Granite Lakes Trail

Granite Lakes is a wonderful section of mountain trail that connects Lake Mary to Twin Lakes crossing along the base of Mount Millicent.  It must get it's name from the towering 15 foot granite cliff that the trail passes beneath.

Begin by hiking the Lake Mary trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Just after reaching the large trail sign for Dog Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Katherine, Albion Basin you will come to a much smaller sign pointing out the trail to Twin Lakes at about .8 miles from the trailhead.

The trail continues on the right side of the Lake Mary dam.  First point of interest is an old cabin,  I would love to know the history of this cabin and if it is still used.  The views from it's boarded up window would be awesome.  The trail climbs up slightly from behind the cabin for a great view of Lake Mary then continues through forest and granite scree, beneath huge granite cliffs and at 2 miles arriving at Twin Lakes.

Spooky old tree near the cabin.

Paintbrush still very vivid in color!

Lake Mary

The trail winds through beautiful forest.

Granite scree before and after.

Did you know that the Limber Pine pictured below is a super durable tree?  It mostly grows where other conifers can't survive like on the very edge of cliffs.  The branches are so limber that they can be bent double without breaking (hence the name Limber Pine)  Limber Pine nuts are edible and squirrels love them, but they are not quite as tasty or nutritious as pinyon nuts.  -- just a fun fact I thought I would share.

Limber Pine

Another limber pine growing from the cliffs.

I was hiking solo today in the morning hours and had the most awesome wildlife encounters!

White crown sparrow.

Two mule deer sightings.

Very friendly pika.  He seemed to want his picture taken.

From Twin Lakes dam I followed an old service road down towards the Brighton ski resort parking area.  I had to bushwhack a little and came out at the Milly Express ski lift, crossing the huge parking lot back to my car for a hiking distance of just shy of 3 miles.  I loved this hike!!

Approaching Twin Lakes

A very cool old work truck was sitting in the Brighton parking lot waiting to be hauled away from the maintenance area so I just had to snap a picture!

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 Wildflower of the Week

Fireweed dominates the mountain landscape at this time of wildflower season .  You can not miss this beautiful, tall, bright pink plant.  It gets it's name from the plants ability to populate over burned and logged areas with a eye catching cover of pink to magenta flowers.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
319.9

Kanarra Creek Slot Canyon

Kanarra Creek is a wonderful twisting, turning slot canyon located just east of the tiny community of Kanarraville, Utah. (population about 350 souls)   Yet another great Utah treasure!!  Kanarraville is located about 12 miles southeast of Cedar City.  Take exit 51 from I-15 and drive south on old highway 91 which becomes main street for Kanarraville.  Once you reach 100 North drive east a few blocks until you arrive at the designated parking area for the Kanarra Creek trail.  The parking fee is $10 per vehicle.  The first mile and a half of the trail follows an old access road into Hurricane Cliffs, past the water tanks.  This section of the trail is hot and very dry in the summer months so it is best to get an early morning start. When you reach the really fun part of the trail you will be wading in water for the rest of the hike.  Highly recommend water shoes and neoprene socks to help prevent blisters on the feet.  It is really quite remarkable that hikers are allowed through this slot canyon because Kanarra Creek is the water supply for the community.  Please be respectful of this beautiful resource.  I do fear that the popularity of this hike may limit hiker access if we are not careful.  The highlight of hiking Kanarra Creek is the two waterfalls you must climb to continue through the slot canyon.  The first rock jam waterfall has a nifty ladder to help you climb up. The second waterfall is a little more precarious and requires a lot more effort especially climbing down.  Many people especially those hiking with children will turn around at the second waterfall.  We hiked about a mile beyond the second waterfall and in my opinion the best of the slot canyon was before the second waterfall.  There was evidence of flood damage in the slot canyon, not the place to be during a thunder storm.  Here are my best pictures.  Loved this hike and will be back with the family!

A rip roaring flood hit the canyon at some point.

On the trail!

Along Main Street Kanarraville.

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 Wildflower of the Week

There were not a lot of wildflowers on the Kanarra Creek Trail, but I did find this pretty one that I haven't seen before.  It is Chicory.  Chicory is a highly nutritious forage plant and the roots when dried, ground up and roasted is used as a coffee substitute.  I loved the purple, blue color and look closely at the flower petals to see five distinct "teeth" at the end of each petal.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
317

Cedar Breaks NM Alpine Pond Trail

Need a road trip for the summer?  That includes a little hiking in the coolness of mountains above 10,000 feet?  That is very easy to drive to?   Cedar Breaks National Monument will definitely fit the bill for such a road trip.  Cedar Breaks became a national monument in 1933 thanks to FDR.  You have to love forward thinking presidents!  At over 10,000 feet above sea level this giant amphitheater covers about 3 miles and is more than 2000 feet deep!  And in July the wildflowers abound!  The entrance fee is $4 for adults and children 15 and under are FREE.  Cedar Breaks also hosts many activities for the entire family to enjoy from wildflower festival to star parties in summer to guided snowshoe walks in winter.   There are only a couple of hiking trails to choose from at Cedar Breaks NM and the only one I have tried is the Alpine Pond Trail.

