante - Utah

[ndhudson]

This is a lesser-known semi slot canyon in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. Beautiful, scenic and, like most of Southern Utah's best hikes, very remote. The walls of this canyon, at it's deepest point, tower 800 feet above you and are made up of cross-bedded Navajo Sandstone. With gargantuan trees, interesting rock formations and a few petroglyphs, this jaunt makes for a fabulous spring day hike. (summer is quite hot!)

Entering the canyon, it doesn't look like much, but just wait...

After dropping into the wash the canyon quickly begins to narrow.

These narrow canyons can be dangerous during wetter times of the year when they fill with water (flash floods).

A little perspective is needed here. One of the many HUGE Poderosa Pine trees scattered in this area.

If you look closely you can see a faint petroglyph here.

The canyon begins to open back up...

The rest of the way the wash leads down a couple more miles where it let's out at the White Cliffs and No Mans Mesa.

[Paul Webster]

That looks great. Surprising those trees can get enough light to start growing down there.

[ndhudson]

No doubt Paul! All the life in these canyons are terribly hardy.

[ChrisW]

Another memory jogger for me ND - I visited Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument but missed this hike (went to Calf Creek Falls) at the time I was restricted due to injury and travelled around the states looking at beautiful mountains unable to walk up them I think the most strenuous hike I did during that time was to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, though it may be short - it was oh so sweet

[ndhudson]

Another memory jogger for me ND - I visited Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument but missed this hike (went to Calf Creek Falls) at the time I was restricted due to injury and travelled around the states looking at beautiful mountains unable to walk up them I think the most strenuous hike I did during that time was to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, though it may be short - it was oh so sweet

Oh what torture, ChrisW! To look, but not to conquer!!! It must have been very frustrating indeed. Though, from your Lochnagar report, it looks as though you have recovered nicely. Fantastic!