Snow Canyon State Park

I spent last week in sunny St. George and one of my favorite places to hike in the area is Snow Canyon State Park.  I love red rock and I love desert!  Did you know that there are 22 hiking trails in Snow Canyon?  Some are pretty short and I'm not sure they qualify as a true hike such as the Sand Dunes and Pioneer Names.  A couple of others are closed annually like Jenny's Canyon and Johnson Canyon, but that leaves a lot left to explore. 

Butterfly Trail

Desert dwellers know that you don't hike in the middle of the afternoon.  Hottest part of the day -DUH!  So Tuesday morning bright and early I began my hike along Butterfly trail which gets its name from this split rock that looks just like the wings of a butterfly.  The Butterfly trail to West Canyon overlook is about 2 miles.

My goal this morning was to find the lava tubes.  I had heard about the tubes and how you could climb into them.  What I found was not a tube but a giant lava cave.  It was 10 times bigger than what I was expecting and climb down into it I did!  It was definitely fun to explore the cave, but very stinky!  I wasn't prepared with a flash light and I was really afraid of being attack by bats.  I could smell bat guano (POOP) so I didn't venture in too deep.  I highly recommend checking out the lava "tubes".

Looks small in my picture, but it was huge!

Looking up at the roof of the entrance to the cave.  Didn't see bats, but I could smell them.

Always find color even in the desert.

After exploring the lava tubes I continued on to the West Canyon Overlook.  The landscape is so beautiful!  I never get tired of looking!

Looking over at Whiterocks.  Another trail worth exploring!

Big beautiful sky!

I see and discover something new each time I hike this canyon.  Here is a little arch.  With a closeup shot.

 
I'm not sure what this plant is.  I assume it is some type of Yucca.  The big black bees sure like it!

This plant was over 6 feet tall.

I was so lucky to get this picture of a leopard lizard.  They are huge and
this was the only one that didn't run and hide when I walked by.
 

I haven't hiked Snow Canyon in the summer but I imagine it is way too hot for my liking.  We were lucky last week that the temperatures were only in the mid 80's thanks to a cold front moving through our state.  I did do one other hike last week that I didn't like very much.  

Three Ponds

a.k.a 3 Puddles

First mistake made was hiking this trail in the hottest time of day.  City dwellers! You don't hike desert in the middle of the afternoon!!!! (I was with a group, but didn't speak up and protest)  The majority of this trail is trudging through a sandy wash and it's 3.5 miles of sand filling your shoes.  I experienced a tiny bit of heat exhaustion so I was not in the mood to take pictures (which isn't like me at all).  Sorry didn't like this trail!

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

53.3

Kolob Canyons

I love it when I discover a new hiking treasure!  I found one this weekend in Kolob Canyons located just off I-15 a mere 17 miles south of Cedar City.   The trail we took was called Middle Fork of Taylor Creek and led to Double Arch Alcove.  Kolob is Morman lingo for the place where God lives.  The name aptly applies to this extremely beautiful and often overlooked area of Zion National Park.  Because Kolob Canyons is part of Zion NP you will be required to pay the entrance fee of $25 per car.  The entrance fee is good for 7 days so make sure to include Kolob in your next trip to Zion!

Taylor Creek Trail

Taylor Creek trail is a serene walk through a beautiful forested area to a double arch alcove,  a distance of 5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of only 450 feet.  A perfect hike for the entire family!  You will cross the small stream which is Taylor Creek numerous times (too many to count) and you will pass two historic cabins built in the 1930s before reaching the final destination of Double Arch Alcove.  The scenery is breathtaking! 

 

This picture shows how small Taylor Creek is.

One of two cabins you will pass on the trail.

Double Arch Alcove

Once you finish your hike be sure to take the Kolob Canyons scenic drive of only 10 miles roundtrip for more gorgeous canyon views.

Wildflower of the Week

This bright red wildflower is called Eaton's Penstemon and was scattered all along the Taylor Creek trail.  I always thought this one was a honeysuckle, but not so.  Eaton's Penstemon is a member of the snap dragon family. 

CraZy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs. 

#7 Winter hiking allows you to escape the inversion in the valley and breathe CLEAN, FRESH AIR! 

#6 Hiking relieves stress, worry and anxiety - GUARANTEED!

#5 If you are lucky you will see a variety of wildlife on your hike.  Keep your eyes open!  And look around!

#4 Hiking will improve balance, coordination and bone density because you are walking on very uneven surfaces.

#3  Hiking increases feelings of well-being and lowers depression. 

#2  Hiking gives a greater appreciation for the beauty of our natural world.

