Pretty Pockets Loop

Rating: 5 miles. Strenuous in places, some minor rock scrambling, steep slopes here and there. Total elevation changes are 1300 feet. Some hiking is on slanted sandstone, requiring agility and ankle strength. Several spots have minor falling exposure, so experience on sandstone is desirable, but strong agile hikers should have no trouble regardless.

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This hike is in conjunction with Mindful Scramblers.
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The Candy Cliffs, aka Yant Flat, is a superb hiking area, but did you know there is another, separate set of cliffs nearby that are smaller, but still just as fine? Well there is, dubbed "Pretty Pockets," and like Yant there is a bit of old rock art to be found if one knows where to look. ;-)

It all sits on a large sandstone mesa jutting out to the south from the foot of the high mountains in the north. This sheer red rock mass achieves an 800 foot vertical dropoff on the south end, affording big horizon views in three directions from the tops of rather tall red cliffs. Zion is visually prominent, as is Washington and the lower Red Cliffs area directly below. Rising far above in the north is 10,000ft. Pine Valley Mountain, much closer than when down in town.

Be aware that there are several steep climbs of up to 200 feet on the hike, mostly on good footing, plus some other smaller climbs, so it adds up to a semi-serious hike. Note that the route does NOT climb any big cliffs! We approach from the north, where the cliffs are non-existent, and work our way out onto the mesa with relatively little hard work (hah!).

Meetup: Meet at the corner of Old Hwy. 91 and Silver Reef Road. Carpooling from there is no problem. Then it's 10 miles on a good graveled road and 1 mile on a softer sandy road to the trailhead. Driving time one way is about 30 minutes.

Prep: Be sure to bring some food and 2 bottles of water. Leather gloves can help, and a hiking pole for the steeper bits is good. Cameras are near-mandatory! :-)

Drive: Good 4x4's are needed for the last mile to the trail head, due to sand. Usually there's plenty of good vehicles to go around, and if it somehow isn't happening, we can just divert over to Yant Flat nearby, which doesn't have the soft sand approach. But most likely we'll just carpool in 2-3 big shiny 4x4's like always, no prob.

See you there! M+J :)

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Please Note The Following:

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.