A friend at work told me about a hike called Water Canyon. Cory and I decided to see what it was all about . We ended up not having quite enough time to finish the hike...so we'll be going back as soon as we can. You find Water Canyon by making the first left turn you can into Colorado City from SR59. Follow the road all the way through the outskirts of the city until you get to Water Canyon Road. If you reach the city park, you've gone too far. Follow Water Canyon Road until it dead ends...there is plenty of parking and the trail starts right there.
Colorado City is right at the base of beautiful sandstone cliffs. The trail starts from desert sand, cacti and scrub oak and climbs gradually up into the towering sandstone. The hike is easy with a few places to scramble up. My friend told me his 6 year old did the hike with him. My 6 year old would have thought it was too long, but it was easy enough for a young child. 
About 30 minutes up the trail is a massive field of blackberries and grapes growing wild. The trail winds through the brambles and you can hear the water running underneath. None of the berries looked ripe....and didn't taste ripe either. :) 
A cool looking natural arch in the cliffs above the trail. My friend says the trail eventually leads up there. That's a trail we'd like to have time to travel in the next little while. 
At the point we had to turn around for the day, we looked back and saw this lush valley hidden in the desert between walls of beautifully sculpted sandstone. What a beautiful world. :)
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