Morning Glory Spire

Distance- 1.75 miles (From Soldiers Pass TH) or 3.75 miles (From Brins Mesa TH)

Elevation Gain- 675’ Difficulty- Class 4 hike

Duration- 1.5-3 hours (Depending where you start)

Gear: A small pack, and a 40’ rope depending on comfort level and skill.

Overview: The Morning Glory hike is one of the best short adventure hikes close to town, providing a scenic summit with panoramic views that are hard to beat. The epic views must be earned with a challenging class 4 hike that will require route finding, scrambling, and comfort with exposure. While most hikers will venture to stand in line at the nearby Soldiers Arch Cave, very few will make it to Morning Glory’s summit. While I classify this as a Class 4 hike, many will call it a climb, and some will even bring gear.

The Hike: If starting from (P2) Brins Mesa trailhead, take the Cibola Pass connector ~1 mile to the Soldiers Pass Trailhead (P1). From the trailhead looking north, the prominent sandstone spire is hard to miss. Start your adventure with gaining the sandstone ridge below the summit.

From the top of the small ridge start traversing the red rock bench at ~4,700’ elevation, north through towards an obvious gully between Morning Glory and the Cibola Mitten. Follow the gully up to saddle between the two formations and enjoy the views before the going gets tough.

Continue advancing towards the spire and work your way right or west to locate the first class 4 crux. The Slab- the first obstacle is a 15’ scramble up red rock slab to the ridge below the summit. Walk eastward along the ridge a short distance to locate the next obstacle. The Ramp- Obstacle #2 is a 25' red rock ramp that is a little steep but has good rock and handholds. The Crack- Obstacle #3 is a 25’ tight crack that can be climbed on the inside by smaller adventurers. Larger folks will have to exit the crack early and use thin holds to finish the climb (a short rope might be useful here). The Top Out- The last moves to gain the summit are easy but exposed and may require a spotter. After tagging the summit and signing the register, return the way you came.