14 Moses
A route developed by climbers for some of their favorite climbs, but also a nice hike for non-climbers
Start: End of Taylor Canyon Road
Distance: 2 miles; lollipop loop
Maps: Trails Illustrated Island in the Sky and USGS Upheaval Dome
Finding the trailhead: You need a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach this trailhead. To find the Taylor Canyon Road, get on the White Rim Road, which turns off of State Highway 313, 6.4 miles north of the Island in the Sky Entrance Station. Drive 18.2 miles to the park boundary and then 2.5 more to the Taylor Canyon Road. Drive to the end of Taylor Canyon Road, park in the parking area, and walk less than a quarter mile east to the point where both the Moses Trail and the Alcove Spring Trail start and end. GPS: 38° 28' 30.45" N / 109° 55' 8.5" W
The Hike
This trail climbs up and around the Zeus and Moses spires and then goes through the little pass between Moses and a smaller spire called Aphrodite (unnamed on the maps), all darlings of the rock-climbing fraternity. The route gets you up close and personal to these awe-inspiring formations.
It’s a healthy climb to the base of the formations. Use caution hiking the loop around them, but if you start thinking this is risky, think of the people who climb all the way to the top. They make the official trail seem like a mall walk.