JONES HOLE, Uintah County — He stood in the middle of the trail, head down, munching on a patch of leafy greens.

His four legs were attached to a muscled torso topped by a head designed to be the perfect battering ram.

We were less than a mile from making it back the parking lot after hiking nearly 8 miles. The Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep blocking the trail was 30 feet away and in no hurry to finish his lunch.

Then, a muscle in one of his back legs flinched hard and before we knew it, the ram was thundering down the trail toward us faster than any of us could have expected from an animal his size. Everyone bailed off the trail in a flash, and the ram broke off his "bluff charge" well short of us, sauntered back up the trail and resumed eating.

He wasn't the only bighorn sheep spotted on the Jones Hole Trail that day, just the closest. We also saw a mix of rams and ewes along Jones Hole Creek during our hike from Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery to the creek's confluence with the Green River.

Getting a glimpse of these majestic animals — even from a distance — isn't the only draw for this popular family-friendly hike, most of which takes place inside the boundaries of Dinosaur National Monument.

This ruggedly beautiful terrain was once home to Fremont Indians. Their pictographs and petroglyphs can be seen in several areas of the canyon by making short loop hikes off the main trail. The rock art sites offer Park Service interpretive signs to help visitors learn more about the people who inhabited the area more than a thousand years ago.

Jones Hole Creek is also home to scores of catchable trout that are easy to see, but not always easy to catch. Even if you don't pack a pole, watching trout swim in the crystal clear creek is as fun as it is relaxing.

The hike itself doesn't involve a lot of effort. Our group included an 8-year-old who had no trouble with the trail's steeper sections, thanks to stone steps that have been put in place to improve footing and reduce erosion.

Much of the hike takes place in the bottom of a wide canyon, keeping you in the shade for most of the day. Still, the National Park Service recommends packing at least 2 quarts of water per person during the summer because this is a high desert environment. It's an excellent recommendation.

A visit to this trail offers a couple of extras. If you're not up to going all the way to the Green River and back, there's a short side hike to Ely Creek Falls. To get to this small waterfall, follow the sign that is about 2 miles down Jones Hole Trail from the fish hatchery.

The hatchery itself is also a fun place to visit. The raceways are outdoors and open to the public, letting visitors see rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and cutthroat trout in various stages of development. If the hatchery is open during your visit, the staff may also let you inside for a quick look at the rearing tanks where thousands of fish begin their lives.

Last week's Hike of the Week:

Hike to Lake Solitude offers beautiful scenery and hidden cave/mine

If you like beautiful mountain lakes and going inside cool caves that used to be old mines, the hike to Lake Solitude is right up your alley.

The Jones Hole Trail was closed in June 2013 due to a massive rock fall that left giant boulders strewn all around the trail and knocked at least one large tree across the trail. The Park Service reopened the trail after bringing in a geomorphologist; however, the potential for rock slides still exists. If you hear cracking or popping noises from any cliff face while hiking this trail, it's best to leave the area immediately.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 8 miles roundtrip

Time: 3-4 hours

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