Top of the World & The Cisco Desert

[IntrepidXJ]

Yesterday we decided to stick close to home. Amanda had mentioned that she wanted to head up the Top of the World trail soon, so we headed that way for a while. We also explored a few trails and roads I had not been on in the Cisco Desert along the way. Here's a few pictures.

End of the road, after following the West Cisco Wash trail which ended up above McGraw Bottom.
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172422-2/IMG_8348.jpg

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172425-2/IMG_8352.jpg

Headed back on the little used two-track
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172431-2/IMG_8358.jpg

Next stop was McGraw Bottom where we came across the remains of some old stone buildings
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172437-2/IMG_8362.jpg

I headed up the Kokopelli bike trail a little ways until it turned into single-track that's closed to vehicles. Nice view over the Colorado River
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172443-2/IMG_8371.jpg

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172446-2/IMG_8374.jpg

With as many times I have driven Utah 128, I realized that I never stopped at the old gas station in Dewey before. I fixed that this trip.
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172452-2/IMG_8385.jpg

The actual bridge may be gone, but this painting lives on
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172458-2/IMG_8401.jpg

Before reaching the start of the Top of the World trail, we made a quick detour down Cowskin Canyon to the Dolores River.

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172464-2/IMG_8408.jpg

As expected, this time of the year, the river is a little too high to cross
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172467-2/IMG_8410.jpg

[IntrepidXJ]

The Dolores Triangle Road on the other side of the river
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172473-2/IMG_8417.jpg

Amanda drove my Jeep from the start of Top of the World to the top. Here she is on one of the bigger ledges on the trail
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172479-2/IMG_8427.jpg

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172485-2/IMG_8431.jpg

We had lunch at the overlook and took a few photos. Amanda on the overhang.
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172488-2/IMG_8459.jpg

Now it's my turn
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172383-2/IMG_8489.jpg

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172392-2/IMG_8496.jpg

I drove the trail down and we started making our way home. However, we checked out a few more trails in the Cisco Desert on our way.

End of another trail, this time East of Cisco Wash
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172404-2/IMG_8561.jpg

This wasn't a very well traveled trail...
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172410-2/IMG_8572.jpg

http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172416-2/IMG_8578.jpg

Some flowers we found along the way before reaching the highway
http://www.myxj.net/g2/d/172248-2/IMG_8617.jpg

It was a good half day of exploring some little used roads and also making it up to Top of the World :)

[offpiste]

:2thumbs:

[oldno7]

Well done Randy......

[accadacca]

Good way to start the week. :popcorn:

[ScoutColorado]

:2thumbs: Nice views! Never seen that bridge painting before.
Randy, I love how you poke around areas that other people just drive by. You find some cool stuff.

[Cirrus2000]

Randy, I love how you poke around areas that other people just drive by. You find some cool stuff.

x2 - Great stuff. :2thumbs:

[Hatchcanyon]

Great!

We saw this painting at the gas station for the first time last year in August.

The bigger ledge on Top of the World - trail is nor that far away from th beginning? How about the trail 2/3 up to the end?

[IntrepidXJ]

The bigger ledge on Top of the World - trail is nor that far away from th beginning? How about the trail 2/3 up to the end?

I think something got lost in translation, because I'm not following what you are asking?

[Hatchcanyon]

Might be so! :-)

The ledge in your picture: Is that point only a short distance from the beginning of Top of the World - Trail? And how difficult is the trail farther up, lets say at 2/3 of the full distance?