The original plan to end our epic road trip was to hike the Ruby Crest Trail, but Moab was too hard to leave. In the end, our backpacking trip turned into a 7.5 mile preview of the Ruby Crest Trail and I can’t wait to see the rest of it!

We hiked from Road’s End Trailhead to Liberty Pass and back. Not being one to hike down a pass to turn around a half hour later and hike back up it, we opted to find a sheltered vista with a view of the Ruby Crest instead of hiking down to Liberty Lake. We were on the trail in mid-September and the leaves were starting to change. Combine that with glacially carved valleys and dog-friendly Forest Service land and I’m in love!

Left to Right: The view into Lamoille Canyon from Liberty Pass; Click for a larger map; Liberty Lake

The entire Ruby Crest Trail is 34 miles from Lamoille Canyon to Harrison Pass. If you hike north to south you lose elevation overall. I’d like to come back in the fall to hike the entire trail and enjoy the golden aspen, but then there is the real possibility of snow. Decisions…decisions…

Even if you don’t want to hike the entire Ruby Crest Trail, Lamoille Canyon is amazing to explore. There are quite a few lakes from Road’s End to day hike or do a weekend trip. In the fall the leaves are changing. Strap on your snow-shoes in the winter. In the spring waterfalls are plummeting down the canyon walls and wildflowers are blanketing the ground. Plus, the summer isn’t too hot since you’re at high elevation. Not a shabby destination or bookend to an epic road trip!

Happy,
Trails

If you missed the rest of the epic road trip join me for visiting the Grand Tetons and dogging about Moab not once, but twice!