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Tag: Walhalla Plateau

28 June 2017

Cliff Spring trail, an intimate side canyon on the North Rim

forest Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCliff Spring trail leads into an intimate side canyon with several hundred feet drop in elevation in just under half a mile through forest and past upper canyon walls.

Firecracker Penstemon Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOn a warm June day the Ponderosa Pine offered shade as I started downhill on the Cliff Spring trail.  The forest looked open and park-like with tall grass and lovely firecracker penstemon scattered about the forest floor.

granary Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSeveral large rocks along the trail provided a perfect place for Ancestral Puebloan people to build a granary, or food storage area sort of like our pantry.  Sealed clay pots with winter’s food supply and spring’s seed would have been stored in the protected area.  The Walhalla Plateau where Cliff Spring trail is located has over 400 documented archeological sites from summer occupation 1165 – 820 years ago.

forest cliff Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe trail follows a drainage then flattens out.  Tree tops reach up next to the trail on one side while walking under overhanging cliff faces and hugging the walls at the head of this small canyon.  I see the profile of a wild rock-woman at the bend in the trail.

plant bird nest in hole Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

 

iron patterns Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaCliff walls of sandy limestone with crazy patterns, iron deposits, maidenhair fern growing overhead, and erosion holes where birds nest.  Quiet, yet so full of life.

 

Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Rounding a corner there is always wind.  Must be the shape of this canyon that somehow funnels whatever breeze to curve along the canyon walls.  Today the motion is a gentle caress yet some days the wind will work against you.

Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaOver ten years visiting Cliff Spring I’ve watched this young pine struggling for enough light to grow tall like the twisted snag that lost the battle further along.

canyon view from Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

 

 

The view is limited in distance yet multi-textured, sculptured, and colorful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSurface water percolated through porous limestone to a dense shale layer were it seeps between the rocks leaving dark stains and damp areas where plants hang on to life.

rose bush Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThe wild roses are the best here, their wonderful aroma greets me before I even see them.

seep spring Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaThere is something quiet and special about Cliff Spring.  Frequented mostly by birds and butterflies, I rarely see other people here of which I am glad so that I may enjoy the tranquility.

rose bud Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizonarose bush Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

 

And have time to stop and smell the roses.

 

 

 

 

spring Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The trail ends at a seep spring, just a shallow pool of water for wildlife, not for swimming.  It may appear the trail continues past the spring, that is what we Rangers call a social trail, unmaintained.  You are welcome to walk it but I don’t imagine you’ll get far before deciding it’s a little sketchy with steep drop offs.

hand print Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaPlease don’t be fooled by the red hand-prints on the rock walls, they are not old.  It seems some folks like to leave their legacy and there’s red soil and water.  Although I don’t like to see this desecration it is better than scratching names in the rock and much easier to remove.  I just don’t get why it has to happen.

 

 

Cliff Spring trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaI sit for a while on a boulder covered with ancient ripple marks, listening to the slow yet constant drip of water.  Then reluctantly leave this special hidden canyon and head to Cape Royal for sunset and the milky way.

 

Parking is found in a wide paved area on a sharp curve across from the trail head about 1/2 mile from the end of the Cape Royal Road.  The trail sign is small and difficult to see, look for a crosswalk.  The trail is .8 mile round trip with 250 feet elevation change, forested and edgy along cliff faces.

Just one of many delightful trails on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments, Places I've been, United States Cape Royal Road, Cliff Spring trail, cliffs, flowers, forest, granary, seep spring, Walhalla Plateau 15 Comments
30 June 2014

Wandering the Walhalla Plateau

01 DSC_2365a Sky Island & CO R from Walhalla overlook NR GRCA NP AZ g pano (1024x453)Finally a day off work to go play instead of spending days driving and shopping.

02 DSC_2369 Game trail Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g (586x1024)So I went out on the Walhalla Plateau intending to hike the Cape Final Trail but the trailhead parking was rather full so instead I parked at the Walhalla overlook and followed game trails along the rim north.

03 DSC_2435a Freya Castle & Vishnu Temple Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g pano (712x1024)I didn’t go far, probably not more than two miles round trip but it took almost four hours as I stopped every so often to gaze at the canyon.

