Tag Archives: travel

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Salt Lake City Visit

Dave and Jan have lived in Utah for four years as of June, 2024, but they had never visited Salt Lake City during that time until their daughter, Alissa, traveled from South Dakota to take some classes and participate in some evaluations in connection with her pursuit of a degree as a mid-wife. She had a Tuesday afternoon/evening and Wednesday morning free, so Dave and Jan went to Salt Lake City to spend her free time with her. They met for lunch at an In-N-Out restaurant, because they each enjoy In-N-Out meals, and they are not available in Huron, South Dakota. Because Dave took a wrong freeway entrance, Alissa was pretty much finished with lunch by the time their meeting took place, but it was good to connect. Next was a very enjoyable hike at a Foothill Natural Area north-east of the city.

There were lots of spring flowers to enjoy along the trails – being enjoyed as well by many others.

And the beautiful setting provided the distinct impression that Salt Lake City is surrounded by mountains!

The hike was followed by a tasty dinner at a Sizzler Steakhouse – another restaurant not found in Huron in South Dakota. Following breakfast on Wednesday morning Alissa led the way to the University of Utah’s Red Butte Garden where the arboretum’s large collection of spring flowers was on full display.

The arboretum’s paved walkways wound through many beautiful displays of flowers and other scenery.

The pleasant arboretum tour was followed by an enjoyable lunch at a nearby Corner Market – after which Alissa returned to her study schedule and Dave and Jan drove back to Cedar City. Dave and Jan are very blessed to enjoy occasional visits with Alissa and family – in spite of the distances involved. And they enjoy having Stephen and family living nearby in Cedar City. As the psalmist expressed it in Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a gift from the LORD.”

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Northwest Corner of Zion

Dave and Jan enjoy living just a little over an hour’s drive from Zion National Park. Because it is one of the most popular national parks in America, it gets very busy during the summer season, but it is a great place to visit during the cooler months when traffic is very light.

Closer to Cedar City is Kolob Canyons, the western portion of Zion National Park – just twenty miles south of town, and not so crowded. But Dave and Jan recently followed a tip from a neighbor who served as a ranger in the Kolob area, and they found the closest part of Zion National Park – a part which is probably known to very few people, even those who live in the area. The discovery began when they went looking for a water tower their neighbor told them about, which is located at the top of the steep incline you can see on the side of this hill.

Climbing the hill to the water tower afforded some very nice views of the valley below and the snowy peaks across the valley on the west side of interstate 15.

Just beyond the water tower at the top of the hill was a sign which revealed that Dave and Jan were entering Zion National Park at its northwest corner – the corner closest to Cedar City, but fewer than twenty miles from “home.”

The trail led down into a canyon, but along the way it became evident that the stream in the canyon flowed over a significant drop, creating a waterfall around forty or fifty feet high.

Hiking back down the road leading up to the water tower, Dave and Jan made their way to the mouth of the canyon and hiked the short distance in to the base of the waterfall.

Returning to the area a day or two later with grandson Ryan and their neighbor, Kathleen, they were greeted across the fence by a herd of deer enjoying an evening snack in a farmer’s field.

Ryan enjoyed hiking behind the waterfall for an early start on his shower for the evening.

Dave and Jan continue to enjoy discovering new sights to take in so close to home. And it is fun to be able to share them with other family members and friends. What a pleasant surprise to discover that, while large crowds compete for spots to enjoy in Zion, the northwest corner of Zion is so close to home!

“Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men” Psalm 66:5

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Lion’s Mouth

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)

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Old Sorrel

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.

Juniper berries
Pinyon cones and nuts

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.

Three Peaks to the west
Mountains to the south
Mountains to the southeast
Mountains to the east

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.