Hell's Hole Hike near Kayenta, Utah

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It's been glorious weather for hiking this week. I joined the Inistitute for Continued Learning group for the hike to Hell's Hole near the community of Kayenta. It's fun to hike with others near my age. We don't compete and we all take time to enjoy the views!


Yes, there is a foot path up there. The other choice is scrambling over huge boulders and ledges in the canyon's wash. We used the foot path going up the canyon and came back down the wash. I preferred the wash and its gorgeous slick rock and small pools.



Sacred Datura is a native plant in this area. Deep green leaves hug the ground forming a beautiful pattern.

Redbud often grows in side canyons where it finds shade and water. When you find redbud in the desert, you know you're in a good place! Here the canyon narrows and we're almost near the end of the hike.

Sandstone is porous and easily chisled by weathering and flash floods.

Why do I love this area? Because of moments like this one. The shadows, color and quiet beauty of the canyon make me feel like I'm in a special place--one not everyone has the chance to see. Like a stream in the desert, it refreshes my spirit!

Paria Canyon-Just photos

Good clean mud on a nice white Jeep!

Reflections in the Paria.

Golden riverbank.

Sculpture and garden.

Time to "air up" the tires before we leave the Canyon.

One last look at God's Country!

Driving Paria Canyon, Utah (Grand Staircase)

For the adventurous, Paria Canyon, near Kanab, Utah, is a wonderful 4-wheel day drive. Here is Awesome Joan and her hubby deflating tires as we begin our caravan trip over the graded dirt Skutumpah Road that begins in Johnson Canyon and heads to Paria Canyon.

Bull Gorge is a narrow deep ravine on the Skutumpah Road. There's a trail head here and it looks like it would be an interesting hike.

After an hour or so driving on the Skutumpah Road, we reach Paria Canyon and begin driving south down the stream bed. Today, we will drive as far as the old movie set and exit on Highway 89 about 20 miles east of Kanab.

This gorgeous canyon is mainly white sandstone. The river bed is flat in most places. We criss-cross the river, driving back and forth on the river banks. About half the trip is driving in the streambed itself. October is a great time of year to make this trip because it's usually dry weather--a must in this rugged canyon country where flash floods can be deadly!

Deeper into the canyon, we pass huge cross-bedded sandstone walls. Bordering the river are rows of golden cottonwoods. At the river's edges, crusty white patches of alkali appear wherever the water has evaported on the sandy river bottom.

About half way down the canyon, there's an unnamed slot canyon on the west side of the main canyon that's short, but worth exploring. The sculpted walls depict the power of flash floods to carve and chisel sandstone into wierd and wonderful shapes.

At last we arrive at the Pahreah townsite where a few structures still remain. Here, the canyon is wide, the vibrantly colored canyon walls amazing, and the isolation is still incredible. In the end, despite all their efforts to outlast the flash floods, heat, cold, and deprivation, the people left and the river remains.

Buttes of colored clay tower above the movie set built in the (?) 1960s. You can drive a car to this site on a good dirt road from Highway 89. If you continue up-canyon, north of the movie set, you'll need a high clearance vehicle & all the usual emergency gear.

Vandles torched the movie set a few years ago and only the foundation piles remain. But the scenery is still magnificent and well worth the trip to see the site. This area is part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat. Mon. BLM offices in St. George, Cannonville & Escalante have maps & other information about this trip.

Hiking Zions Nat. Park

Fall in Zions National Park is wonderful!






The Virgin River flows south from the footbridge near Zions Lodge.
Fall brings cooler temperatures, more shade, and bright fall foliage.





The trail leading to the Lower Emerald Pools is an easy hike for most people but the trail to Middle and Upper Pools is steeper, with ups and downs over rocky passages. Cooler weather means the trails can be crowded on weekends in October.




A view from the trail!




The trail at Lower Emeral Pool includes a lovely dripping spring complete with Venus-hair fern.

Middle Emerald Pool is small, quiet and lovely.

Hiking in Zion offers the explorer hidden passages, towering cliffs, running water, and quiet pools. I love it here! Anytime is great, the late fall and early spring are my favorite times.

Lesser Goldfinch

Isn't he cute? He and his friends come to eat thistle seed every morning. Sometimes there are 6 of these guys hanging onto the sock feeder!