The first time I entered Fay canyon, I nearly lost my breath. A sandy red path leads you into a miniature enchanted forest nestled between red rock walls. The main trail is flat, wide, and easy to follow, allowing you time to take in the variety of plants and the many spectacular views.
About half a mile into the hike, you will notice a path leading across a dry wash and zigzagging up to the cliffside. This path may be marked with sticks and branches if you're lucky, or even a cairn (rock pile) if you're luckier! If you take this side trip you'll huff and puff up the hillside until you reach a natural arch in the cliff. Go inside the arch and you'll see that part of the cliff has fallen away making a natural slit for sunlight to shine through.
If you go back into the canyon along the main trail, you'll reach a point where the trail begins to climb gently. Shortly after this point the trail will divide. To your left you'll see a huge red rock butte. If you take the left fork of the trail, you'll climb up to the butte to discover a whole separate branch of the canyon. Beautiful vistas are up here but if you're not in shape, take it slow. I have wandered way, way back into this side canyon and never quite found the end of the trail. Seems it turns into a deer trail near the point where it descends back into the forest. I'd recommend stopping at one of the earlier viewpoints because you can get some spectacular pictures.
Back on the main trail (if you kept to the right instead of climbing up to the red rock butte, you will continue on through the forest. Shortly however, the trail will climb up to the right and hug the cliffside. It will take you over some large rocks, and around to the right where it begins a short but steep ascent through the forest.
Climb up here and you will find yourself at the back of the canyon, on a ledge. Go right for great views and a place to rest, or go left and curve left, in a big U-shaped trail that ends up on a perch overlooking the whole canyon. Gorgeous! There are no guard rails here so watch your footing.
