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There were only a couple other cars in the Courthouse Towers parking lot as we prepped for
our hike under completely gray skies. I think that most people start at the Park Avenue
trailhead and hike downhill to the Courthouse Towers trailhead, arranging for a car shuttle
to pick them up. We didn't have that luxury, so we decided to start at the bottom. I always
prefer to hike up then down, rather than down then up.
Prepping at the Courthouse Towers trailhead
We crossed the park road then picked up the trail on the other side. Stones mark the
way down onto the vast slickrock, where most of the trail resides. Towering above us
were 100-foot high rock formations. Many of them looked like ships sailing on the ocean
to me, but the reason the trail is called Park Ave. is that it's supposed to look like
skyscrapers on a city block. Use your imagination.
Heading up the slickrock
Rock formation
The trail climbs ever so gently up the slickrock. Along the way are a few small potholes filled
with water. I saw several kids splashing water from one pothole to another. If I had known
better, I would have told them not to do that. I read later that, since water is so precious in
the desert, potholes are vital for sustaining some forms of life, and certainly splashing
them around is not advised. Since this is such a heavily trafficked area it's doubtful that the
water held much life, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a chance. Advise your kids to leave the
water alone!
Looks like a majestic ship to me
Looking back at Courthouse Towers
Walking up the trail feels like walking up a dried riverbed. Beneath the towering rocks we
saw birds soaring in the area, and a few lizards on the ground. Scattered here and there
were flowers, some bright red.
Looks like people looking out to me
Patterns in the rock
Rock tower
As you walk on the trail and admire the views above, don't forget to look down.
There are some beautiful patterns in the rock at your feet. Also, when the trail returns
to the dirt, make sure to stay on the trail to avoid stepping on cryptobiotic soil. This
is evidenced by small black dots on the ground, and can sometimes be right next to the trail.
This living soil takes years to form and is easily killed by people stepping on it.
More patterns in the rock
Layers of rock
Looking back from near the Park Ave. trailhead
The trail leading up to the Park Ave. trailhead starts to climb steeply, with steps in place
near the top. We climbed up, intending to eat lunch at the top. Unfortunately, it was very
windy at the top and there were no good places to stop to eat there. We retraced our steps back
down a bit and had lunch by the trail, being careful not to disrupt any cryptobiotic soil.
Cryptobiotic soil
Cryptobiotic soil
Cryptobiotic soil
Cryptobiotic soil
After lunch, we returned back to the Courthouse Towers trailhead the way we came.
Desert flower
Desert flowers
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