Cave Spring Trail at Canyonlands National Park

Long trips through the uncharted wilderness, cooking steak and beans for dinner and sleeping under the stars, the old cowboys of the wild west had life figured out. Now ignore all the dangerous animals and life-threatening challenges they faced and focus on the simplicity of living that kind of lifestyle. Having trouble with your imagination? Lucky for you when you visit Canyonlands National Park you have the opportunity to view an old cowboy camp and picture that lifestyle through the lens of history.

The Trail

The Cave Springs Trail is arguably the best short trail in Canyonlands. It’s relatively easy with a few fun challenges thrown in. The dirt road to the trailhead is well marked and easy to find. Once you get to the trailhead head in a clockwise direction. The trail is a loop so don’t worry about missing anything, you’ll end back where you started.

Cowboy Camp

In less than a couple minutes you will stumble on the remnants of an old cowboy camp dating back to the 1800’s. The furniture may not be original but it is recreated to accuracy based on the first photographs they found of the area in the early 1900’s. Check out the char that cakes the rocks. That deep dark black only comes from thousands of meals made over an open campfire. Delicious, smoky, campfire food… *drools*

Up You Go

The cowboys and cattle that once roamed the land have moved on since the creation of the National Park. So once you get your fill of history its time for you to mosey on down the trail a well.

Your next stop is what the trail is named after, Cave Spring. However, it’s really nothing to write home about. The drippings from the overhanging rock provided a source of water for the Cowboys, but it’s not much to look at. Plus this spot is a hotbed for mosquitoes so move quickly through this part.

When you get past the mosquito-ridden cave, you’ll come to an interesting object you don’t often see out in nature. Thanks to some cowboy ingenuity, ladders help you to complete the loop. The ladders are the only way to actually complete this loop. If you chicken out, you’ll have to retrace your steps back to the car. But come on, live a little and drag yourself up these rickety ladders and enjoy the panorama view that awaits you.

Trail Tips

• As with most trails, go early to avoid the crowds. In doing so you’ll also avoid the hot sun, although a lot of this trail is shaded by the overhanging rocks.
• Bring bug spray or mosquito repellent. We didn’t experience any mosquitoes in Canyonlands except on this trail and those suckers were hungry!
• Only one person on the ladder at a time. The ladders are safe and are well taken care of but they flex as you climb them which makes your nerves sweat a little.

Now saddle up and hit the trail!

Chad Albright

Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.