Monthly Archives: February 2022

by

Let’s Hike

Dave and Jan have some neighbors who moved into new homes in their neighborhood this past fall who share their interest in exploring the beauty of the area. So they invited Kathleen, who recently moved to Cedar City from Riverside, California, to join them for a recent hike. They decided to head for Zion National Park. During the winter months the crowds are far smaller, so there were an abundance of parking places, and no necessity to ride a shuttle bus into portions of the park often restricted to shuttle traffic only. From the visitor center, they chose to hike the Guardian Trail.

Jan and Kathleen on the Guardian Trail in Zion

The Guardian Trail climbs around 350 feet in its 3 and 1/2 mile round trip, with lots of scenic views along the way across the Zion valley, and an excellent view of the Guardian overlooking the valley below.

Looking north from the Guardian Trail.

A picnic lunch at the trail’s upper end was closely supervised by one of Zion’s many native residents.

Scenery in Zion National Park is breathtakingly beautiful in almost every direction – as many are aware!

A week later, Dave and Jan hiked from their front door up the Ghost Flats trail – in a little cooler weather.

Red Hollow saddle with Cedar Mountain in the background.
Jan on the trail with Cedar City in the background.
Ghost Flats – four miles up the trail from home.
Snowy peak on the 10,000 ft. Markagunt Plateau.

Dave and Jan are very grateful for the innumerable hiking options in the Cedar City vicinity. With the author of the 104th Psalm (v. 24) they say, “O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.”

by

Just a Little to the West

Among the many places in the Cedar City area with its amazing red rock formations and beautiful mountain scenery are some areas a little warmer and drier. During the cold and snow of winter months some warmer and drier locations can be welcome for their recreational opportunities.

Coal Creek with Cedar Mountain in the background.

St. George, of course, is on the edge of the Mojave Desert where such scenic places as Snow Canyon and Zion National Park are available to enjoy with a drive of only an hour or less.

Snow Canyon west of St. George
“Temples and Towers” at Zion National Park

But even closer to Cedar City is a county park surrounded by many square miles of country managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A ten mile drive takes Dave and Jan to the Three Peaks county recreation area where there are opportunities for picnicking, camping, hiking, bike riding, shooting, rock crawling (with motorized vehicles designed for the challenge), horseback riding and just enjoying a little change of scenery.

The three peaks of Three Peaks Recreation area.

With the local trails Dave and Jan enjoy walking and hiking near home a little on the muddy side, they decided to try hiking at Three Peaks. The Rocky Peak Trail leaves from a campground which is being renovated for the coming camping season, so it took a little time to locate the trail, but it was a nice find.

There is no shortage of rocks at Rocky Peak!

The top of the peak provided 360 degree views as well as a good place for a picnic lunch.

Old iron mines in the background are the reason for Iron County’s name.
Looking west at the other two (rocky) peaks from the top of Rocky Peak.
Looking east toward the mountain range behind Cedar City. Some of the miles of dirt roads and trails enjoyed by cyclists on the valley floor beneath the peak.
No, those aren’t lakes in the valley. They are solar panels providing some of the electrical service for the Cedar City area toward the mountains.

Dave and Jan are very grateful for the many opportunities to enjoy the Lord’s creative handiwork in and around Cedar City – and for the good health to take advantage of it all even in their senior years.