Jungle Trail

 May 23, 2023

Jungle Trail

distance: one mile loop

hikers:  6 littles and 7 adults

We wanted a trail that would be good for this little bunch of grandkids and this was perfect.  Not too far, but far enough, exploring and climbing to make it a fun adventure!

This is the group ready to go!  We started at the Carolina Hills trailhead.

We headed up the Sweet Caroline Trail until we got to the turnoff to the Jungle trail.  This is starting on the Jungle Trail.

Exploring and climbing!  For adventurous kids and adults.

Out of the Jungle and heading down the trail. 

 

Here we are to the bridge, almost back to the trailhead to complete our mile loop.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

 Bryce Canyon

trail:  Navajo Loop and Peekaboo Loop Trail

hikers:  Seth, Mark, Lecia

distance:  I think it was about 5 miles according to alltrails, with 1407 ft elevation gain, and labeled moderately challenging on alltrails.

It took us  a little longer than 3 hours, which is surprising since alltrails says it an average of 2 hours and 55 minutes and we were not going fast.  Seth could have cruised right along but Mark and I kept the pace a little slower.

We started at Sunset Point on the Navajo Loop Trail.  Bryce Canyon is so uniquely beautiful and  brings back memories of being here as a kid, and bringing my own kids!

Looking out over the canyon from the rim.

Looking up at where he have hiked! 

Looking down, we still have more switchbacks.

And we'll be hiking up this on the way back!

And the famous Wall Street!  

If you want a shorter hike than what we did, Navajo loop is just the thing. Only 1.3 miles round trip but it's all down and then back up, but it's so cool.

We continued on to the Peekaboo Loop.

Notice the horse sign next to the trail marker.  This is the trail they take horse riders on!  

It was actually a long line of horses and riders, not just the few you see here. I am no horse rider but at this point it seemed like a mighty good idea!  Maybe some day.

We went though a little tunnel and you can see Seth on the other side.  Maybe this is where the name Peekaboo loop comes from. ?

The Bryce Point trail would take you out of the canyon but we continued on our loop.

Bryce Canyon hoodoos

Going back up.

We made it!

This was a long and I would consider it a challenging hike because it was up and down and up and down, and most of it is in the sun.  But because of that it was a rewarding hike because I felt like we had accomplished something!

This is a bird we saw near where we parked.   I looked it up and it is a Stellar's jay!

 

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

 Shakespeare Arch and Sentinel Trail

hikers: Seth, Mark, Lecia

distance:  we went maybe a mile or possibly less.

This was our next hike at Kodachrome Basin.  It was evening and we knew we didn't have a lot of sunlight left so instead of doing the whole loop we did our own hike.  Besides, we read that Shakespeare arch collapsed some time ago.  We started at the trail head and took the middle trail.  It is called the slickrock cutoff and is more challenging.  We were kind of doing it backwards since people usually go to Shakespeare Arch or viewpoint, as it is now, and finish the loop the way we started.  

The trail is narrow and steadily ascends. 

You get up a ways and there are some beautiful views.

We got to the slickrock area (no picture of that) and I opted to turn around and go back the way we came.  It was  going to get dark soon and I didn't want to slow Seth down.  Mark kindly went back with me although he could have continued on.

Same trail we went up on.  After Mark and I got down we took the other fork to meet Seth coming back from the loop he made.  He confirmed I made a good choice.  At least for me.  

It was a nice time of day for hiking but it did limit our hike!  

We didn't see another soul at the trailhead or on the trail.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

 Grand Parade Trail at Kodachrome Basin State Park

hikers: Lecia, Mark, Seth

distance: 2.1 mile flat loop, with box canyons you can explore

This was a flat trail in a desert environment with some beautiful rock areas here and there.  We enjoyed it but I wouldn't recommend the entire distance for young kids, although it is not a difficult hike. I think it would be long and uninteresting for kids.  That is unless you had bikes! This would be a great place to use them!  There was not a lot of shade so don't do it in the middle of a hot sunny day.

