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.

“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.