I am doing a Nankoweap hike in a few days beginning at the House Rock Valley parking area.  I drive to the high access area off Forest Road 610 to do a day hike down this trail tomorrow morning and to cache some water at the trailhead for my upcoming hike.  The drive here is easy and takes about twenty minutes.  The views are absolutely stunning as this area is only a few miles north of Point Imperial.  I make camp at the car parking area right next to the edge.

Trail sign 10-6-2009 @ 3:55	Trail sign 10-6-2009 @ 3:35	My campsite with great views 10-6-2009 @ 4:25

     It was snowing with some ice pellets last night, so I had better take my rain gear with me on my hike today.

An icy morning 10-7-2009 @ 7:02	Starting down the trail 10-7-2009 @ 7:58

     Just down from the start is a branch in the trail.  The right fork leads up to a viewing area with great inner Canyon views.  I take the left fork this morning.  The trail is a little icy at the start, so I take my time.  After a descent of a few hundred feet, there is a small climb to the top of a hill.

An icy trail 10-7-2009 @ 8:00	National Forest sign 10-7-2009 @ 8:08	Going uphill 10-7-2009 @ 8:09

     The trail then descends to a meadow at the half-way point.  Someone has gone to a lot of effort to build a totally unneeded cairn in the middle of the meadow.  There are great views to the north of House Rock Valley.  After walking about a quarter-mile across the meadow, the trail starts a more rapid descent until reaching the official trailhead at Saddle Mountain.

Meadow at the half-way point 10-7-2009 @ 8:41	Cairn in the meadow 10-7-2009 @ 8:47	House Rock Valley 10-7-2009 @ 8:53

     I am surprised to find several signs here.

Official trailhead sign 10-7-2009 @ 9:21	Official trailhead sign 10-7-2009 @ 9:21	Official trailhead sign 10-7-2009 @ 9:22

     There are numerous small campsites here and the views looking down the Canyon are really good.

Saddle Mountain 10-7-2009 @ 9:41	Looking down Canyon 10-7-2009 @ 9:41

     This day hike is two miles one-way and took me less than an hour and a half each way.  Even if you are not caching water for a Nankoweap hike, this is a really pleasant day hike with fantastic views of House Rock Valley and the inner Canyon.

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