"Adventure is not in the guidebook,
beauty is not on the map.
Seek and ye shall find."
On the Loose by Terry and Renny Russell
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| Calf Creek Lower Falls Trail, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument |
Some of the places we have travelled this summer and fall have been planned but many more have just been found. And that was the case with Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM). As we were enjoying the Dixie National Forest we noticed that the GSENM was just a little farther south and we wanted to explore it. What a treat! An amazingly unspoiled and remote 1.9 million acres of America's public lands, the GSENM was the last place in the continental United States to be mapped. I did not know that... At the visitor center we learned that and many other interesting things about the geology, biology and history of the area.
The National Monument was established in 1996 and is one of the nation's newest conservation initiatives managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Grand Staircase is a series of massive geological steps that descend toward the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The five cliff formations -- Pink, Gray, White, Vermilion and Chocolate -- are classic examples of biological diversity, spanning five different life zones. GSENM is a fantastic outdoor laboratory and much scientific research is being conducted here. David and I had fun indulging our 'inner scientist' at the exhibits in the visitor center.
The National Monument was established in 1996 and is one of the nation's newest conservation initiatives managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Grand Staircase is a series of massive geological steps that descend toward the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The five cliff formations -- Pink, Gray, White, Vermilion and Chocolate -- are classic examples of biological diversity, spanning five different life zones. GSENM is a fantastic outdoor laboratory and much scientific research is being conducted here. David and I had fun indulging our 'inner scientist' at the exhibits in the visitor center.
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| Red rocks and pink, white and chocolate cliffs |
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| Streaked cliffs on the Calf Creek Lower Falls Trail |
We drove through much of the monument on Scenic Byway 12 and stopped to hike one of the monument's more scenic trails, the Calf Creek Lower Falls Trail. The hike wound through a labyrinth canyon with multi-hued cliffs on both sides. After 3 miles of stark beauty, the trail ended at one of the prettiest waterfalls I have seen.
We had wanted a little warmer weather and for this hike we got it. David likes his weather 'just right' and this was a little too warm for him. But once the trail left the desert for the cool moisture of the canyon we perked up, Maya included. When we arrived at the waterfall, it was body and soul refreshing!
We had wanted a little warmer weather and for this hike we got it. David likes his weather 'just right' and this was a little too warm for him. But once the trail left the desert for the cool moisture of the canyon we perked up, Maya included. When we arrived at the waterfall, it was body and soul refreshing!
Lower Calf Creek Falls
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