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

47.8

Dog Lake in the Spring

Spring hiking is tricky!  I'm having a difficult time finding enough low elevation trails to hike this spring.  All suggestions would be very welcome!  I thought Dog Lake might be a good option, but it ended up being a hike of two extremes!  The first half of the hike was almost too hot (felt like July) and the second half still had four feet of snow covering the trail.  CraZy!!  It would be wise to wait until June to do this hike.  The distance to Dog Lake is 5.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of about 1450 feet.  

Mill D North Fork Trail to Dog Lake

Dog Lake from the Mill D North Fork trail.  From here we walked around the lake and took photos from each direction.

 The lake was just starting to melt so it was really slushy. (and so were my shoes and socks) This photo is looking back towards the Mill D North Fork trail.

This would be your view if you arrived at the lake from Millcreek Canyon on the Big Water trail.

  

 Another side of the lake!  Wishing I had my snowshoes.

 

This gives a good idea of how much snow is still on the trail and how deep.  


  

 Wildflower of the Week

This member of the sunflower family is called Arrow Leaf Balsamroot. Balsamroot has big, beautiful, yellow flowers and large grayish-green arrowhead shaped leaves.

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CraZy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs. 

#7 Winter hiking allows you to escape the inversion in the valley and breathe CLEAN, FRESH AIR! 

#6 Hiking relieves stress, worry and anxiety - GUARANTEED!

#5 If you are lucky you will see a variety of wildlife on your hike.  Keep your eyes open!  And look around!

#4 Hiking will improve balance, coordination and bone density because you are walking on very uneven surfaces.

#3  Hiking increases feelings of well-being and lowers depression.

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

42.8

Mount Olympus - Take 2

Neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom of night will keep me from hiking . . . . . but lightning will!  I have a horrible, paralyzing fear of lightning.  Yesterdays weather was a little suspect as far as thunderstorms go, but we went anyway. (There were patches of blue sky overhead)  As we were heading up the Mount Olympus trail we met a hiker who shared some very important information with us about lightning safety.  And now I will share what I know.

 Lightning Safety Tips

• Always check the weather forecast before hiking and cancel plans if necessary, but if you do get caught in a storm get off the ridges and peaks as soon as you see the black clouds, hear rolling thunder or notice the wind whipping up.
• Stay out of open areas; take cover in wooded areas, but NOT under the tallest trees.
• Do NOT take shelter in a rocky alcove or shallow caves because lightning streamers can follow wet rock surfaces, you will not be protected as you might think.
• Best to squat down with feet planted close together, do NOT lie flat on the ground. 
• Avoid areas with evidence of previous lightning strikes like split or burned trees.  The old saying "lightning never strikes the same place twice" is FALSE!

Here is another interesting little tidbit.  The sound of thunder travels about 1 mile per 5 seconds.  After you see a flash of lightning start counting seconds until you hear the thunder, divide by 5 and that tells you how many miles the lightning strike was from you.  Learned this from Wasatch Hiker.
                                     ##################


Okay, now back to hiking! I tried to climb Mt. Olympus again yesterday.  We were soooo close (big frowny face), but didn't make it.  Not enough daylight, water, energy, legs, etc., etc., etc.  Mt. Olympus is an elevation gain of a whoppin' 4050 feet and 7 miles roundtrip.  Of that we probably hike 3000 feet for about 5.5 miles  . . . . . we were soooooo close!  We hiked for 5 hours!  And didn't make it (very sad face)!

The Rock at the beginning of Mt Olympus trail.

 Our hike started off so pleasant even with a little rain.  In fact you want cooler temps and cloud cover when hiking Mount Olympus because you are hiking southwest exposure for the majority of this hike.  The heat of the sun can be brutal!  Tip #2 when hiking Mount Olympus take more water than you think you need and plenty of snacks.  Tip #3 take a lot of rest breaks so you don't run out of gas.
 

Looking down on Old Mill golf course.

There are some spectacular views of the Salt Lake Valley from way up high!

I wish I could say that this was the top  . . . . but that would be a lie.
 

This is looking up at the top.  We climbed about 15 minutes more before giving up and turning around to head back down.

 Will I try Mount Olympus again??  Maybe, but not in the near future.

 Wildflower of the Week

 

 

 This pretty flower is called Longleaf Phlox.  I love the wild version!

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CraZy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs. 

#7 Winter hiking allows you to escape the inversion in the valley and breathe CLEAN, FRESH AIR! 

#6 Hiking relieves stress, worry and anxiety - GUARANTEED!

