Middle Eagle Canyon. Finally.

April 12, 2025

Finally. After having twice failed at hiking the middle section of Eagle Canyon, once because of poor planning and again due to illness, I was back and ready for another go. I’d done a little exploring nearby the previous day and then camped on the rim of Eagle Canyon, and I awoke to a colorful sunrise that cast an eerie glow on the landscape.

Sunrise

I hiked into the canyon and for the first little while followed a trickle of water from springs, but after that it was mostly a long, sandy slog. As I explored the cliffs and ledges I came across some branches leaning against a cliff that I theorized were part of a shelter. I found it interesting that somebody would presumably be backpacking this section.

Spotlighting on Molen Reef/Coal Cliffs

In the canyon near a spring

Branches, probably part of a shelter

Small dryfall

The Carmel Formation gave way to Navajo Sandstone as the canyon walls grew taller. The surfaces also seemed more likely to contain rock art but there was a relative absence of it, except in a couple of places. In one place there were some circle petroglyphs with bear tracks inside the larger one, and a Tom Allred inscription from around 1899 that somebody had tried to scratch out. The panel was directly above the watercourse and had been eroded by sediment and debris from flash floods. I’m surprised there’s anything left of it.

Start of the Navajo Sandstone

Holey rocks

Plenty of patina but no petroglyphs

Not much patina but there are some glyphs here!

Not sure what this is

Circles, bear prints, and a Tom Allred inscription

Eroded bear print petroglyphs

Vandalized Tom Allred inscription

1899?

Eroded glyphs just above the watercourse

More indistinct petroglyphs

I also saw some pictographs that included a couple of unusual stick figures.

Reddish squiggle

Stick-like figure

Bug man

Red triangles

I continued through the canyon having a particular turnaround point in mind but not knowing whether I’d feel like going that far. I reached a narrow, slotty section that I wasn’t expecting and that made up my mind for me–inside was a debris pile that smelled like a mix of sewage and skunk. Beyond that I could see some boulders lodged in a tight spot.

Probably a petroglyph

Tall pine tree in the canyon

Pine tree and overhanging cliff

Budding tree

Narrow stretch of canyon

Boulder wedged overhead

Smelly flood debris

Boulder jam ahead

I decided to just turn around there and head back. I did investigate a bypass around the slot but it looked a bit spicy. I made good time going back the way I’d come, and stopped for a nice rest and lunch break along the way. When I got back to the truck I’d clocked over 11 miles, the longest hike I’ve done in over four years. It had been fairly warm but not too hot for me–I think getting into better shape over the past few months has also helped me tolerate heat better. It felt great not only to simply be able to do a hike this long again, but also to check off this to-do item that’s been on my list for years.

Above the slot