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Looking for recommendation for good hikes in the Red area. Apparently, the wife does not consider approaches to sport crags to be hiking. Scenic spots or fun loops would be optimal. I'd have my kids (7 and 5) with me, but I'm fairly sure they are nuclear powered and should not be the limiting factor.

Thanks for your input.

Auxer Ridge is pretty awesome, it offers spectacular views and moderate hiking for the kids. If you're looking for something close to water, Rock Bridge trail is beautiful and also moderate hiking. It's also the only arch in the gorge that goes over a body of water, making it an actual bridge. Have fun, and be safe out there!

It sounds like you want easier then the approach? If so, Natural bridge is decent. Pretty short and well maintained.

Otherwise the approaches to the trad crags are fun.

Wall of Denial. Great hike great climbing.

Player wrote:It sounds like you want easier then the approach? If so, Natural bridge is decent. Pretty short and well maintained.

Otherwise the approaches to the trad crags are fun.

Sorry should have been more specific. Doesn't need to be easy - but we're not planning on climbing. Just come down and enjoy the area for other purposes (which is an alien concept to me). The kids and I did Natural Bridge a while back, it's nice but way too crowded of a scene for my tastes.

Grey's Arch has a nice trail with the huge arch at the end. The amphitheater by the arch is spectacular, and there is a nice scramble to use beginner climbing skills to get on top of the arch.Go up to get under the arch and then hike left to find the base start to scramble up. A pretty walk and payoff at the end. But there will be other folks going to the arch. ....well... yeah. Its popular for a reason. Its cool !

Go to Auxier ridge. You can climb to the top of courthouse, and play around in other areas. The climbing is super casual but bring a rope and harness to get down of courthouse safely, especially if your wife isn't kosher with the whole free soloing/down climbing thing.

Have you considered divorce and adoption??

+1 for Wall of Denial hike.

Even if you're not climbing, the kids will enjoy playing around near the cliffline, plus there will be few to no people there. It's a flat river hike the whole way (swimming), and you'll pass by a cave. Overall pretty stimulating for the kids. But it's not a loop, so you'll be heading back.

cliftongifford wrote:Rock Bridge trail is beautiful and also moderate hiking. It's also the only arch in the gorge that goes over a body of water, making it an actual bridge.

There are other natural bridges in the Red, but this one is the only one with its own trail. It's probably the biggest, though.