Woke early, ate breakfast and headed out. It’s still the weekend and we want to go hike the Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch Loop trail before it gets too crowded and too warm. We get there with only a few cars in the parking lot and head out to the trail, which wanders through Golden Canyon before meandering through the Badlands. We had a great time, wandering between the hills, up and over some ridges, and generally enjoying the different formations and scenery.

A trail branch headed toward Zabriskie Point (a don’t miss in the guide book) and we figured it was worth a try. Only a couple hundred yards away from the road and the parking lot, connected by a paved trail, it was pretty busy. Three times (twice by the same person) we were asked to take photos for hyperactive foreign tourists, which we pleasantly obliged. That was enough for us, so we headed back into the canyons, off the blacktop path and into the sand. It took only a minute or two to leave any sort of crowds behind so that it seemed we had the place to ourselves once again.

Working our way down the wash we scrambled down boulders and were treated to an expansive view of the valley, and of the gully that is hidden from the road. Back at the parking lot where we started, there were more cars but it still wasn’t crowded like yesterday.

Heading back toward the RV we detoured across the street from the campground and rode up the road to explore Mosaic Canyon. 2.4 miles up a rocky washboard gravel road almost proved to be too much for the motorcycle, but we made it and started hiking into the canyon. Again, we passed through the bulk of the crowds until only a few people appeared every now and again. We followed the trail until it seemed to end at a dry waterfall, about 20′ tall. Just about to turn around, we spotted a couple coming down what looked like a side trail who told us that there was more ahead. Following their advice, we headed on up the trail with more rock scrambling and boulder crossing. We ended up at a 50′ stone wall, polished smooth by years of water flowing down it (though it was bone dry now). The only ones there, it was a great place to sit and enjoy a bit of a snack (since it’s past lunch time now and we haven’t yet eaten) and soak in the silence. After a bit we begin to hear the echo of voices and it’s time to head on back down.

The ride down the road is so much smoother than going up, fortunately. It’s only a few minutes before we’re back at the RV, eat lunch and then chatting for a bit with our neighbors on either side. A trio of women on motorcycles pull up, find a spot, and park across from us. They’re on a road trip from somewhere – rare to see a group of only women. The gas station has run out of gas.

After the late lunch we have a few light leftovers for supper, sit outside to watch the sun set, and then head in for an early bed time.