Running desert canyons is always an amazing time. Grand vistas, desert scrub growth, sandy trails - trail running desert canyons has it all. And thanks to a little discovery I made, it now also has wild horses! Yep, on the western slope of Colorado resides over 36,000 acres of public land that have been set aside as a wild horse preserve. With no cars or mountain bikes allowed, the beautiful singletrack trails are perfect for trail running.
The Wild Horses checking me out...
There are miles and miles of remote, empty, desert trails for one to run on in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area, so pick your fancy. Remember, however, that this is remote desert country. There is no to little water, the trails are rocky and very steep in some areas, the trails are poorly marked, and there are no people - so make sure you have some really good trail and route-finding skills. It is easy to get lost here!
Looking down into the Main Canyon
From the parking area, the main set of trails is found by going through the gate and up and over a small hill. From the top of the hill, you will be looking down into the Main Canyon. Orient yourself, because things can get tricky from here. The "trail" drops into the main canyon and then heads north. However, because this is a wild horse preserve, there are hundreds of horse trails that wander in between the willows and desert scrub. The main thing to keep in mind is that the main trail stays in the Main Canyon. The Spring Creek trail is really good, and VERY steep. It runs for 5 miles one way and gains several hundred feet as it winds its way up Spring Creek and eventually connects to the Hoodoo Trail. There is a great loop combining the Coal Creek trail with the Hoodoo Trail with Spring Creek. They say it is 14 miles, but it will feel like 20.
The trail signs... hard to follow with all the horse trails around...
If you want to keep going, stay in the Main Canyon and follow it for another 4 miles until you get to the Cottonwood Canyon trail. This is another excellent trail running west up Cottonwood Creek as it climbs up to the mesas.
Either way, this is one of the ONLY places in the United States where you can run with wild horses. It is a must on any trail runners agenda. The adventure level is high because of the remote setting and lack of clearly marked trails, as well as the added bonus of running along side a herd of wild horses.
Cool rock formations... lots of boulders for the boulderer...
The numbers for those who care....
Beginning Elevation: ~5,000 feet
High Point: ~6,400 feet
Total climbing and descending: ~3,000 feet
Mileage: ~8-20 miles roundtrip
Other People Factor: none
Time: 2-5 hours depending on how often you stop to enjoy the views...
Looking back down Spring Canyon... the "trail" is in the scrub somewhere...
The wild horses hanging out...
What would a run be without desert flowers?
