Ottos Bathtub

Dogs No Dogs

Features Geological Significance · Views

A great out-and-back adventure that takes you down off the rim and explores some quieter sections of the monument. Otto's Bathtub is a neat geologic feature and the views are stunning.

Park at the Upper Liberty Cap trailhead parking lot and follow Upper Liberty Cap Trail along the plataeu for a couple of miles. The views are great, and the trail (an old road grade) is very mellow. As you approach the descent, there are a few steeper spots, and given the soil, it's best not to hike this one when it's been raining as it will become muddy and slick.

Around 3.3 miles into the hike, there is a cairn marking a lighter traveled trail off to the left (north). This is the turn-off for Otto's Bathtub. This feature is a geologic feature that John Otto later added a dam along to collect water. There are even old chopped steps heading down, though it's not recommended to take those as they've eroded quite a lot, and you may not get back up.

This is a great spot to have a nice picnic and when you're finished, simply turn around and head back the way you came.