St George, Utah, is hiker heaven, with many areas of great scenery to explore. I generally stayed within an hour’s drive and found much to like. Here are some of the highlights.
If you go to Cedar Breaks National Monument, you might feel content to take the short walk from the Information Center and shoot a few “Ooo, Ahhh” shots at Point Supreme Lookout. But a walk on the Ramparts Trail will reward you with additional views. To maximize your reward, go all the way to Ramparts Overlook.Soar! Natural beauty can even be found in cities sometimes.As the highest point in Washington County, Signal Peak offers some long views.I was on the Church Rocks Trail, but I never found out if these were the Church Rocks.There are several things going on here. In the foregrounds is yellowish vegetation (acually a blend of ivory and green) growing in dark, volcanic soil. Behind it is green vegatation growing in red rock. Behind that is red rock with little growing in it. And towering above it all are the black Pine Valley Mountains.This view looks across Snow Canyon to the Pine Valley mountainsThe view in the rear view mirror when climbing up Squirrel Canyon in the Canaan Mountain WildernessI find the erosion patterns left in the red rock to be fascinatingI love getting out in wilderness areas and enjoying nature, with only limited reminders of humankind. It’s a good thing that reminders such as this one are extremely rare.A string of potholes stores water where you might not expect it. Today, I think I’ll take a pass.How I wish I could soar above Yant Flat in Dixie National Forest!Yant Flat in Dixie National Forest is not large, but I need to return there to investigate more of its red rock terrain.Atop Gooseberry Mesa, it’s hard to know whether to look at the mesa or the views beyond. I think I’ll take both. FWIW, can you imagine the view from left of center?Here’s just one view from the end of the trail. Bizarre meets amazing meets cities.You really should visit Zion National Park sometime. That’s what you see at the top, but it’s much more interesting from the inside.The Great Basin Rattlesnake has unusual coloring. The front half reminds me of a Diamondback, but the back half has rings. This one seemed to think it owned the trail. Whatever happened to “Share the trail?”Snow Canyon State Park is a very popular park on the edge of St George, Utah. This is approximately a view of the park from above. So, of course, this is Snow Canyon.
Adventure After 60 