There was one other car in the parking lot when we arrived, none when we left and we didn't see a soul on our hike!  Very solitary on a Tuesday afternoon.

The trailhead.

Interesting things along the trail.

By the way, box canyons are not to be confused with slot canyons.  Box Canyons are way more open and not tight like a slot canyon.

We did come across an area that was like a slot canyon.

When the trail was in the shade of the rocks it was a lot cooler and really pleasant.

There were some desert wildflowers.

The trail markers are useful. 

 There are a lot of washes in this area and they look a lot like the trail.

This was one of the unique formations.  

It looked like a concrete pillar standing alone in the desert.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Mossy Cave

Happy Birthday Seth!

It just so happened that we took a little trip on Seth's birthday and the  first hike we did was at Bryce Canyon to Mossy Cave.

hikers: Mark, Lecia, Seth

1 mile

really worthwhile hike

This hike is not in the main area of Bryce Canyon.  We were on the highway driving past Bryce on our way Kodachrome Basin State Park and the Mossy cave trailhead was just off the highway.  

This is where you start the hike and there are bathrooms there.

This is a very short and enjoyable hike.  It is out and back, .4 miles to the cave and a little longer if you go to the overlook to the falls, or to the falls themselves.  It is an easy hike with a little elevation gain at the end as you go up to the cave.  It's not a shady hike but there is a stream to the side that you can walk along or in and cool off!

The scenery is beautiful.

You cross a bridge and you can go down to the stream here or many other places as well.

I don't know these people but you can see hiking in the water can be a lot of fun!

This is the overlook and you can see the falls and the water are a popular spot.  This wasn't even a busy day, at least the parking lot wasn't entirely full.  There was also one person on the top of the fall.

A little information on the Tropic Ditch and why there is water there.

And here is Mossy Cave!  

It doesn't look like much from here but it is really cool, literally, under the overhang.  

It was a beautiful blue sky the day we were there.  No hint of the rain the came later that night while we were sleeping in our tent!

Saturday, March 12, 2022

 So this hike was supposed to be the Jungle Trail, same as the last hike I posted many months ago. 

 I thought it would be a good birthday outing.  

Unfortunately, the grandkids were not able to make it and that is who the Jungle trail is for,  and to top it off, the Jungle Trail itself was very muddy!  Nevertheless we hiked, right past the turnoff for the muddy Jungle Trail and continued on until we came to some forks in the road.  

Then we turned around and went back the same way we came. 

 So it wasn't what I expected, but still it was nice to get out and about a little.  

And it's always a good time when I am with my kids!

Tuesday, November 18, 2021 Jungle Trail, in Draper

Jungle Trail

trail:  We started at the Carolina Hills Trailhead in Draper.  

hikers:  Dad or Grandpa, Mom or Nana, Marisa, Rees, and the two girls!

length of hike: about a mile and it is a loop.  It is an easy hike and made for kids! I can't wait to bring the other grandkids here.

The trailhead is in a cul de sac but it wasn't busy the day we were there and there was room for parking.  

Ready to hike?

Follow the signs for the Jungle Trail!

Just keep walking!  And watch for bikes.

"If you see a horse say Hay!"

I guess you need to watch for horses too. But we didn't see any.

And watch for poison ivy!  There were lost of warning signs!

Off to the right, across a creek, you can catch a glimpse of the Jungle trail just before you get to the turnoff.

The turnoff to the jungle trail was just before this sign warning that there are downhill bikes on the left, to stay to the right!  If you pass that sign you've gone too far.  

There is good signage.  This is where we turned on to the Jungle Trail.

It's made for kids!

But adults are allowed too.  

Then you follow the signs to go back to the trail that takes you to the Caroline Hills trail head.  

Cross the bridge, turn left, and you're almost back where you started.  

This was a fun little hike!