Queen's Garden Trail and Navajo Loop

Cannonville, Utah
                                                      

Last Tuesday we were up early and out the door by 8:30am. Destination... Bryce NP.

The Queen's Garden Trail begins at Sunrise Point...elevation 8017 feet.

 
 

This trail is a steep descent of 320 feet...like climbing down a 32 story building.

 
 

This sign pretty much sums up the trail. Joe and I were both glad we had purchased nice hiking boots back in Tucson.

 
 

 Highlights of the hike included spectacular views around every turn. A photographers heaven!
 
 
 
 

 
There were fantastic rock formations that we found interesting. They sure generated a lot of visual activity! 
 
 
As you descend, the scenery changes...lots more green added to the picture.
 

 
The Ponderosa pines stand  so tall and proud.
 
 

They have needles that grow in groups of three.

 
And we found  the ancient bristlecone pines again.

 Horse back riding is available if you enjoy that. I would be way to nervous on those steep slopes and drop-offs.

At the end of the trail there is a rock formation...wonder why its called the Queen's Garden? The formation so resembles Queen Victoria, regal in her crinolines, surveying her Queendon.

Is this the end of the hike...I don't think so. At this point, you can go back the way you came (making the hike a 1.8 mile roundtrip) or you can continue on the connector trail that joins to Navajo Loop which is just what we did. 
 

 

As we continue, we are surrounded by beautiful trees...pines and firs mostly.

Its sunny, but the shade from the trees help to keep us cool.

How different everything looks from the canyon.

The rocks we just walked through and on look so fragile.

Shortly after the connector trail joins the Navajo Loop, we walked through a section of narrows. I love the narrows! Our first experience with narrows were with Steve and Joan...thanks again!

There is a 400 year old Douglas Fir tree in the narrows. I'm not sure if this is it or not.

We sure saved the hardest part of the hike for last! This is a picture looking down on switchbacks...very steep and narrow switchbacks...lots of stops for water here!



I thought the end was near...oh no! More steep inclines, but the views made it worthwhile. We climbed 521 feet...like climbing UP a 52 story building!

 Whew! Almost done! Navajo Loop Trailhead begins at Sunset Point...but, Pearl was waiting at Sunrise Point. Actually, we planned it that way. We enjoyed the last half mile on a nice, FLAT walkway...





...enjoying all the views the Amphitheater had to offer. Total hike...drum roll please...2.9 miles!

                    It was a day! A day we won't soon forget. What a feeling of WOW!

                                        

                                                  I hope you had a day of "WOW!" too.

 

 

 Is this tree clinging on for dear life or what?

 

 

 Pearl sure looked good sitting there waiting on us!

 

This little fellow welcomed us to the park bright and early on our way in...

...Y'all come back!

 
 
 
 

 
 
 



Cool, Clear Water and Willis Creek

Cannonville, Utah

  Today was family hike day and Marsha, part owner and manager of the KOA here, suggested the Willis Creek hike. She assured us it was dog friendly...  


You drive 2.9 miles south of Cannonville on Cottonwood Road and turn right on Skutumpah Road (scenic backway 500). The trailhead for Willis Creek is about 6 miles down Skutumpah Road which is an unpaved road and lots of fun!

 Parking for the hike is a well-used flat area on the right side of the road.








The trail into the canyon begins across the road.





Dover and Wrecks were the lucky pups today!

And they're off! The adventure begins...

The cool, clear water...Willis Creek.

Wrecks loves to run...

and Dover loves the water.










The canyon walls were beautiful!


     
Hard rocks make narrow slots...

               
     while softer rocks make wider slots.

Looking up through the narrows was like looking through a window.





We went through several open wash areas...
Dover climbed the banks like a mountain goat!





                  Perennial flow of water in the creek is usually 1-2 inches deep.
 
 
 
 
We weren't the only ones in the canyon today!
 
 
 
 

 

 

There were a few signs of spring along the way!

 

And hugs and kisses from happy (and wet) pups!

 

 We found petroglyphs at the end of our part of the trail.












This was the view Joe and I enjoyed at lunch...and below is the view
Wrecks and Dover enjoyed.

 We found a bug in the water.

And several waterfalls.

AA

We had two tired pups when we got home !

 

 

 

Our hike to the junction of Willis Creek and Sheep Creek was about 2.2 miles one way.

 

Hope you had a great day...we sure did!

 

Y'all come back!

P.S. Our Verizon internet connection is non existent and the KOA service inside the coach is way slow and so are we..... I finally tried taking the lap top outside and discovered the KOA connection was pretty good.  Hopefully, I will have time Thursday evening to read posts and catch up on comments.