04 DSC_2404a Sky Island, Freya Castle & Walhalla overlook NR GRCA NP AZ g pano (1024x330)I like to look back at places I’ve been from a different angle like the Walhalla overlook to the left.  And no I didn’t go out on these rocks.  I love the rocks, and have respect for them.

05 DSC_2410 Faces in rocks below Walhalla overlook NR GRCA NP AZ fb g (1024x678)Plus I see faces in rocks, like looking at clouds for some.  Kind of looks like a dragon to me.  Seeing faces in unusual places makes me pareidolia.  How about you?

05 DSC_2495 Fallen tree on rim NR GRCA NP AZ g (1024x678)

05a Dead tree Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x355)Found a delightful place to sit in the shade on a gnarly fallen tree and look upon Sky Island from a different perspective, plus the canyon beyond.

06 DSC_2521 Gaelyn & Sky Island Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g (1024x678)A delightful treat with no one else around.  One of the joys of the North Rim, the quieter, mellow side of Grand Canyon, is finding solitude.

07 DSC_2486a Sky Island Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g pano (1024x190) Archeologists have documented Ancestral Puebloan ruins on Sky Island which barely looks big enough for one house and a small garden to me.

08 DSC_2429 Hole in cliff face Sky Island Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g (1024x678)As I get nearer I see small holes in the cliff face and wonder what lives there now.

09 DSC_2455a Possible trail to Sky Island Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g pano (1024x339)I’m also looking for a possible trail to this island of rock, which I have no intention of following just curious.

10 DSC_2467 Possible trail to Sky Island Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ g (1024x678)Can you see a trail to the top?

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Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Walhalla Plateau 16 Comments
16 July 2012

Walhalla Plateau

01er Sky Island & Colorado River from Walhalla overlook NR GRCA NP AZ pano (1024x372)

Where the heroes go.  Or in this case a Park Ranger.  My work schedule finally took me out onto the Walhalla Plateau where I gave a talk about archeology.

02ecr Colorado River from Walhalla overlook NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x652)

Plus the Walhalla Overlook also offers a fine view of the Unkar Delta along the Colorado River where the Ancestral Puebloans lived and farmed on and off for about 400 years.

03er Walhalla ruins GRCA AZ (1024x768) (1024x768)

Walhalla Glades ruin

In fact their population grew to the point where more farm land was needed so during the summer months some of the people would dry farm on the Walhalla Plateau then return to the river delta for winter.  The Southwest’s first snowbirds.

04er Angels Window from Cape Royal trail Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x678)

Also went to Cape Royal at the end of the plateau to give a geology talk.  Along the trail is a wonderful view of Angels Window.

05er Colorado River through Angels Window Cape Royal trail Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x678)

The Colorado River can be seen through the window from the right angle.  A side trail allows you to walk on top of the window as well.

06er Wotons Throne from Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x678)

Then at the end a magnificent view of Grand Canyon and Wotans Throne.  In Norse mythology, Odin, or Wotan, the Wanderer and King of the Gods (god of light, air, and wind) was the father of Thor and the 8 Valkries, the warrior-maidens. He exhausted himself and his godly resources to have a mighty fortress built with the labor of the giants.

07er Freyas Castle & Colorado River from Cape Royal Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x678)

Freia’s Castle lies to the east, named after Wotan’s sister-in-law the goddess of love, youth, and beauty and the keeper of the golden apple tree whose fruit gives power and immortality to the gods.  We have geologist Clarence Dutton to thank for these mythological names.  When you’re the first person to explore a place you get the privilege of naming the landmarks.

“Lo there, do I see my father- Lo there do I see my mother and my sister and my brothers – Lo there I do see the line of my people back to the beginning – Lo they do call to me – they bid me to take my place among them – in the hallowed  halls of Valhalla –  where the brave shall live forever!” ~ Viking Funeral Prayer (Norway ca.500-1000 A.D.?)

08er Cliff rose flowers Walhalla Plateau NR GRCA NP AZ (1024x678)

Cliffrose in bloom

When you visit the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park be sure to take the scenic drive on the Walhalla Plateau.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

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