The Citadel, Muley Point, and Leprechaun Slot

@ Muley Point on the south edge of Cedar Mesa. Hector photo.

The highlights of day 2 of our trip to Cedar Mesa included short hikes to ruins in Road Canyon, and a quick trip to the Goosenecks of the San Juan and Muley Point.

Despite a sunny forecast for the weekend, we woke up to stormy skies that brought rain and lightning. The fast-moving storm threatened to end our hikes early, but by the afternoon, thankfully the skies cleared.

The Fallen Roof ruin in Road Canyon consists of a few granaries that by themselves may not be worth the trouble. But the thin slabs of sandstone that have spalled off the roof make for an interesting scene that has become very popular for photographers.

The biggest surprise at Fallen Roof were these negative hand prints on the ceiling. Very cool.

Fallen Roof ruin.

Our next stop was the Citadel ruins in lower Road Canyon. The ruins are hidden under a ledge at the end of a stone peninsula extending into the canyon. Walking along a very narrow neck of land is the only way to get there. Some believe that the Citadel was a defensive stronghold where a group of Anasazi could retreat to and easily defend themselves when threatened.

The narrow path to the Citadel ruin in Road Canyon. With clear views in all directions and a single entrance that is easy to defend, it's easy to imagine the Citadel being an strategic stronghold.

Meanders in lower Road Canyon. The approach hike to the Citadel is quite exposed along the canyon rim. As we started hiking, dark clouds and lightning rolled in. Just when we were ready to duck under a ledge for shelter, the weather let up. With binoculars, I was able spot several Anasazi ruins along the many ledges along the canyon walls.

Eros and Hector storm the Citadel.

The Citadel ruins in lower Road Canyon.

A closer look at the craftsmanship of the Citadel.

After the ruin hikes, we relaxed back at camp for a while. After realizing Eros and Hector had never seen nearby Muley Point, Mexican Hat, the San Juan goosenecks, or Monument Valley, we hit the road and headed south.

A San Juan gooseneck.

It's almost sunset at Muley Point.

The San Juan River gorge with Monument Valley on the horizon.

The final day of our trip was all about getting back home, but we couldn't just drive by the Leprechaun slot without stopping for a couple of hours to check it out.

Leprechaun Canyon is a nice diversion if you find yourself in the North Wash area near Lake Powell.  Although technical canyoneering gear is required to descend the entire canyon, much of the canyon may be seen from hiking up from the bottom.

After exploring a dead-end west fork, we continued up the main canyon where the walls promptly closed in.

Eventually the main fork narrows to a deep, dark slot that on this trip was flooded with mucky waist-high water.

Eros exits a particularly dark and wet section of Leprechaun slot.

How far you get up the Leprechaun slot will depend on how skinny you are and your climbing/stemming skills. We made it through this ultra-skinny section and chimneyed up to a mid-canyon position, but soon came to a spot that seemed impossible to ascend. We also explored up an east fork, but didn't make it up very far.

With Eros and Hector's busy schedules, I am extremely grateful we were able to work this trip in. I needed it.