Owl Canyon

Back to Owl Canyon was the mantra this week for the Portal Rodeo Hiking club.  Lower elevation hikes in the Pelocillo Mountains are especially attractive in the winter with hiking at warmer elevations and it was another sunny day in the valley as 13 hikers and a single dog began the trip up Owl Canyon.  About 1.5 miles in the group stopped at the dam for a break and group photograph.  Lunch was below a large spire in the canyon with the group scattered up the hillside eating and enjoying the views.  The trip covered 6.6 miles and the map for the hike may be found in the sidebar or through this link.

North ridge line in Owl Canyon

Photograph of Portal Rodeo Hiking Club at the dam in Owl Canyon by Pat Owens

Lunch in Owl Canyon

Owl Canyon, Peloncillo Mountains with the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club

A beautiful winter hike in the Peloncillo Mountains is Owl Canyon and was this weeks excursion with Portal Rodeo Hiking Club. After crossing private land with the owners permission a group of 17 hikers reached public land and continued up canyon.  The canyon narrows significantly, twisting and turning as one gains elevation.  After about 1.5 miles an old silted in concrete dam is reached which provided a nice rest stop with views of the steep canyon rising up on either side.  Continuing up canyon past several forks in the stream bed with volcanic tuff walls rising on each side the hike finished at an interesting stone spire just above the stream bed.  Total distance traveled, about 6 miles and total elevation change, approximately 1000 ft.  The map may be found in the sidebar or here.

Echinocereus rigidissimus (rainbow cactus) in Owl Canyon

Juniper with a single surviving limb

Volcanic tuff spire along the trail