Brian Head is the peak in the background.

The Alpine Pond nature trail is a two mile double-loop trail through forest and beautiful meadows filled with wildflowers.  I like hiking it as a figure 8 loop.  Half way through the loop hike is a natural, spring fed alpine pond. (Take bug repellant!) The park provides a nice trail guide to take along which points out interesting features of the trail - well worth the $1 donation.  It is sad to see so many dead trees surrounding the pond destroyed by a beetle infestation beginning in 1992.

There must have been something interesting at the pond.

One of my all time favorite wildflowers at Cedar Breaks is the lavender columbines.  The larkspur, lupines and mountain bluebells were some of the healthiest plants I have ever seen!

Tall Larkspur!

Very healthy Lupine

Lush Mountain Bluebell

Here is a list of many of the other wildflowers you will find in the park. http://www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/upload/Wildflowers.pdf

Don't forget to look for bristle cone pines on the trail.  They are some of the oldest trees in America.

My favorite way to Cedar Breaks NM is to exit I-15 at Parowan, Utah and travel on highway 143 to Brian Head Ski Resort then take highway 148 to Cedar Breaks.  It's a beautiful drive!  Drive on to Cedar City on highway 14 - more beautiful!  Add an evening at Cedar City's famed Shakespeare Festival and you have the makings of an awesome summer weekend road trip!

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 Wildflower of the Week

This beautiful magenta colored wildflower is called Parry's Primrose.  It typically blooms high in the mountains and loves to have wet roots so you will find it on waterfall ledges and streamsides.  You will find this gorgeous plant near the sink hole on the Alpine Pond trail at Cedar Breaks NM.  But don't touch the plant because just lightly touching will bring out a very unpleasant odor.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
310.8

Bowman Fork Trail to Baker Spring

This weeks hike took me to Millcreek Canyon and the Bowman Fork Trail in the hopes of escaping the summer heat in the valley.  The plan today was to at least make it to Baker Springs and hopefully all the way to Baker Pass where trails continue on to Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob.  Bowman Fork Trail begins at the Terrace Picnic area about 5 miles up Millcreek Canyon road.  Turn right at the sign for Terrace 1/4 mile, cross the bridge and make your way up the narrow road into the Terrace picnic area.  There is a small trail parking area located at the top of the picnic area.  The hiking trail for Bowman Fork is on your right with Elbow Fork trail on the left.   The first piece of the trail follows a lovely stream and is lush with plant life most notably thimble berry bushes.  This section of trail is a favorite for dog walkers.  The trail then climbs steadily through a nice forested stretch which provides good shade until you reach White Fir Pass.

 May the forest be with you!!!

At White Fir Pass the trail faces a southwesterly direction, the conifers thin out and you have more exposure to the afternoon sun - too hot!  
Take a moment to appreciate the views of Porter Fork from White Fir Pass.

 

There were so many beautiful wildflowers along the way I just have to share a few.

Colorado Columbine

Scarlet Gilia

King's Yellow Flax

Paintbrush

 

Rocky Mountain Clematis

Next stop is Baker Springs 3.2 miles from the trailhead.  Baker Springs is the site of an old mining camp and you can still see evidence of mine tailings in the beautiful meadow.  Baker Spring also has a reliable water source (if you dare).

Now you can see Mount Raymond.

 And Gobblers Knob which isn't quite as impressive from this angle.

And also a view of Grandeur Peak and the Salt Lake Valley.

We only made it a little beyond Baker Spring before deciding to turn around for the day.  The hot afternoon sun had done us in.  I am a bit discouraged that I can't quite nail the big peaks. :(  I'm not getting any younger you know - but I'm still hiking. 

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 Wildflower of the Week

These blossoms are from a Thimble berry plant which later produce berries that look a bit like a raspberry.  The berries are edible, but I haven't tried one to report on the taste - yet.  The leaves on this shrub are huge, some up to 10 inches wide.  The first section of Bowman Fork trail following the stream was lined with many Thimble berry bushes.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
308.8