#5 If you are lucky you will see a variety of wildlife on your hike.  Keep your eyes open!  And look around!

#4 Hiking will improve balance, coordination and bone density because you are walking on very uneven surfaces.

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

33.6

The Mountains are Calling and I Must Go -John Muir

Whenever I need an escape from the city I head to Bells Canyon.  I probably hike up to the lower Bells Canyon Reservoir once or twice a month during winter and fall.  The Granite trailhead located at 3470 East Little Cottonwood Road is only about 5 minutes from my house. (Lucky me - I know)  Yesterday's hike took us to the Lower Bells Canyon Falls.  Even though the weather wasn't perfect, the hike was!

Lower Bells Canyon Falls

Follow this sign to waterfalls

From the Granite trailhead it is slightly over half a mile to the lower Bells Canyon Reservoir.  This a great short hike destination and is a very popular hike for families and trail runners which leads to crowds on weekends.  Once you reach the reservoir you will see a utility road on the left.  Follow this road for about 100 yards and you will find a small sign pointing the way to Bells Canyon. From here you walk through a lovely meadow with nice views of the mountains ahead. In less than a mile you will come to a sturdy foot bridge crossing a pretty stream.  Photo op!  From here the trail gets quite a bit steeper and is scattered with good sized granite rocks.  You will definitely get a stairmaster workout the rest of the way to the falls.  The tricky part is knowing where to turn off the main trail to find the falls.  The falls are several yards to the left of the main trail.  You will come to a giant pine and well marked up quakies at the turn off plus you will ear the roaring sound of the falls.

  And OH is it worth it! 

 

And there it is - a beautiful 90 foot waterfall.  Spring run off is not yet in full force as of May 1 so you can expect a lot more water cascading down in another few weeks. This waterfall can be very dangerous so use caution and common sense.  I couldn't stop taking pictures of the beautiful waterfalls.

 There was still a little snow on the trail and some of it freshly fallen.  You will also have really nice views of the Salt Lake Valley.

And if you are really lucky you may even see mountain goats.  We spotted 3 in the rocky granite cliffs on the north side of the canyon.  We shared our find with another hiker coming down the trail and "made his day"  He was as excited to see the goats as we were.

I know you can't see the goats in my picture, but they were there.

 Oh and by the way you are hiking in the Lone Peak Wilderness area and protected watershed - no dogs allowed.

 Hiking to the lower falls is almost 4 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of around 1500 feet.  There is another equally beautiful, but smaller waterfall up the trail an additional mile as well as the upper Bells Canyon reservoir another 1.4 miles beyond for an 8.4 mile roundtrip hike.  I'll save that hike for another day.

Wildflower of the Week

Utah Milkvetch

You will see this little beauty all over the foothills this spring.

CraZy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs. 

#7 Winter hiking allows you to escape the inversion in the valley and breathe CLEAN, FRESH AIR! 

#6 Hiking relieves stress, worry and anxiety - GUARANTEED!

  #5 If you are lucky you will see a variety of wildlife on your hike.  Keep your eyes open!  And look around!

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

28.1

Hiking Inspiration

Before I get to this weeks hike I wanted to share with you where I get my hiking inspiration.  Two great books.  The first one is "Hiking The Wasatch" by John Veranth.  I've had this book for many years.  In fact, I wore out my first copy and just recently purchased a new one.  This book describes every hike you could ever want to do along the Wasatch front.  The second book is "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Salt Lake City" by Greg Witt which I just barely bought and already love.  I especially like the trail descriptions in this book and the maps provided are simple and easy to follow. (I'm not a fan of topographical maps)  You can tell both authors have a great passion for hiking our beautiful Wasatch mountains and their passion is infectious!

Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook

The Desolation Trail begins just east of the Millcreek Inn in Millcreek Canyon.  The distance is 4.8 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 1250 feet.  What I love about this trail is you are walking through a lovely, pine fragrant forest.  The climb is gradual thanks to a series of easy switchbacks and the views of the Salt Lake Valley are very impressive.  This is definitely a great hike for spring, summer and fall.  Also a good beginners hike.   Millcreek Canyon is dog friendly and there is a fee of $3.00 per car ($2 for seniors) paid as you leave the canyon.

 

  There was still quite a bit of snow on the trail yesterday and a giant fallen tree to climb over, but that made it all the more fun.

No doubt which direction is north!

CraZy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs. 

#7 Winter hiking allows you to escape the inversion in the valley and breathe CLEAN, FRESH AIR! 

#6 Hiking relieves stress, worry and anxiety - GUARANTEED!