Page Type:
|
Route |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
|
38.42327°N / 109.90875°W |
Route Type:
|
Hiking |
Season:
|
Spring, Fall |
|
Time Required:
|
Most of a day |
|
Difficulty:
|
Hike |
|
Overview
Map
Alcove Spring Trail sits in the western portion of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonland National Park. The trail starts on top of the Island in the Sky Mesa at an elevation of 5680 ft. It then goes down a steep boulder covered slope at the base of a reddish/orange colored shear wall. A large alcove can be seen in the wall near the trail.
After only 0.70 miles, the trail reaches a sloped plain at the bottom of Trail Canyon (4700 ft). For the rest of the hike, big walls can be seen rising in all directions around the trail. 1.3 miles later, the trail drops into a dry wash and follows it another 3.3 miles down the Trail Canyon until it reaches the junction of Taylor Canyon (4220 ft). A couple of tall and slender rocky towers named Moses and Zeus provide an impressive view at the junction.
Getting There
From the visitor center, drive 6.5 miles south then turn right onto Upheaval Dome Road. After 3.3 miles, you will see the sign for Alcove Spring Trailhead on the right side of the road.Route Description
Trailhead Elevation: 5680 ftElevation at the end of the trail (Junction of Trail & Taylor Canyons): 4220 ft
Roundtrip Hiking Distance: 10.6 miles
The trail immediately starts to go down a steep slope and the big Alcove will come to view:
Alcove
A shear wall can be seen on the left side of the trail. The trail goes down a steep boulder covered slope:
 Wall |  Wall |  Wall |
 Near Trailhead |  Near Trailhead |  Near Trailhead |
You will hike by the big alcove:
Alcove
Looking back at where the trail descends:
Looking Back at the Descent
After only 0.7 miles, the trail drops 1000 ft and reaches a sloped plain at the bottom of Trail Canyon.
Looking back at the alcove from the sloped plain:
Alcove from the Plain
Views from the sloped plain at the bottom of Trail Canyon:
 |  |  |  |
The trail then drops into a dry wash and follows it northwest. Views from the dry wash:
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
At the end of the trail at the junction of Taylor Canyon a number of rocky towers come to view. The tallest ones are known as Moses and Zeus.
Views of Moses and Zeus:
 Moses |  Moses & Zeus |  Moses & Zeus |
Views at the junction of Trail and Taylor Canyons:
 |  |  |  |