Lower Calf Creek Falls (~120ft) was a 5 mile roundtrip hike that was a perfect opportunity to cool-off in the shade and spray of the falls. However, the water was surprisingly cold and intolerable for more than a few minutes. We would highly recommend this hike if you are in the area of Southern Utah near Escalante.
We did an internet search to try to find the source of the water coming over Calf Creek Falls with no luck. If anyone out there knows the answer to that mystery, please send us a comment. Thanks.
Above is Trey admiring the "Tiger Stripes" in the Willis Creek Narrows outside of Henrieville, Utah. This "Slot Canyon" is well worth a visit! It's an easy hike with no major obstacles to overcome. There are several sections with beautiful "fluted" sandstone walls to explore.
Last year we made a trip to Goblin Valley State park in Utah. It was an amazingly unique place. However, Trey was still recovering from surgery to repair his fractured tibia. Using crutches to explore Goblin Valley was a frustrating experience to say the least. So, we really wanted to go back (healthy) and give it a proper exploration.
We didn't see anyone else off on the backside of Goblin Valley. There's nothing else like it that we've ever seen! Unfortunately, there was no "hookup" for our truck camper at this State Park. Apparently, we were competing with hoards of Europeans who flock to Southern Utah and Northern Arizona this time of year. Ever since a motion picture was made in this area back in the 90's by a German film maker, Europeans have come in droves to explore "Color Country" in their own rental rv's. Luckily, our batteries were charged and water tank was full, so we were able to "boondock" off of the BLM road that leads to Little Wild Horse Canyon(our next "must-do" hike).
The picture above was taken just after the sun set below the horizon. Even light with no shadows.
In this picture above, Natalie is down in the canyon setting up a shot with her camera on a tripod.
Natalie poses in front of a huge sandstone wall streaked with "desert varnish" at the head of Little Wild Horse Canyon which is a must see place just a short drive from Goblin Valley State Park.
Little Wild Horse is one of the longest "Slot Canyons" that is easily accessible by mere humans without the need for ropes and harnesses.
Inside the "rib cage" of Little Wild Horse canyon. So Cool! There really is no excuse to not visit this canyon Especially if your are in the area.
Let me just say, I swear this in not photoshop'd! I turned the corner and there it was! I thought I was hallucinating. A terrible flashback from my teenage years? Nope, it's real, and you could find it in Little Wild Horse Canyon for yourself. I saw a documentary on Discovery Channel the other day that explained why we humans see "faces" in clouds, tree bark, rocks, etc...Look it up. It's very interesting.
Variety is the key word to describe this canyon!
In my opinion, you can never have enough visual reference to cool places to visit. So many of the places I've wanted to go to, I've found by searching photos on Flickr.com. It is a great resource for those that are visually oriented like me!
Cheers,
Trey & Natty
In the lower left of this photo is the first of many "potholes" to discover along the hike to the Subway.
Natalie poses for a picture in the Subway! It's a long arduous hike (rock-hopping) through the creek for about 5 miles to get to this point, and it is totally worth it!
One of the many larger hot-tub sized "potholes" in the Subway proper.
This picture is from the upper part of the canyon that requires a rope or very good scrambling skills to gain access to it from the bottom. We were lucky enough to run into a guy named Jeremy who kindly allowed us to use his ropes to ascend to the upper reaches of the Subway.
In the background of this photo is the famous "North Pole" coined by the Pro Landscape Photographer Michael Fatali.
The "North Pole" in all its splendor.
