Trailblazers starting down Crucifix Canyon. [photo by Debbi]

Terry, Li, Anna, Nancy, Robyn, Greg, Bruce, Tom, Robert, Aniko, Lisa, Peggy, Jason.

Our hike started at the vehicle gate at the head of Crucifix Canyon. So many vehicles were already parked here that we could barely find room for our vehicles. We were surprised to find that the trail was much fainter than we had expected. Most of the other hikers were doing the Black Cross Mesa trail. We met only a small party of four coming back up the canyon as we went down.

Anna and Nancy. [photo by Li]

Narrow spot in canyon. [photo by Li]

Nancy, Tom, Aniko in background . [photo by Li]

Taking a rest, part way up the south side of the canyon. The bat guano cave in distance.

Robert, Debbie, Aniko, Robyn, Anna. [photo by Li]

Robert and Terry crawling through hole. [photo by Li]

After exiting the canyon, we had planned to head east on higher ground, then hike north to see the double arches near the head of the canyon. We soon realized that the terrain was rougher than we anticipated, forcing us to skip the arches. Instead, we continued east to FR 80. After some hard hiking through a brushy canyon, we finally reached the road and an easy quarter mile walk back to the vehicles. Some of us had hiked the canyon a few years earlier, but we all agreed that it was prettier than we remembered.

Nancy, Bruce, Anna. [photo by Li]