Fay Canyon
Today we wanted an easy hike on our “day off” and looking at the AllTrails app, and the Fay Canyon hike seemed to fit the bill. Fay Canyon proper hike is a 2.6 mile walk up a red sand trail that crosses a few rocky washes. At the very top after the sign warning that the trail isn’t maintained beyond that point, you can scramble up a side trail either to the left or to the right. We spent time exploring both sides and found that one wraps around on top of a rocky point. The views at the end of both sides are outstanding and worth the extra effort if you’re wearing good hiking shoes and don’t mind some exposure.
On our way back down we took a side trail that headed up towards the canyon wall and ended at a sandstone arch. It’s a bit off the beaten path and we found it deserted.
Boynton Canyon
Boynton Canyon Trail was somewhere around 7 miles with our extra credit exploring added on. It isn’t a terribly demanding hike until the very end where you climb up onto a rock overlook to admire the surrounding canyon. Admire we did! I can see where this hike gets a lot of use in hotter times because you’re walking under the tree canopy for most of the hike. The trees along this canyon are beautiful and the surrounding walls jut straight up. The only bummer of this hike is that the first mile or so runs parallel to the Enchantment Resort and you don’t feel very natural.
Looks like you had a great day off. Isn’t every day a day off now?