Among the many things Dave and Jan enjoy about Cedar City is its proximity to so many beautiful places. Just east of Cedar City is Cedar Breaks National Monument. Though the Balsleys have visited Cedar Breaks numerous times, they only recently took the hike from the normal visitors’ center (currently under re-construction). It was definitely a hike to be repeated.

Among the interesting features of the area is the presence of many Bristlecone Pine trees. Some Bristlecone Pines have been around for up to 5,000 years (according to the “experts”), and the park service indicates that Bristlecone Pines in the Cedar Breaks area are up to 2,000 years old.

Of course, there are also many beautiful flowers to enjoy at the monument.

Another nearby area of interest to Dave and Jan is Kolob Canyons – the western portion of Zion National Park. But just across the highway from the canyons is a country community, New Harmony, backed on the west by an interesting looking range of mountains. So a drive to New Harmony led to the New Harmony Trailhead with its picnic area and a series of trails – some of which lead up into the mountains which await discovery at another time in cooler weather.

And the view of the Kolob Canyons area from New Harmony is something to enjoy on its own!

Dave and Jan have been enjoying short (three-day) camping trips to various points of interest in Utah’s southwest and even into eastern Nevada. But it is very nice to have some beautiful areas to explore with only a short drive. In all of it the truth of the second verse of the hymn “I Am His, and He Is Mine” resonates for the Balsleys – “Heav’n above is deeper blue; earth around is sweeter green! Something lives in every hue Christ-less eyes have never seen”!