We went to the Ranger Station and were given several suggestions for easy to moderate hikes in the San Juan National Forest. After buying and consulting a map (David's favorite kind of souvenir), David decided we should head out Piedra Road to the Piedra River. The road was better than David thought it might be, but it still took quite awhile to get out to the Piedra Falls Trailhead. Along the way we saw lots of beautiful scenery and flowers.
I just had to take some pictures of the beautiful yellow flowers that I kept seeing along the road.
The hike to the falls was only about 1/2 mile from the parking area, and lots of people were enjoying the views and the water.
After we got back to the car, we ate peanut butter sandwiches in the parking lot, and then headed back to hike into a canyon on the Piedra River Trail. Along the way I took a few more pictures.
Piedra River
Next we began our hike into a canyon along the Piedra River. This trail was 12 miles long, and based on the time (about 3 PM), we decided we should only hike for about an hour before turning around to start back to the trailhead.
Small Aspen trees near the trailhead
The trail began higher above the river but eventually it went down along the river.
In some places there were high bluffs or cliffs about the river, and we saw some climbers climbing here.
Later we drove above the canyon and walked out on this rock.
Here we are almost back to the trailhead.
Before leaving the area, we stopped at a turnout to view the river canyon from above.
Looking upstream from the top of the canyon
Looking downstream into the canyon
Here you can see the climbers at the bottom of the rock wall.
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