Badwater Basin is a salt flat in the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.
A sign high on the cliff indicating sea level:
An info sign listing the lowest places on Earth:
But it’s a dry heat…:
Boardwalk and path:
282 feet below sea level:
Path to the salt flat:
Selfie:
Beard attack:
We visited Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada.
Entrance station; timed-entry reservations required:
Visitor Center:
Gift store:
Exhibits:
Tortoise:
Jackson the burro:
Picnic:
We did a hike to a waterfall:
Hovenweep National Monument has multiple units in Utah and Colorado. We visited the main one, site of Hovenweep Castle and several other ruins:
A sign with a map of the various units:
We hiked along a canyon-edge path, with a view of several structures on both sides of the canyon:
Hovenweep Castle:
Once again we went back to Arches National Park, for one last time (for now). This time, we headed to The Windows, a part we quickly visited on the first day. But this time we did some hiking to the various arches.
The entrance sign again:
Animal sculptures by the visitor center:
Info signs for The Windows:
The Windows from the start of the trail:
Heading towards an arch:
A small arch off to the side:
An interesting tree:
North Window arch:
View through the arch:
Under the arch:
Turret Arch:
South Window Arch:
North and South Window Arches:
Turret Arch:
Wedding couple:
A parking lot sign caught my eye:
A fun closer view of it:
North and South Window Arches:
Double Arch trail:
We went back to Arches National Park the next day, driving straight to the end of the park, to do the Landscape Arch hike. This is a fairly easy 1.9 mile (3.1 km) stroll along a mostly flat gravel and sand path, though there were some short steep hills.
The line of cars to get through the entrance station; we continue to believe that all parks should have an express line for people with park passes; most of the holdup is due to people paying and/or asking questions:
Looking downhill at the entrance station and switchbacks:
Rocks:
The parking area for the Landscape Arch and Devils Garden hikes:
Info on the trail, and also how the fins are formed:
Start of the hike:
A first look at the Landscape Arch; a little hard to see against the backdrop of rocks:
Info:
Closer:
Easier to see with sky behind it:
Another nearby arch:
Jenn taking a picture of me:
The path used to go under the arch, but that is closed since part of it collapsed:
On the way back, we took a half-mile side path to Pine Tree arch:
And the Tunnel arches:
Back at the start of the trail:
Afterwards, we had a picnic dinner at a nice spot:
We were rather hot, but had come prepared with cooling headbands; I kinda look like a hippie:
Finally, some fins:
We had an afternoon timed-entry ticket for Arches National Park, so went there a second time, this time going to the visitor center:
Some animal sculptures outside:
Relief map:
Visitor center:
Rocks:
A short hike to Sand Dune Arch, nestled amongst rock fins:
Arch:
Skyline Arch:
We stopped in a nice picnic area:
And had a picnic dinner at a very secluded table:
On a whim, we decided to head down a dirt road (I had previously checked it on the map):
It led to the Tower Arch trailhead:
We then continued along the road, leaving the park via the “secret” back entrance to the park:
Salt Valley Road, via public BLM land; you could avoid the timed entry requirement by coming in this way, though it is several miles of rough dirt road, so not for the faint of heart or non-4WD vehicles:
Back to the highway:
We again went to Capitol Reef National Park, this time to the Goosenecks Point overlook and a hike on the Hickman Bridge trail.
Some pics of Torrey, Utah on the way through:
An old house:
We really like the look of this stone building:
There’s a police car parked by the side of the road, with a mannequin inside:
The road to Goosenecks Point:
A bunch of pics from Goosenecks Point:
Then we proceeded to the Hickman Bridge trail, for a two-mile hike to a natural bridge arch:
We went to Slacker’s Burger Joint in Torrey for dinner after the hike:
And shared an indulgence for dessert:
Finally, a screenshot from the AllTrails app of the trail map:
We visited Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. It is a long skinny park, encompassing the Waterpocket Fold, “a geologic wrinkle on earth” (quoting from the NPS site; really should be “in earth”).
Here’s a map; click it to explore the NPS map:
Capitol Reef signs:
Lots of interesting rocks:
Visitor center:
Jenn talking with someone else at the cancellation stamping station:
A large wall-mounted map:
We stopped by Gifford House, a historic Mormon homestead, which now contains a gift and pie shop:
We bought a couple of fruit pies as a snack:
We also got a jam sampler:
Outside:
Back on the scenic drive in the park:
Our drive led to the trailhead for a hike though a canyon, and on impulse we decided to do it (which was a bit silly, as we weren’t properly dressed for it, but oh well):
Petroglyphs:
Some names from 1911, halfway up a wall:
A painter:
The “pioneer register” rock etchings from the 1880’s:
A security camera to make sure nobody adds more markings (probably battery powered, recording for later review; or maybe a dummy):
Back in the truck:
Blowing dust:
A nice park. Stay tuned for more posts from here from subsequent days.
Within the Bryce Canyon National Park boundary, but separated from the main part of the park, is a short hike called Mossy Cave Trail. This hike is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) out-and-back, with an elevation change of 300 feet (91m).
Here’s the trailhead:
Jenn with hiking poles; the first time we used them, very useful on the steep and rough path:
Some nice views from the trail:
A waterfall:
Another path leads to the Mossy Cave:
Really more of an overhang than a cave:
Still some ice lingering in the shade:
We visited Joshua Tree National Park when last in the Palm Springs area back in December, but decided to visit it a second time in early February, specifically to go for a short hike.
We went in the south entrance (where we exited last time), and stopped at the visitor center there. There was a singing park ranger:
After exploring a campground (too small for our coach), a picnic lunch, and considering a hike near the visitor center, we continued on towards the joshua tree part of the park. Passing some interesting rocks on the way:
Some joshua trees:
The parking areas were too full to do more popular hikes, so on a whim we turned down a dirt road:
Some interesting rocks by the road:
We stopped at an access point for rock climbers, and explored that area as an informal hike:
If you look closely, you may spot several rock climbers:
A selfie:
I’m valiantly holding up a rock:
A wave-shaped rock:
Young joshua tree:
Rocks:
Me taking a photo:
Of this:
Jenn and me:
Another rock climber:
More rocks:
A small cactus:
Joshua tree:
Rocks and joshua trees:
A bird:
I like the glowing effect of the sun behind the tip of the rock:
More lens flare with the sun touching the tip of the rock:
Joshua trees:
We’re liken the lichen:
Three colors:
Rocks and joshua trees:
Jenn on a rock:
Me joining her:
Jenn posing:
Me:
Shadows:
More interesting rocks:
