March | 2024 | Cedar City Balsleys

Dave was riding his bicycle west of Cedar City on a dirt road to the little town of Pinto. Pinto is a country community of houses – far removed from any of the public services which are a part of most towns: grocery stores, gas stations, schools, etc. The most notable feature of the town, besides its houses, is the cemetery, with grave stones dating back into the mid-1800’s. Along the road Dave noticed a turn off to what appeared to be a parking area. At the back of the lot he noticed a break in the fence where there was a sign which told of ancient ruins, artifacts, fossils and historical remnants ahead.

The bike ride continued to and from Pinto, but Dave’s curiosity was piqued, so the time came when further investigation was in order. It was a forest service map given by a forest ranger which provided the name for the site: Lion’s Mouth. Perhaps this rock formation is the reason for the name.

A dirt trail around a quarter of a mile in length leads to the top of the ridge where the rocky outcrop is. Across the dirt road from the trail are some snow-capped mountains with elevations at around 7,000 feet.

The trail enters a forest of pinyon pines and juniper trees where the rocky outcrop is located.

A prominent feature of the rocky area is a cave-like indentation with some Indian rock artwork.

Dave and Jan’s granddaughter Erin enjoyed trying sliding on a slick rocky ledge in the “cave.”

The family, including neighbor Kathleen, posed for a picture at the top of the rocks in spite of the wind. And Ryan and Erin bravely ventured out to the edge of a rocky cliff at the top in spite of the wind.

Ryan also found a rocky frame for a facial photo – in an area at the top of the rocky outcrop where there was a nice view to the northwest of the iron mining region from which Iron County got its name.

After nearly four years in Cedar City Dave and Jan continue to discover so many new things to enjoy about living in “color country” – hoping to remain healthy and adventurous enough to manage even more years of exploring the natural beauty which the Lord created, then “re-created” (as a result of the Flood in Noah’s day) for their amazement!

“Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.”

Psalm 148:5 (New American Standard Bible)

Old Sorrel (1915-1945) was a legendary quarter horse stallion bred by George Klegg of Alice, Texas and sold to the King Ranch where he proved to be a very versatile cow horse, a fast runner, and the sire of 116 horses registered with the American Quarter Horse Association. For reasons not known to us, his name has become associated with one of Cedar City’s newest sections of hiking/biking trails and of several housing developments on the west and east sides of a forested ridge which has become a favorite hiking spot for Dave and Jan and, more recently their family and their good neighbor Kathleen.

While hikers are discouraged from using some area dirt hiking trails between December 1 and April 30 (to diminish damage to the trails and permit mule deer to roam), the dirt roads of Old Sorrel are open to hikers and bikers and all-terrain vehicle riders, so Dave and Jan have become familiar with the area this winter – conveniently located just across Cross Hollow Road from Stephen and Meagan’s house .

On Martin Luther King Day, when Stephen and Meagan and Ryan and Erin were free to roam with no school or work schedules to fill, they were joined by Kathleen for a pleasant winter hike.

The forest consists primarily of junipers and pinyon pine trees which are native to Cedar City’s elevation.

The top of the ridge offers scenic views in every direction, providing evidence that Cedar City is surrounded by many mountains with all of their scenic and recreational opportunities.

And the Tushar Mountains, 60 miles to the north, just east of Beaver City (not pictured), include peaks higher than 11,000 and 12,000 feet in elevation. Dave and Jan are grateful for the beauty and variety of the mountains which surround Cedar City – as well as the added blessing of family and friends with which to enjoy them all year long.