9/22/18 The Trail to the Cliff Dwellings

Half of my day, I spend at the Contact Station.
The other half I spend in the Cliff Dwellings which means I have to hike up to almost the top of the cliff you see beyond this bridge. In this post, I wanted to give you a feel for the hike to the Cliff Dwellings.

After walking across that first long bridge over the West Fork of the Gila River I have to walk across many shorter bridges because the trail winds through Cliff Dweller Canyon and the Cliff Dweller Canyon stream runs down the canyon. What is interesting about this first bridge is that it runs over a dry wash. 

There are a few steps up before arriving at the next bridge which does have water running under it. Cliff Dweller stream begins at a spring which is about a mile further down the canyon than the trail.

As we travel farther down the trail, we continue to go up. Can you see the stream running below this bridge? 

Another bridge across the stream. See how beautiful  and green Cliff Dweller Canyon is?

At this bridge you can hear the water in the stream rushing down the banks. I haven't seen much of New Mexico, but many people who live in New Mexico tell me that hearing a flowing stream is unusual here, so they love to walk along the trail in this canyon.

See those log steps farther down the trail? That is the point at which the trail starts to be serious about climbing up to the Cliff Dwellings!

This squirrel stopped to look at me as I passed. His expression seems to say, are you serious? Why not just stay here in the cool canyon?

Another bridge

And another bridge...

On that bridge I stop and look up...I still have a long way to go! 

And another bridge

And another bridge

This part of the trail is one of my favorite parts because it reminds me of the trails at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois where I have been many times!

But I have NEVER seen a sign like this at Starved Rock! The sign means watch out for rattlesnakes! Perhaps the snakes can read because often when visitors report a rattlesnake on the trail, this is where it is! I feel kind of disappointed because I haven't seen a snake yet!

Then stone steps up to another bridge!

See the rock waterfall below the bridge? 

Now we're starting to get serious about going uphill!
These are what are called "trail stairs" because they're made of rock and very uneven!

More steps, but the sign says "Photo View," so let's see what that means!

It means that you can look across the canyon and see the Cliff Dwellings from a distance.

But we're not quite there yet, so let's start hiking up these trail stairs.

We are finally there! That's the path the winds around the outside of the Cliff Dwellings. Now I can take aa short rest before beginning the next part of my "work" day which involves answering questions and interpreting the dwellings for visitors. That will be my next post!