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 It’s February, a month of romance. Or is it? The Hidden Valley Trail, like any relationship, has its ups and downs, steep ascents, blissful meadows, lovely vistas, but sometimes drop-offs and failed summits. And, like any relationship, a trail needs care and maintenance. Take your time, respect everyone’s abilities, celebrate the high points. On this particular winter morning, the trail was dry, the wind calm, the sky bright, and my spirits were high. For me, friendship, hope, kindness, positive energy, plus creative surges can also be hallmarks of this Valentine’s Day (and month). This trail presents two faces: the first section, sinuous, rocky, and strenuous, gaining almost 680 feet in its first 0.6 mile; the second, flattening out as it enters Hidden Valley, rewarding hikers with views, serenity, and rock art. Those rewards for me this day, however, were not to be.
To get there, I drove about three miles south from Moab on US 191, watched for the Hidden Valley Trailhead sign, and turned right/west onto Angel Rock Road. (Angel Rock refers to the “Disappearing Angel,” a free-standing formation about halfway up the rim.) I passed the old, weathered, yellow feed supply store, continued two blocks, and turned right onto Rim Rock Road. I then curved left/west to the parking area at the road’s end. The trailhead is on the south side, south of the one-seater toilet on the north side. A BLM double kiosk has maps and other information for both the Hidden Valley and Pipe Dream Trails. Hidden Valley’s steep, switchback terrain has been nicknamed “Barney Rubble,” after a caveman character in the Hanna-Barbera animated TV cartoon series “The Flintstones” (1960–1966), where Barney worked with Fred Flintstone at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company. “Rubble” may suggest random jumbles of rock, but this trail was deliberate, shaped and engineered by trail builders, and in fact follows an ancient Native American path.
I began hiking the Hidden Valley Trail up to the register box, signed in, then zig-zagged up steep, bouldery slopes along the rim’s eastern face, through dry washes and skinny sandstone slots, and over sand-and-stone ramps. Bright green Mormon tea stalks, blackbrush, clumps of grasses, and Utah juniper trees dotted the sun-splashed landscape as I did the bob-and-weave with my trekking poles. Wearing my bright pink rain jacket, I appeared to be a new species of articulated, rose-bellied arachnid creeping along. Stopping for drinks of water (dehydration is an issue even in our winter months), I scoped out the Moab Valley’s muted winter palette and the summits of the La Sal Mountains, which Mother Nature was beginning to drape with feathery boas of snow.
I soldiered on. Though, before I could reach the valley, I realized I needed to stop and turn around, saving muscle power for the way down. But, frankly, what was the loss? I was getting some great cardio, sweeping views, and random, cheery interactions with other hikers. I passed a kid, maybe 11 years old, who was galloping up the same strenuous rocky route I was picking my way down. He stopped and asked how I was doing. I said fine, then admitted that I’d “had to abort the mission.” He chirped, “That’s okay! We’re just going to the valley and then coming right back!” Red shirt, shock of blond hair, freckles: that kid’s sweet hiking manners were my Valentine’s gift from the universe.
You can continue west from the valley’s saddle, taking the Moab Rim Jeep or the adjacent StairMaster hiking trails down to Kane Creek Boulevard and the Colorado River. These west-side rim trails are favorites of mine, so I may hike up them in the future and connect to Hidden Valley from that direction. And, just as when romance may feel hidden or that you feel you’re only treading boulder-strewn out-and-back relationships, remember that true joy can be found along the journey and may just need a new approach.
 Kathy Grossman is an L.A. girl, artist, nature journalist, writer, and a fan of the inclusive kindness of Valentine’s Day. Her father worked in Hollywood and was friends with Daws Butler and Mel Blanc, Barney Rubble’s voice actors.
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