See linked document for full description of this hike. Hike Overview: The hike begins at the parking area just to the east of the AHRA Ruby Mountain Recreation Area Campground at the entrance into the Brown’s Canyon National Monument. We first climb on the trail up the east ridge of Ruby Mountain to nearly the saddle where the Turret Trail leaves to the east. From there we follow the Turret Trail as it traverses some gullies and climbs, steeply in spots, the west shoulder of Mount Dorothy, before descending significantly to Little Cottonwood Creek Gulch. We follow the gulch a short distance west and, climbing a short hill of loose rock out from Little Cottonwood Creek, we traverse a long flat meadow for 0.6 mile, with two dry creek bed drainage crossings (not difficult), to the intersection of the River Bench Trail. We continue south for another 0.3 mile through the southeast end of the meadow and short drop into Middle Cottonwood Wash. The entire bench walk drops slowly to our terminus at the wash (you will notice the climbing on the way back out). We continue hiking east in the wash on a lot of hard sand between rugged Granite cliffs and through groves of Cottonwoods at a mild grade on the open canyon floor (not rocky) for 0.9 mile to a good set of switchbacks out the south wall of the canyon 0.3 mile to a benchtop. There are lovely unusual views from the benchtop. We soon depart the trail to the west (at N38 degrees, 43.553 minutes - W106 degrees, 02.337 minutes) on open benchtop to granite outcrops and a great place for views and lunch. We will return to the vehicles via the same route.
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