KOA, Cannonville, UT: Switched the bikes from the RV to the truck and headed to Red Canyon to do the bike trail there. A beautiful day—not a cloud in the sky. This trail is really nice—better than the main road. And it goes up through a forest of pines with the red canyon all around. We went steadily up hill for quite a while and then stopped in a real pretty area and had something to drink and some snacks. Saw a mule deer buck. Started back and it was mostly down hill. Wasn’t a very long ride but very pretty. Stopped to pick up some groceries on the way back and then relaxed the rest of the day. Tomorrow we head down the road to Escalante State Park with no hook-ups. Hope it’s not too hot.

Entrance to the slot canyon from the Navajo Trail

The hoodoos of Bryce Canyon

Natural Bridge

KOA, Cannonville, UT: This morning was overcast and threatening rain again, but we decided to go back to Bryce Canyon NP to see some of the things we missed and maybe do a hike. So we loaded our packs and headed out. Stopped at several vantage points and then backtracked to Sunrise Point. Started to walk up to Inspiration Point and it started raining. So we headed over to the Bryce Canyon Lodge for lunch. After relaxing and enjoying a great lunch we walked up to the rim trail and walked over to Sunset Point. The Navajo Trail head is there and we decided to give it a try. This trail goes down into the canyon with a series of switchbacks. Then at the bottom the trail goes through a slot canyon named “Wall Street.” I really wanted to do that, but after about three switchbacks I chickened out. We brought our packs, my trekking poles were in the truck, but we didn’t think to get them before we walked up to the rim trail. And there were so many people on the trail. So we drove to some more overlooks and then back home. High of about 85 today down in the valley and about 75 up on the rim.

Abandoned homestead on Rt. 89

The beautiful alpine pond trail

KOA, Cannonville, UT: This morning was cloudy and threatening rain so we decided to just hang out and get some things done—like the laundry. Got the laundry done just before it started to rain. Had a thunder storm, and it rained off and on all day. It was cooler anyway. Hope it clears up because we want to do a couple of hikes.

Indian Paintbrush

Widtsoe Ghost Town

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

KOA, Cannonville, UT: This morning we decided to check out the ghost town of Widtsoe which was settled in 1876 and a drought in 1920-30 left it a ghost town. It’s located in a pretty valley in the high country. After that we decided to drive into Bryce Canyon National Park for the first time. We took the rim drive all the way to the end with a spectacular view of the pink cliffs and the odd rock formations called hoodoos. Unfortunately the sky turned dark and we started hearing thunder. At this altitude I didn’t want to be out in the open so I headed to the truck. We headed back down and only stopped at a couple of other turn-outs before we headed back to Cannonville. Fortunately we have three more days here to check out this beautiful place and hopefully do a hike or two. On the way up we saw lots of fire fighters and their equipment. They just opened the road back up. There are still fires going up there. It rained for a while. Hopefully that helped with the fires. It was in the low to mid 80s today. Great!

Pretty amazing rock formations on the way to the falls

Pretty little water fall

Kodachrome Basin

KOA, Cannonville, UT: Headed out this morning to do the mossy cave hike. A pretty little hike along a stream with some amazing rock formations all around. At the end was a pretty water fall. The only reason there is water in this stream at all is because of the early settlers in this valley. Water was always an issue for them and they were subjected to the vagaries of the Paria River which would dry up constantly. So, in 1880 they decided to dig a ditch from the E. Fork of the Sevier River and funnel it to the area we hiked today (which is a natural watercourse) and then continue the ditch down the valley to Tropic (it’s called the Tropic Ditch). The ditch was 13 miles long and they installed hand-made wooden troughs to carry the water to irrigate the fields. Because of this ditch, the valley from Bryce down to Cannonville is now arable land. Pretty amazing I’d say. After our hike we decided to drive to Kodachrome Basin State Park just outside of Cannonville. A very pretty nine-mile drive to where the road dead-ended (the paved road anyway) at the park. At this point the temperature was hovering around 100 to 103. Some nice hikes in there—but way too hot. Drove around looking at the different rock formations. This area was named by a National Geographic expedition in the area in the 40s—I guess because of all the different colors on display here on the rocks and hills. They have a first rate campground here also tucked in to the sandstone spires. However there are no hook-ups. Must have been pretty uncomfortable for the people camped there. Drove back to Tropic, had a late lunch, picked up a few groceries, and then back to cool off and relax.

Mikey on the trail

Beautiful columbine

Beautiful columbine

Beautiful Alpine Pond

Cedar Breaks National Monument

KOA, Cannonville, UT: On our way this morning at 9:00 and heading to the historic town of Panguitch (sounds like sandwich). Had breakfast at a restaurant on Main Street and then checked out the town. Guess it’s noted for its historic, red brick homes. Took a few pictures and then we headed up toward Cedar Breaks National Monument through a beautiful forest along a little stream. Just before the Cedar Breaks we stopped at a trailhead—the alpine pond trail—and decided to go ahead and hike it. It was really cool up there (11,000 ft.). The trail was really beautiful with spruce, fir, and aspens. But the most amazing was the amount of wild flowers. I’ve never seen so many columbines in once place before. And the alpine pond was beautiful also. I’m so glad we hiked it. Continued on to the Cedar Breaks which is this huge, red amphitheater of unusual rock formations right in the middle of a forest. Headed back and stopped at the Bryce Canyon visitor center to check out when we’ll go in. They have a forest fire going right now so we may wait until Monday to go in. Stopped in the little town of Tropic, UT, for a late lunch. When we got back to the KOA it was 98.

At the Summit--Cedar Canyon Drive

Red Canyon

Tunnel in Red Canyon

Zion Canyon RV Resort, Springdale, UT, to KOA in Cannonville, UT: Left this morning at 10:00. I decided to drive first and drove to Cedar City and stopped at an I-Hop where I could get in, park, and turn around if I had to. We had breakfast and then Mike started driving. We got turned around a couple of times because we couldn’t find a sign for Rt. 14. Finally stopped and got directions and we’re on our way again. Rt. 14 is a beautiful drive through this magnificent canyon—very rugged with steep canyon walls all around. Ascended to the summit at 9900 ft. and then it opened up into a beautiful, lush, verdant valley with a sparkling little stream snaking through the middle of it. Passed a couple of pristine lakes and a beautiful vista of Zion Canyon way below. It was 93 or so in Cedar City and 68 up at the pass. Started descending again and it started warming up. Before Bryce Canyon we went through beautiful Red Canyon which has a nice bike path. We’re staying at a KOA in Cannonville, UT, which is about 12 miles from Bryce Canyon itself. There’s a lot to see here. We were set up by 3:00. Think it was 92 when we pulled in.