Grand Staircase Escalante, Utah

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is a unique, often overlooked treasure located in southern Utah.

I passed by the monument on my way from Arches National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park. It was early in the morning and the lighting was majestic.

The National Monument now spans across nearly 1.87 million acres of America's public lands in southern Utah! That's a big place, however I only saw a fraction of its beauty.

While out exploring, I pulled over and got out of my car and actually walked down these sandstone hills. I felt like a fly as the sandstone is not slippery and easy to walk across.

 I camped for 3 nights at Calf Creek Falls which lies within the monument. Yes it was hot, but every where I went in Utah was hot!  The creek ran right by my campsite, and when I got too hot, I set up my chair in the creek, grabbed some iced tea and just relaxed.

In spite of the heat, the highlight of my time there was the 6 mile hike up to Calf Creek Falls. It was very early when I started the hike, but I am a slow hiker and soon people were passing me by on the trail. Everyone was very friendly and stopped to talk with me.

Right about here I got really tired and stopped to catch a breath of hot, dry air. The red and white sandstone is stunning, and has been shaped through erosion to form patterns in the hills.

As I trudged up the trail, I lifted my head just in time to see the sunlight illuminating this tree.

The Ancestral Puebloans and the Fremont Indians lived here and farmed this land. Pictographs and granaries are seen from the trail, the evidence of a people long gone.

I love flowers, and this cactus flower caught my eye.

Desert varnish, a result of rainwater combining with iron and manganese, streaks the sides of the cliffs all throughout the canyon.

At last I reached lower Calf Creek Falls, a 126 foot waterfall, that cascades down the cliff into a pool of ice cold water. I tried to jump in and swim but it was just too cold. Instead,  I dunked my head underwater and got my arms and legs wet to relieve my heat exhaustion.

So magnificent! 

After the hike I was sitting on my chair in the creek when these 4 boys came charging up the creek, the next generation of river rats flaunting their machismo. 

The campsite at Calf Creek Falls is first come, first served, no reservations. Good and bad. Good that I can usually get a site, bad if I don't. This is my campsite, the only one in the campground with a shade shelter. It was wonderful.

Good night to all, and may you find peace with God and with your fellow campers.

Arches National Park, Utah

Arches National Park has always been one of my favorite parks to visit.  Over 2000 documented arches,  plus pinnacles, balanced rocks like the one above, fins and other geologic formations can be found within the park. Balanced Rock is a strange phenomenon. Even though the Entrada Sandstone boulder appears to be balancing, it is actually sitting on an eroding pedestal of Dewey Bridge mudstone. The boulder is estimated to weigh 3577 tons! Now that is a heavy rock!

For years I could not get a reservation at Devils Garden Campground and had to find a campground outside the Park. After staying at Devils Garden, I can see why people love to camp there. The sites were so big, with unusual rock formations and most had some sort of shade to hide in. 

Right near the campground, I walked through the desert and found all kinds of oddly shaped formations.

Flowers always intrigue me. How do they survive in such harsh surroundings?

All of the formations at Arches have been created through natural forces such as wind, water, freezing cold and extreme heat. Such an amazing place that at times resembles a different world.

I wandered through Turret Arch which is in the Windows section of the park. It is so massive, and difficult to convey its size through a photograph.

There are so many different kinds of lizards in this world. I believe this is a spotted leopard lizard, but if anyone knows differently, please email me at thecampingqueen72@gmail.com and  let me know.

This may be my favorite place in the park, Double Arch, which is a giant twisting mass of weathered rock, that forms arches within arches. I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the shade underneath the arches. A great place to meet people and talk to them!

At the very end of the road through Arches National Park sits Devils Garden, a colorful array of sandstone with strange shapes. Most of the arches are salmon colored Estrada Sandstone and buff- colored Navaho sandstone. 

Skyline Arch is also at the end of the road in Arches National Park, and is a very short hike over to the base of the arch.

Its always fun to photograph different perspectives of the same thing, like this one of Skyline Arch. It shows me that in order to fully understand someone or something, it is important to see them from more than one point of view. 

On my way out of the park, I stopped at a variety of interesting pullouts, where it is possible to just climb out on the rocks and explore. Definitely one of my favorite things!

Right near the entrance, I stopped at Park Avenue. There is a short trail from Park Avenue to the Courthouse Towers that is fun to walk. I remember the first time I stood underneath these massive fins. It was in the summer of 2005 and I had never seen anything like this place. It was all so intimidating.  

Good night to one and all! 

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

On my way to Capitol Reef, I saw this unique formation on the side of the road. It reminded me of a Native American Hogan.

I also passed by the Colorado River, which is always very exciting for me. About 14 years ago I was able to join a rafting trip down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon!

As soon as I arrived in Capitol Reef, I drove to my campground which is just around the corner from the old barn. 

This horse lives there at the barn, in the middle of the National Park, but I don't think he was too happy. I don't know a whole lot about horses, but it seemed like he was trying to tell me something. I thought maybe he wanted food, but he had a bunch of hay right in his enclosure. Then he almost kicked me, as if to say, "Get me out of here," but what do I know. Sadly I walked away unable to speak his language.

The sun was setting, and the glow caught me by surprise. I grabbed my camera and got in a few shots before the glow disappeared. 

One of my many campsites at Capitol Reef National Park Campground, located in the historic Fruita district. As a result of making my reservations so late, I ended up having to book a different site for each of the 5 nites I was there!

