2 hikes at Capitol Reef

November 23, day after Thanksgiving
Hickman Bridge and Grand Wash
hikers: Mom, Dad, Landon, Jacob


We decided to head out on a day trip to Capitol Reef National Park.  Mom has been wanting to go here for a long time and we finally made it.  

Hickman Bridge

Hickman Bridge was a fun hike.  The trail was fun and the reward at the end was a beautiful Natural bridge that you walk under.  The information listed it as a moderate hike.  It really wasn't hard but it was nearly two miles there and back and 400 ft elevation gain. The trail is down and back with a little loop at the end. The trailhead is along highway 24 so you don't go into the park to do this hike.  You don't have to pay to go into the park for this hike.  

Spotted this in the parking lot at Grand Wash 

and had to get several photos because it was impressive.

Grand Wash

Grand Wash was our second hike.  Jacob didn't go on this hike and we started at the trailhead in the park.  There is also a trailhead on highway 24, a little east of the Hickman bridge trailhead. Super easy hike because its flat. That would make it good for small kids. You're walking in a dry stream bed. The trail is just over 2 miles, down and back.  We didn't go all the way.  Almost but not quite.  The part we saw had lots of echos, interesting rock, and was pretty but it meant we didn't have time for the Capitol Gorge trail and I'm left wondering if that was more spectacular.  

November 10, 2018

Big Springs Hollow Trail, South Fork

hikers:  Mom, Dad, Landon

 This was the big springs hollow trail that starts at

 Big Springs Park up South Fork. 

Jacob didn't want to hike so he waited in the car.  

The trail is out an back and a total of 4 miles but we didn't go that far.

 I thought this was pretty cool.

It was an easy trail and even though the 

leaves are long gone, the canyon was beautiful.

It was a perfect day for hiking but it must have been 

mighty cold last night and some ice remained in the creek.

Excellent trail for an easy hike and I think it would be great for snowshoeing in the winter.  We definitely need to go back to this place.

September 29, 2108 Little Cottonwood Trail

Hikers:  Mark and Lecia
place:  Little Cottonwood Trail

This was a good Saturday Hike for a fall day.

We started at the Temple Quarry parking lot at the mouth of the canyon and followed little cottonwood trail for a few miles.  It's an easy trail and follows the creek.  Even though you are going up the canyon it's gradual and not a difficult hike.  Lots of bikes!

We did this trail years ago and never made it very far.  We   So today Mark and I went as far as we wanted and were rewarded with this view, which we didn't know existed.  This was a good time of year to see it because the water is low and you can cross the creek to get to it.

Apparently, it is the ruins of an old power plant.  
(You can also get here by parking at the lisa falls trailhead, but you would miss a pleasant hike.)

We were also rewarded with the fall beauty of the canyon!  

September 15, 2018 Logan Canyon

Mark and I were in Logan to watch Landon run the Top of Utah Marathon.  He ran an awesome race!  We don't get to Logan very often anymore so we took advantage of it and after the race we went a few places including the Logan temple, the USU creamery and then we drove up Logan Canyon to the 2nd dam parking lot and took a little hike. 

We haven't been here since Seth and Marisa graduated from USU and moved from Logan. 
It was fun to be back there in the beautiful fall weather.  After crossing the river we went left and just headed up the trail for a while.

The trail kept going but we finally turned around, not knowing where we would have ended up.  There is always the idea that we'll come back and do it again, all the way to the end.  But there are a lot of other trails to hike in Logan Canyon next time we are there.  

August 25, 2018 Cascade Springs

We headed up American Fork Canyon and came to this trailhead, just beyond Mutual Dell.  

Well, we didn't do this hike but we will be back to do it another time.  Instead, we continued driving until we reached Cascade Springs.

This isn't really a hike, but it was a lovely nature walk and it was so beautiful in the mountains. We love this place!

July 5, 2018 Jordan River Trail

We often walk on the Jordan River Trail and it is not really a hike.  But when you go 8 miles I think it qualifies.  We've done that on bikes but never walking!  
hikers:  Mark, Lecia, Seth

July 3, 2018 Rocky Mouth Falls & Lisa Falls

2 favorite and very short hikes!

Hikers in alphabetical order:  Daniel, Jacob, Marisa, Mark, Lecia, Lydia, Rees, Seth, Sterling

Rocky Mouth Falls.  This is as far as mark went.  The rest of us went to the falls and they were so refreshing on a hot day. 

                                                                        Here we are.

                                                       learning about nature


Lisa Falls.  Lots of people at the falls but still a fun hike.

July 2, 2018 Silver Lake

We went up to Silver Lake for a picnic and hike.  A walk around the lake normally doesn't qualify as a hike but it was perfect for mark!  We went a little ways up the Lake Solitude trail.

hikers:  Mark, Lecia, Jacob, Daniel (Devynne was at work), Seth, Marisa, Rees, Lydia.

Picnic

June 8, 2018 Hike to Timpanogos Cave

This was our first hike of the season!  
hikers:  Rees, Marisa, Lydia (rider actually!), Jacob, Mom.
Because of Mark's back problems he was not able to go. 

                                                         Lydia Grace and her nana!

Hikers