Sand Canyon Loop and Lizard Head Trail hikes

We did two very different hikes this weekend. The Sand Canyon Loop on Saturday was so beautiful and different from anything we had done or seen while in Durango. It was just west of Cortez and Mesa Verde in the Canyons of the Ancients. So glad we started early by 9 am. It did get up to about 90 by the time we ended our 5 mile trek. We saw lots of lizards and also some Indian ruins tucked into the cliffs. Afterwards we ate burgers at Sonic in Cortez. I don't know if a burger ever tasted so good! I 'super sized' the pix below, so be sure to click on each one if you want more detail.

Sunday, we headed over towards the Lizard Head Pass which is about halfway b/w Dolores and Telluride. One of the things I really enjoyed about the drive was the Dolores River Valley as we approached the pass. I wish I had taken pix of the valley. So, so green and beautiful with the river flowing through it, reddish cliffs on one side and green mountains on the other. This hike started at about 10,700 feet with 1600 feet elevation gain. We did not make it to the peak of what is called Black Face, but we did get to the top of the ridge! It was about a 7.5 mile hike. I call this a "2 sandwich hike".

About 1/4 of the way up, we had views of Trout Lake:

This is where we paused for Sandwich #1. (and on the way down for #2!) I remember I said, "Wm, we are NOT going all the way up there, are we?" He said, "Naw, see the trail heads over to the right of this." He was wrong.

 Yes, here we are, almost at the top of all those rocks! BUT, what a view!

This is actually at the top, walking along the ridge, which was about 50 yards wide. This is where we decided to turn around.

Big smiles for all the magnificent views!

Click on the picture to see both of us!!!