Cave Canyon / Fossil Ridge - 4/17/23

The Ladder in Cave Canyon

Fossil Ridge

The Entrance to Cave Canyon

Climbing into Cave Canyon

What is a winter season without doing our beloved Cave Canyon? Cave Canyon holds several caves within its walls that we have long before visited. Now, the canyon is one of our favorite scramble destinations. Two miles of class 2 and class 3 scrambling keeps you busy for quite a while. So, we parked at the Cowboy Trails TH and headed up to the canyon entrance found behind the upper horse stables. Take the left fork. The canyon entrance trail climbs steeply up on the right side of the wash. The fun begins at the top. Very soon, there is an overhanging dry fall of maybe 20 feet. We used to have to climb this with only the help of a big pile of rocks at the bottom. Now, there is a rudimentary wooden ladder. Climb it at your own risk!

The Trail into Cave Canyon

Ralyn's first time in Cave Canyon

Narrow Walls in Cave Canyon

Enjoying the Scramble

It was Ralyn's first time in Cave Canyon and we  enjoyed her maiden climb with her. Weaving in and out of the rocks and brush. Climbing here and there. We followed our choice of trails. To our right were the cliffs of Second Finger. To our left were the walls of Boneshaker Hill. It was a beautiful morning. We expected wind by noon but breezes barely made any appearance before the end of our hike. Temperatures were optimal. Reaching the canyon fork, we turned into the left wash. Again with the weaving, we made our way up to the "dead end" dry falls. Explaining to Ralyn, there are three possibilities. The easiest way up is to the left. The medium difficulty climb is to the right. The most difficult way out is straight ahead.

Cave Canyon

Hiking up through the Left Fork

Mike tackles the Climb Out

Four on the Floor on Break

We all climbed out the latter route and hiked on up to the SARS Trail that crosses the wash perpendicularly. Turning to the right, we began our hike over to the top of the Cave Canyon right fork, Second Finger, First Finger and the top of Echo Canyon. We took our break in some shade and watched a large collared lizard scramble by. At the Echo Canyon / Fossil Ridge Trail junction leading down to the right, we turned for our descent. Here, we began paralleling another larger group of hikers who were using Cat 'n' Hat to descend above Fossil Ridge Trail. We hiked down into Echo Canyon until the Fossil Ridge Trail starting traversing the hillside. We continued down the beautiful traverse where the views never disappoint.

Descending to the Fossil Ridge Trail

Fossil Ridge Trail above Echo Canyon

Beautiful Scenery on Fossil Ridge Trail

Overlook into Echo Canyon

We passed a few more hikers on Fossil Ridge and the large group behind us dropped onto our trail as well. While they turned left to continue the Bunny Trail, we turned right to continue Fossil Ridge. The red barrel cacti and the red of Calico Hills brightened the scenery. A short stop to yell "Hello" at the echo point then onward above the upper horse stables. Down Fossil Ridge twisting right and left on a well-maintained trail that is used for horse rides, we dropped down to the trailhead. What a great day! Done before the wind!

Stats: 6 miles; 1140' gain; 3.5 hours

Echo / Cave Canyon junction below Fossil Ridge

Upper Stables from Fossil Ridge

Descending to the Trailhead