Saturday, July 27, 2024 Loop around Palisade Lake

 Palisade Lake Loop

hikers:  Mark and Lecia

distance:  2 miles

elevation gain: 134 feet

This was our much anticipated camping trip to Palisade State Park.  There were 7 of us camping  but only 2 of us went on this walk, or little hike, around the lake just after breakfast.  

We started at our campsite, which was at the Wakara Campground.

We walked down to the lake, which was not busy at all at  8:20 in the morning.

We took the Lakeshore Trail on the west side of the lake and it was really pretty!

We continued on a loop south at the end of the lake called the dance hall loop.  There was an overlook where we could see the town of Sterling!

Then when we were back at the lake we kept going to the camping areas and back to our campground.

This was a sign and map at the campground.  

And here is my map from strava.

July 17, 2024 Lisa Falls

 Lisa Falls

distance: just under .5 miles

elevation gain:  75 feet

hikers: Grandpa, Nana, and 6  grandchildren!

After our hike to donut falls last week I knew a hike with these kids and only 2 adults had to be a short one and this fit the bill for our grandchildren's day activity!  Everyone made it and there were few complaints.

I knew it was a short hike but I had forgotten it is steep!  

Over or under, take your pick.  

We made it to the falls!

Beautiful view.  I didn't take many pictures because my focus was on supervising the kiddos not photography.  This is such a great hike when you need something small.  The reward at the end pays off and there are rocks to climb on and to eat lunch on.  

July 10, 2024 Donut Falls

 Donut Falls

hikers:  7 kiddos (ages 16 months to 9 years) and 4 adults

length:   1.5 miles

elevation gain:   291 feet

# of other hikers:   parking lot was overflowing and lots of people at the falls

temperature:   over 100* in the valley so definitely less in the canyon!

fun rating:   depends on who you ask.  "good hike"  "this is long"  "I'm sooo tired"

After parking someone warned us the bridge was out and we could get wet or take the alternate route.  We decided on the alternate route but the trail would have worked also.  You had to cross the creek on a log and yes, some of us would have gotten wet!  

The alternate route was on a maintenance or access road for a while.  It was still a pretty hike and we could hear the rushing water in the creek.

This colorful butterfly was one of the wonders of nature we ran across.

This was the makeshift bridge we could have crossed.

Near the falls there was a rope to get down some rocks.  I don't remember it being there before but it was really helpful.  I don't have a picture of it but all the kids made it one way or another. 

After the hike we decided to have our picnic at the trailhead instead of driving somewhere else because the kids were pretty tired.

It was a fun hike, even though some of the kids were tired.  With little ones this small it was good to have a high adult to kid ratio.  We learned we can keep going even when it is hard.  We did it!!!

July 6, 2024 Rocky Mouth Fall

 Rocky Mouth Falls

hikers:  6 of us,  3 kiddos, 3 adults

elevation, length of hike: same as usual, .7 and 282 feet.   This was the first time we have been up there this year and part of the trail near the falls has been washed out so it looks a little different than usual and near the falls you hike thru the water.  Wasn't expecting that but just be prepared to walk in the water for a short way. 

Halfway there by the time you get to this trailhead.

Lots of water this year and because part of the trail 

has been washed out you will be getting your feet wet!

The water and rocks got a little tricky for this one.

But luckily Grandpa had his pack and was on first aid duty.

Lots of people at the falls.

Our explorer!

 

🥾🥾🥾

June 19, 2024

 Dimple Dell

hikers:  Grandpa, J, Emmy, Nana

distance:  under a mile

elevation gain:  89 feet

This was really more of a walk, not a hike.  But it is what we had time for.  The trail was not paved, we went down a hill, found a creek and that makes it sound like a hike.  Plus we passed some friendly horses and riders.  It was a loop.

Strava

After leaving the parking lot we followed the sign.

Down the hill we went.

I didn't get a picture of the horses but you can see there have been lots of horses!  

The riders were friendly and let us pet the horses.

Lots of water in the stream and this is where we stopped for a snack.

Back up the hill to the parking lot.  It was a loop and soon we were back at the car.

Friday, June 7, 2024 North Fork Park Waterfall

 NORTH FORK PARK WATERFALL

hikers: Mark & Lecia

distance:  about a mile

elevation gain: 187 feet

location: near Eden, Utah

This was an out and back trail. I had been on this trail 3 years ago and didn't complete it so I wanted to do it again.  That was at girl's camp and because it is a steep trail I stayed with someone who didn't go all the way so I was glad for a chance to do it again and make it to the falls.

There's not a lot of parking and no bathrooms 

at the trail head but this is where we started.

This was a shade part of the trail.  Very pretty.  Lots of ups and downs.  

After a lot of going up the trail you go down 

these steps to get to the best view of the falls.

The falls are beautiful.  

My daughter recommended this for a family hike later this summer.  

With my memories of girl's camp my first response was no.  There is a lot of uphill on the trail and I think that would be hard for our youngest family hikers.  

But a couple of the grandkids have already done it.  There were kids on the trail.  The trail is short.  

So we shall see.

We started to go up even further to get another view of the falls but that section was really steep so we turned around.

My strava map.

Saturday, June 1, 2024 Alpine Poppy Fields

Alpine Poppy Fields

hikers: Mark & Lecia

distance 1 mile

elevation gain: 134 feet

difficulty:  easy, basically a walk on a dirt path.

beauty:  definitely worth it to see the poppies. If it exists go at a non busy time.

time of day:  7:45 am on a Saturday

Mark and I went to the poppy fields in Alpine for an early morning hike.  OK it wasn't really early although we thought it was early enough to beat the crowds but we were wrong.  Sunrise would be a good time.  There were lots of people, photographers and influencers.  I had to work at my photos to get them without people.  I'm sure it was even busier as time went on.  

We found a parking spot in the parking lot.  It fills up but there is a church before the parking lot where you can park when it is busy.  There are lots of biking trails in this park.

Here is my strava of our hike or walk!

We followed the well marked path.

It took us to the ruins.  At one time this was a house.  

Now the brick walls remain and they are surrounded by flowers at this time of year.

Because there are so many people to see the poppies they rope the paths.

The view of the poppies and the mountains is beautiful.

So colorful!