Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River in southern Utah.  Scenery ranges from desert canyon gorges of amber, rose, and sienna to high mountain forests, plateaus, and alpine lakes.  It is nearly 2 million acres in size -- with elevations from 3,000 to 11,000 feet.  The name Dixie?  Southwest Utah was called Utah's Dixie by early settlers sent to the desert to grow cotton and silk, and the name stuck.

Our first introduction to Dixie National Forest was Red Rock Canyon.  We tucked into a Forest Service Campground and immediately hit the trail.  Red Rocks.  Formations of Red Rocks.  Stunning views.  Solitude.  Oh yeah, a bit of wind.  And we broke out the down sleeping bags as we are climbing in elevation...and dropping in temperatures.

RED ROCKS everywhere

more rocks

a flower in the rock tumble of the trailside

strange red like cone on tip of tree....no idea what it is.

Shared trail -- horse, bike, and foot.  Other trails include for ATVs.

Looking at signs of erosion

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM)

Back to Utah...and where to go?  Let's try the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) -- a vast expanse of nearly 1.9 million acres of high, rugged and remote plateaus with bold and multi-hued cliffs.  Everything but people and paved roads and services.  So...we set out to do "dispersed camping".  The rules are simple:  don't drive off pre-existing gravel or rock roads, camp in existing disturbed areas, and leave no trace (pack it in, pack it out).  Sort of like back packing but a whole lot easier on the legs!

We found a spot north east of Kanab, and settled in for a warmer, but still breezy night.  Then we hiked up Lick Wash before finding another spot along Timber Mountain Road.  It was great!  We plan on more time in the Monument as we move east.

Our site tucked up on one rock wall -- looking at a series of White Cliffs

Grazing on the Land....a bit of a traffic stand off

Lick Wash...rocks and sky.  Thankfully no water (like in flash floods)

Textured & Colored Rocks everywhere

A Bit More of Zion...

We had one more afternoon in Zion:  overcast and even a few drizzles.  Our hike to Hidden Canyon afforded more stunning vistas and soaring condors.  The next morning we drove south to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon through the Zion Mt Carmel tunnel.

WOW, we loved Zion.  At this point, it is a close second to Yosemite in "our favorite NP" game.

Flower.  

Raven

The Stair Master:  Zion Canyon Style

Into Hidden Canyon

Trail Along the Ledge of Sandstone...not for the queasy

A surprise arch in the canyon

Early Morning view of the Watchman

Checkerboard Mesa in the eastern portion of Zion

Life on the Vertical: Zion National Park

We are beginning our own grand tour of the southwest exploring Zion National Park -- truly a place of living life on the Vertical.  Every turn of the trail pulls your eyes UP -- but then you miss the flowers and birds (or the rocks on the trail!)

We have done all the "must do hikes":  Emerald Pools, Angels Landing and North Rim, The Narrows, The Weeping Rock.  Later today we will wrap up our experience with Hidden Canyon.

Zion National Park is about the rocks, but the real back story is the Virgin River.  The River drops 70+ feet a mile and continues to carve out the Canyon.  The River is really a flow of suspended sand particles as our hike through the Narrows filled our shoes and socks with sand!  

The Park encompasses several desert regions; includes elevations ranging from 3,600 to 8,700 feet; and precipitation of only 15 inches a year.  All this (plus the river flow) creates an incredible array of plants and animals thriving in the Park.

Next we head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to see the rocks that are BELOW Zion National Park.  Eventually we will visit Bryce Canyon and see the rocks that are ABOVE Zion.  Hard to wrap your head around all the rocks & the time & the eons of our beloved planet.

Zion National Park:  A Place of Sanctuary for Animals, Plants, and Humans...for millenium

Occupational Hazard at Zion:  Everything is WAY UP THERE

White, Red, and Black colored rocks

Colorado Columbine

Zion Shooting Star--WOW what a flower

Weeping Rock -- see the drops?  Water perks through the sandstone
hits impermeable shale and runs out to cliff.  VIOLA -- a new habitat

Emerald Pools

Middle Emerald Pool at sunset

Crazy LOUD frog at Emerald Pools.  We thrilled to sight of White Throated Swifts mating near the ponds in a free fall above our heads.  Tis spring!

Flower!

Flower

Flower

Cliff side near Icebox Canyon

Icebox Canyon

Looking up to see the Cliffs

From Scout Lookout -- views up and down the Valley

We saw CA Condors soaring from this vantage point -- huge birds that are but a speck in this space

View UP Canyon

Size and scale in the Park

Walter's Wiggins --a series of 24 switchbacks that get the committed hiker up to the Rim...

Textures on the Canyon Wall

Trail in the Sun -- the early hiker stays cooler 

The Virgin River -- creates the Canyon and is a gurgling oasis in the Park

Western Columbine

The Narrows -- a hike through the river and up the Canyon as it narrows...

Up the Narrows -- shallow, cool river.  Fun on a hot day

The River

Snow Canyon State Park, Utah

UTAH!  We made it to the land of blue sky, red rocks, canyons, scrubby trees, and wide open spaces.  Our first stop is Snow Canyon State Park about 5 miles north of St George's.  The Park does not get any of that white SNOW stuff but is named for 2 early Mormon settlers.  This is Mormon country.

First and foremost was wishing my Mom:  Happy Mother's Day!  I value your positive attitudes about life and generosity to both family and friends.  LOVE!!!

And then I wanted ice cream.  Just can't go too many days without ice cream.  DQ it was and they have a nice WiFi signal.

Snow Canyon has many hikes (mostly 2-3 miles long) and we hiked on petrified sand dunes, crisscrossed lava flows, and soaked up the scenery of white and red sandstone.

We expect to enjoy all the National Parks in Utah for several weeks before scooting east to Loveland, CO.   So get ready for pictures of Rocks, Sky, Rivers, and more Rocks.

Snow Canyon State Park

White Rocks -- we hiked up to a White Rock bowl.

Back on Red Rocks

Rock swirls and green bushes

Lava River anyone?

Wide open canyon--actually very green this time of year

Red, White and Red & White Rocks

White rocks with yellow/gold colors

Tiny yellow flowers

Flowers and bees!

White Rocks -- almost seem to be in motion

A cactus flower; a friend from Baja

View from White Rocks bowl.  Shallow water when heavy rains occur.  Not today, yeh

View from Bowl towards Red Rock