TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
Various crude signs through the years have marked the junction between Cottonwood Canyon Road and Marble Canyon Road:
The next three pictures show views of some of the hillsides and small peaks along the early part of the road:
4WD is usually necessary to drive all the way to the end of the road, but we were hiking it:
A massive cave along the road with a hiker for size comparison:
Passing by some very colorful hillsides:
Heading into the 2nd Narrows of Cottonwood Canyon:
The walls of the canyon transition from dirt hillsides to solid rock:
A picture of Steve standing in the 2nd Narrows of Cottonwood Canyon:
The 2nd Narrows are probably the scenic highlight of Cottonwood Canyon, although they are not slot narrows in any way:
Particularly this beautiful rock wall with veins of white as seen in the next two pictures:
Heading out of the 2nd Narrows and looking back:
A long stretch of open desert that we passed through:
A short time later, Lower Spring appeared with water flowing in an abundance, seen in the next two pictures:
Now that we had left the road behind, we looked for paths that avoided the thick and heavy brush:
This section looked like we were going to have to pass through a thick wall of impenetrable brush:
But we spotted a well worn path that cut through the brush:
We also went up onto the hillside in order to escape the thick brush:
Once again, by looking around carefully we were able to find a path to make the difficult bushwhacking easier:
A small group of trees growing in Lower Spring:
After Lower spring, this was the view as we headed further up Cottonwood Canyon:
Here we have reached Middle Spring, which is a lot smaller than the first one:
However, there are a few towering trees found in the wash:
Easily avoiding a section of trees by staying to one side:
The springs were not much for scenic beauty in the late Winter, as they did not have their green leaves:
The distance between Lower Spring and Middle Spring was very short. But the distance between Middle Spring and Cottonwood Springs was a lot greater:
After a while, flowing water appeared once again next to the trail:
This water signaled that we had arrived at Cottonwood Springs:
More trees growing in this area due to the abundance of water:
And more thick brush with the potential to cause bruises and cuts:
The trail heading through Cottonwood Springs first bypassed the thick brush by climbing up the hillside to the right:
Looking down into Cottonwood Springs. Imagine how beautiful this scene would be if the brush was covered with green leaves:
Water plants growing along the banks of the creek and over the water:
The creek cuts a path straight through these trees:
Quite a few trees were growing in this area:
The trail emerged once again into the open, this time on the left hillside:
Looking back, you can see how the trail follows along the rock wall of the canyon above the brushy areas:
Now we are at the end of Cottonwood Springs as the desert terrain opens back up:
The next five photos show you the lost cabin which is located somewhere in Cottonwood Springs:
Plant scenery which was taken close to the lost cabin:
The next two photos show you some Coyote Gourds which are plentiful in Cottonwood Springs:
Beyond the final spring, there is more open desert scenery with snow-capped peaks in the distance:
