Chesler Park Loop & The Joint Trail

Wow!  To be honest we weren't sure we were ready to hike 11.2 miles in one day, but once we started there was no turning back; the scenery was so amazing it left us wanting to see more.  Hiking through and around the Needle and Graben formations was unlike anything we've ever done before.  We scaled an "Elephant" two times as we hiked down into and out of Elephant Canyon each way . . . really it wasn't so bad!

We got an early start at the Elephant Hill Trailhead

The scenery was amazing from the get-go

Passing through a narrow fracture

Desert Indian Paintbrush added an extra pop of color along the trail

Occasionally, we had a trail . . . most of the time we followed rock cairns over slickrock.

There were great views of the snow covered La Sal Mountains . . .
It's hard to imagine we've hiked four of those peaks!

Looking back to where we came from . . . Wow! 
 The colorful Needles tower over Elephant Canyon

After our lunch break at Chesler Park, we had the option to take different trails that would lead us back to where we began . . . 

Mary returned via the way we came, John circled over to Elephant Canyon & Druid Arch trail, while Kent & I continued on the Chesler Park Loop 

Cedar Mesa Sandstone formations

Kent is enjoying the view of Elephant Canyon and beyond

Walking through Chesler Park was like being on another planet

We pretty much had the place all to ourselves . . . !

We passed through The Joint, a narrow fracture, for about 300 yards

The Joint had several passages that entered from the side

Do you see Kent? 

We've just exited The Joint . . . now we are at the halfway point on the trail

Easter Daisy growing in the sand

Taking a little break . . . ahh

We passed by this pretty Claret Cup Cactus in bloom

Heading back towards Chesler Park

Off in the distance we get a glimpse of Chesler Park . . .
 just beyond are the Grabens rock formations

With about 3 miles to go, Kent's knee started to bother him . . .
On went the knee brace and out came the trekking poles! 

Notice this well worn tree limb . . . it has helped many hikers through a tight spot

Almost back to the trailhead . . . !

What a great hike! 
The storm clouds were threatening at times, but the sun prevailed. 
It took us about 8 hours to complete the hike, it was awesome even with a bum knee!

Fun in Canyonlands

It's a long drive to The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and once you get there don't expect any restaurants, phone service or hotels.  If you plan to camp, check ahead for availability . . . spots fill up fast!  We were fortunate to get reservations at the Needles Outpost, which is located just outside the Park boundary, but close to everything Canyonlands had to offer.      

We are headed to The Needles District in Canyonlands  

Our first stop was Newspaper Rock

Wooden Shoe Arch is one of the most uniquely shaped rock formations in Canyonlands

 This silly raven followed us to our car and chased us out of the parking lot!
 I suppose he was expecting food in exchange for his picture?!

The vastness of Canyonlands is almost indescribable

One large pothole, filled with water, and three silly tourists being told to pose for a shot

John & Kent at Big Spring Canyon Overlook

"Home Sweet Home" 
Campsite 26 provided us with some great memories & laughs!

Needles Outpost, just outside the park boundary was a great place to camp 

  A quick moving storm passed over camp and the wind blew . . . 
sand . . . on the sleeping bags in our tent!  

Cave Spring Cowboy Camp remnants from the ranching days  

Pictographs at Cave Spring 

Mary & John enjoying the day

We climbed up 2 ladders to the top of the cave for some great views

At Roadside Ruin we took a short walk to view this granary which was
used to store corn, beans & squash by ancestral Puebloan tribes

Here we are!
Looking forward to our next adventure, stay tuned!

Gunlock Falls

There is a spectacular natural attraction happening in Southern Utah right now and it won't last long. That's right, Gunlock Reservoir is overflowing and that means Gunlock Falls are flowing over the natural rock spillway; it is a sight to see, but you must act quickly. You snooze, you lose!

Our first glimpse of Gunlock Falls 

What an amazing sight!

We did not expect to see this . . . yes, he did live to tell about it!

 Downstream from the falls, the water will merge with the Virgin River 

Where did all the people go?!

Here's a side view of the falls with the Beaver Dam Mountains in the distance

You ask, where does all this water come from . . . 
the Santa Clara River flows into Gunlock Reservoir and on rare occasions it overflows
creating Gunlock Falls, a spectacle for all to see 

Red Man

Friends, Mike & Diane, invited us along on an afternoon hike to see if we could locate the Red Man pictograph (painted on stone rather than carved into stone) south of Hurricane.  We jumped at the chance and began our adventure from the remains of the Fort Pearce ruins (1866) located in the Warner Valley area.  We knew that Red Man was approximately a mile west of the fort on the cliff that overlooked Fort Pearce Wash.  After a fairly easy half hour hike we pinpointed the rock face we thought the painting was probably on (we had brought along a picture that showed its location).  We then began our ascent up from the wash through a boulder field to the base of the cliff right below the canyon rim.  Sure enough, there he was in all of his red "iron oxide" glory, facing east and waiting for the sun to rise once again!  It was great to explore an area that we hadn't visited in many years and enjoy the history, views, friendship and, of course, Red Man.

The trail to Red Man starts at the Fort Pearce ruins . . .
From here you can drop down into the wash or stay high on the cliff . . .
Both trails will take you to the same place

We chose to start high and then return following the Fort Pearce Wash back to the trailhead

After a half mile we decided to drop down to the wash,
so we could get a better "sense" of where Red Man was located . . .
little did we know he was watching us! 

Fort Pearce Wash is located in Warner Valley 

Checking our map and coordinates, we headed back up to the base of the cliff . . . 
we thought we could see Red Man on one of the boulder faces

We scooted through this alcove

Then worked our way over and around these huge sandstone boulders . . . 
Red Man is located on the boulder face directly above Chipper

There he is . . . we found "Red Man!"

Thanks Diane & Mike . . . we made it! 

Red Man is about 4 ft high and he faces to the east 

Kent & Allison and Chipper!

Looking south at Warner Valley and Fort Pearce Wash from Red Man . . .
The Arizona border is just the other side of the wash

Kent & Chipper high above the valley floor

Chipper said, "Hold that rock, I'll be right back!" 

Colorful lichen

Traveling back to the trailhead, through the wash, was brushy in places . . . 
OUCH, watch out for these thorns!

There were several "cowboyglyphs" on the walls of the wash . . . 
Pioneers used axle grease from their wagons to leave their signatures on the sandstone

Looking back up to the cliff above Fort Pearce Wash where we originally started

We have come full circle