Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Dead Horse Point

Dave wrote about the history of Dead Horse State Park on his blog yesterday.  Click here to read it.  Basically, years ago, cowboys rounded up wild horses and corralled them, but didn't get back to rescue them, so the horses died of thirst.  We visited the state park on our way to Canyonlands.  The two parks are very close to each other.  We checked out the campground at Dead Horse Point, which looked like a very nice, typical state park campground with some spacious sites.  They had electric hookups for $20 per night. 

On our way to the state and national parks, we saw the Monitor and Merrimac rocks.

Another interesting rock formation near the Monitor and Merrimac rocks.

After we followed sixteen rental Jeeps into Dead Horse State Park, we went to the visitor's center, and then on the 1/4 mile nature trail.  As Dave wrote in his blog, that trail led us to the Point Trail, and silly us, we started walking on it, thinking it was a 1/2 mile trail.  No, it was three or more miles, and then all the way back!  And the footing was not good on this trail.  Again, it started out easy but then got much harder.  We didn't have our walking poles with us because we didn't realize we were going for a hike.  We didn't hike all the way out to the Point, but later drove out there in the car.

While at the Point, we saw the neck of the Colorado River. 

One thing we saw along the path during our hike was cairns that people had placed along the way, partly to mark the trail and partly of their own making. 

One of the cairns we saw.

Hole in a rock.

A lonely red wildflower.

Today Dave played golf and I explored the town of Moab.  I discovered a park next to the Mill Creek Parkway multi-use path, so I went for a walk on the path.  Later this afternoon, Dave and I drove to this park with our bicycles, and rode them on the path. 

One of several bridges over Mill Creek.

Percussion instruments in the park.  What a great idea!

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

I would like to welcome two new blog followers, Sam and Donna, who have a blog called 5th Wheel Vagabonds, and Jerry and Suzy, who have a blog called Our Life on Wheels.  Both of these couples are RVers and have graciously decided to tune into my blog.  Thanks, folks, and welcome!

31 years ago today, Dave and I were married in Riverside, California.  We celebrated our anniversary by taking a day trip to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.  The weather wasn't the best, with clouds and a bit of rain off and on, and very cool weather, especially by the end of the afternoon.  After our day in the park, we celebrated by going out for dinner at a nice restaurant located near the RV park, Buck's Grill.

After stopping at Island in the Sky Visitor Center, we drove to the Mesa Arch trail.  This was labeled an easy walk of only 1/2 mile with 100 feet of elevation.  Well, it wasn't easy for us.  This time we knew enough to take our trekking walking sticks, so that helped.  The footing on these "walks" is much more like a hike, with an uneven stony, sandy, dirt path.  This was a crowded walk, and I couldn't get pictures without other people in them.

The trail to Mesa Arch

The view of Mesa Arch was worth the effort!

View through Mesa Arch

Green River Overlook

Grand View Point overlook

At Grand View Point, we saw a Jeep getting a tow.  This was funny, because on our way into Dead Horse State Park, we trailed behind 16 Jeeps that were entering the park to go off-roading.

Our wildlfe sighting for the day.  We saw cattle crossing the road on our way into the park and on our way out of the park.

Beautiful wildflowers--are these lupine?

Tomorrow I will post the pictures from our visit to Dead Horse State Park.  We went on a "walk" there, too.

St. George's Snow Canyon State Park

Snow Canyon State Park is about 10 miles from St. George.  We paid the $6 day use fee and explored the park today.  We took our bicycles along, but the "easy/level" bike paths were not so easy or level.  We gave up the bike riding after 3 miles.  If we were into hiking there were lots of trails.  We did take some cool pictures, though, which don't do the scenery justice. 

Navajo red sandstone

A closer look

Lava area called Cinder Cone

Navajo white sandstone

Of course, we checked out the state park campground.  What a setting!

Last night we had dinner with George and Vickki at a great restaurant called Gun Barrel.  We took a scenic drive after dinner and went to an area called Tuacahn near Snow Canyon State Park.  Concerts are held year-round at the Tuacahn amphitheater.  It's in a beautiful red rocks area.  Tuacahn is a performing arts public school and the students get a chance to perform in Broadway productions.  Last night the concert was Cab Calloway performing big band tunes. 

Before we went to Snow Canyon State Park this morning, Dave and I played pickleball.  Yesterday on my bike ride, I saw a park with 4 pickleball courts and one tennis court.  We like to play pickleball but usually have to play on a tennis court, so it was great to play on an actual regulation-size (3/4 the size of a tennis court) pickleball court.  I need to play every day so that I can learn to hit the ball better.  Pickleball uses a hard paddle and the ball is like a whiffle ball.  The sport of pickleball is growing in popularity and it's fun to play and is easier than tennis.  Click here if you want to read about the history of pickleball.