This Showy Milkweed was blooming all over Utah! 

I took many drives and hikes throughout the park, but my most favorite was the Scenic Drive behind my campground in the Fruita District. There are so many places where you can stop and take pictures, or get out and hike down the trails. 

The Petroglyph Narrows is off of the Scenic Drive, 8 miles south of the Visitor Center. Turn onto the Capitol Gorge unpaved road and when that ends, be prepared to walk. Its very interesting to see the narrow canyon where the Mormon pioneers  passed through to bypass the 100 mile long Waterpocket Fold. Many of them carved their names into the sides of the canyon.  

There are so many interesting colors and shapes in the mountains and canyons of Capitol Reef National Park. Reddish brown rocks contain rust or iron oxide,  Yellow to orange rocks are the result of limonite, and organic matter can create gray, green and blue rocks. The mineral gypsum can be found in white rocks. Quite the rainbow of color!

One morning, right in my campsite, I saw a Robin fly up to this crook in the tree. On closer inspection, I found 4 open mouths just waiting to be fed. That little mama worked so hard bringing food to her babies. The baby bird in the center was the biggest, and for a while he left the nest and was stretching out his wings as if he would fly away! I had to move my campsite the next day, so I couldn't watch them anymore. 

One day I took the hike up to the Hickman Bridge. Even though I had taken this hike once before, it was a very hard hike for me as it was all uphill. Age tends to do that to me! But it was well worth it. Along the way I stopped and talked with people, and that was just as enjoyable as the hike itself! 

A different perspective of Hickman Bridge, from the other side of the bridge. It changes everything to see things from a different perspective.

The Fremont River flows right by the trailhead, so after my hike, I jumped in the river to cool off!

It all looks very peaceful in the photos, but towards evening, the wind would pick up and blow hot sand in my face and eyes. By my third day of camping in the park, the temperature rose to 97 degrees! 

In spite of the heat, it was very pleasant to be there. Both night and day, I carried a spray bottle filled with water and sprayed myself whenever needed. It saved my life!

On my way out of Capitol Reef, I stopped and took this photo of the Navajo Dome, named for its Navajo Sandstone composition and the shape which resembles the capitol dome. The park is wonderful and I recommend visiting Capitol Reef to see these amazing sights.

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

This was my first time at Natural Bridges. As I look back on the trip, this place is one of my happiest memories. 

There are three, huge natural bridges that you can hike down into the canyon and get right underneath them. It is absolutely incredible. This view is from the top, before I figured out how to access the hiking trail. 

 Yes, there were terrifying stairs and ladders to go down into the canyon, so I just sucked it up and started down climbing. 

This is as far as I got on the trail down to the first bridge known as Sipapu Bridge. 

A close up with my zoom lens reveals some of the strength and majesty of this natural bridge. the bridge is 220 feet in height, with a span of 268 feet. Mighty massive. Talk about feeling small......

Its not just the bridges that are spectacular. The surrounding scenery is so very beautiful. It literally took my breath away beholding such unexpected beauty.

I also appreciate the odd erosion in the sandstone, natures handiwork!

I stayed in the campground at Natural Bridges National Monument, and found it to be clean and well cared for. The second day of my stay, I drove down to the Moki Dugway, a 3 mile stretch of graded gravel at an 11% grade. What a crazy trip that was and only a short distance from the monument!

The view from the top provides stunning views of Valley of the Gods.  My friends told me about the Dugway, so I have Joe and Dawn to thank for this portion of my trip!

The road was built in the 1950's as a route for ore trucks hauling uranium and vanadium from Cedar Mesa to the processing mill near Mexican Hat.  Today this road is not recommended for RV's or large trucks, or people with a fear of heights.....Anyway I had to try it and I knew my Subaru could make it.

Beautiful sandstone mountains, with mineral stains running up and down the sides, line the roadway.

At one point I got out to look around and found this brave little succulent growing in the gravel. It wasn't long before I was at the bottom of the road, feeling rather brave myself.

Back at Natural Bridges I still had energy to hike down to Kachina Bridge, and I don't remember any ladders on this hike! Such a beautiful place. Met some nice folks down at the bottom of the canyon.

After a time of quiet rest, I headed back up the trail to my car. 

The last of the three bridges is called Owachomo Bridge. A short hike the following morning brought me down to the base of the Owachomo Bridge where I stood in awe at the grandeur of it all. 

Owachomo Bridge is the smallest and oldest of the three bridges. It stands 106 feet tall and has a span of 180 feet. So incredible. I highly recommend visiting the monument and if you would like more information, click on the link for the NPS website for Natural Bridges National Monument.

Time for me to go, but before I sign off, I wanted to introduce you to this cute bug I found on the way to Natural Bridges. After I took the picture I realized he was dead, but wanted to save him because he was way cool! I brought him to my car and placed him on top of the dashboard, but then as I was driving he disappeared. Then later he reappeared, in the reflection of the windshield. He had gotten stuck in the vent for the defroster. When I got home after all my journeys through the southwest,  he was still there in the reflection of the windshield. As I was poking and prodding him with a straw, my watch rang and I screamed. I thought the bug was calling me. It was only Stan calling me, so after we talked I got out the vacuum cleaner and swooped him up, never to be seen again. With that I will say Good Night on one and all! PS I will post the rest of my pictures for Bryce, Arches, Zion and Capitol Reef very soon!