Inchworms and Toadstools - Drive and Hike
Details
Rating: 3 miles and 400 feet of climbing across two separate hikes. Semi-strenuous in many spots, but mostly easy to moderate.
Note: The Inchworm Arch hike needs 4-wheel drive vehicles to reach the trailhead. if you need a ride, try asking in the comments and maybe someone with a honking big 4x4 will have room for you! :)
This hike is in conjunction with Red Rock Hikers
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This time it's a car safari to two short hikes: The Toadstools and Inchworm Arch.
The Toadstools hike is under 2 miles round-trip with less than 300 feet of climbing, and it goes to a spectacular set of eroded rock formations that do indeed look a lot like toadstools.
The trail is heavily beaten and easy. Be aware, though, that once at the Toadstools we're planning to do a little extra credit hiking on the hills just above them, amounting to perhaps one more mile with 300 feet of climbing, at most. It's just some extra thrown in to let you know it's a real hike.
The Inchworm Arch hike is under one mile total with very little climbing. However the local terrain is said to be most interesting to explore, so probably we'll do some of that while we're there.
The arch itself is pretty impressive, so we'll leave that to the imagination for now. ;-)
To get to these hikes involves 4-5 hours of round-trip highway
driving, and the Inchworm hike has an 8 mile sandy road drive that requires a good 4x4 vehicle. (16 miles round trip).
Finally comes a return directly through Zion National Park, where photographers may be able to get good late afternoon shots of the turning leaves. (Those with cars may optionally go back the faster way if they wish).
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In short, it's a low-pressure all-day jaunt across Southern Utah, to visit a couple of places that usually get missed by most. It'll be fun!
M+J :)
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Prep: Food and water. Sun hat. Camera. Layers for the changeable temps of November in the desert.
Meet: 6:30am at The Davis Market in La Verkin.
Drive: It's 109 highway miles (out past Kanab) to the Toadstools Trailhead, right off of the highway. After that hike it's 44 paved miles, and 8 more miles on a sandy 4x4 road to Inchworm Arch.
On the way back we'll detour through Zion National park. From the Inchworm it's 50 paved miles to Zion's East entrance.
Then we just drive through Zion and back to Dixie.
Note that the trip through Zion is for the purpose of leaf-peeping and general sightseeing. It's an optional return route. Those with their own cars are welcome to return via the southern route, which is somewhat quicker.
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See you there! M+J :)
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Please note:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.