Cathedral Arch

Monday, January 17, 2022 

Hike #7 of 2022.  4.0 miles / 29.0 miles YTD

The plan for today had been another combination off-road adventure with the Tacoma paired with a hike.  This one was just a little farther away than we normally travel for our hikes, since there are so many options close by, but I would still consider it close to home, in general.  Today we went to see the Cathedral Arch in the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area.  The road to this trail was another long gravel road off the main highway.  A high clearance vehicle probably wasn't really necessary until the trailhead but it is so nice to have the comfort of knowing our vehicle is pretty much going to get us anywhere we want to hike.  

We parked at the trail head and started on an OHV trail - but this one was much more of an ATV type OHV trail, than a truck trail.  We weren't really paying very close attention to AllTrails and missed the first turn off onto another branch of the OHV trail that takes you into a wash.  So we had to backtrack a little ways until we got back to it.  Once we got into the wash, as is usual, that is when the rock formations started.  This is the first trail around here that we have been on that has had legitimate caves (at least what we would consider caves; I would imagine there is specific geological criteria to qualify as a cave), and a good number of them.  We didn't really know exactly what we were looking for, or even what side of the trail it was going to be on, and again weren't paying close attention to AllTrails, so we passed the turn off again.  As we were heading back, after we turned around, Dan was looking up in the cliff and noticed a ladder.  So we assumed that must be the area we were looking for.  We weren't sure where the actual trail would be to get up there, or even if there was a well established trail.  So we decided to just start heading up the "bank".  Thankfully we didn't have to go up too far before meeting up with the trail (because it would have been a really hard climb).  At which point Dan said - I am surprised there wasn't a cairn anywhere.  Which then made me realize I had seen a cairn on the side of the wash but it seemed random so I assumed someone had just made one for no reason.  Turns out it was legitimate and was in fact marking the trail. 

Cave

Cave

Even following the switchback trail up was difficult, especially when we finally got up to the arch because then it was thick loose gravel.  It turns out this is actually a popular rock climbing area.  There were some anchors and ropes that had been left in the wall and there was a tote of gear stored in one of the "caves".  Since Summit is so good about climbing, we were able to get up to the first level but then decided it would not be safe to try to get up any higher with her.  Getting up is one thing but getting down is another.  

Cathedral Arch

Dan and Summit climbing up.



We did as much exploring as we were able to, within the limits of what was safe, before heading back down the trail - all the way to the wash this time (and to the cairn I had seen but not registered as legitimate).  By this time, it was already 4:45 so we realized we would not have time for the Tacoma adventure that we also had in mind and would have to save that for another day.


However, on the drive in, we noticed a couple of designated primitive camping areas along the side of the road.  On the drive out, we stopped at one that was at the top of a large hill.  The views from this site were absolutely incredible and we definitely want to spend a night in this site!  There are just a couple things we will need to purchase in order to be able to have a fully primitive site.  The sites we did our camping at this past season were walk up sites with no electricity.  But it was not too far to get back to a water pump and toilet.






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