Hiking in Capitol Reef and Lower Calf Creek Falls, and Road Bicycling Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon.

Our boon dock site on BLM land west of Hanksville, UT.

Intriguing badland vistas near Hanksville, UT.

2015 Fall Travels of the Mercury, Oct. 10th to 13th.

Our next destination is Capitol Reef. We continue on Hwy 95 to Hanksville and take Hwy 24 to Capitol Reef. This is a scenic drive through sandstone canyons and crumpled, eroded badlands. For the next few nights we’ll boon dock in the solitude of BLM and National Forest lands. The nights are so dark that the Milky Way stretches across the sky from horizon to horizon. Before dawn Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Uranus hang in the sky above the crescent moon. Places like these are what our Sprinter was made for.

Driving to Capitol Reef on Hwy 24.

At the trail head to Grand Wash in Capitol Reef.

At Capitol Reef we take a short 4 mile hike through the narrows of Grand Wash. This is a very easy, level hike that everyone can do and experience the beauty of the canyon country.

Jackie in Grand Wash narrows in Capitol Reef.

Grand Wash narrows.

Jim hiking up Grand Wash.

Grand Wash narrows.

Grand Wash narrows.

The canyon begins to widen.

The canyon opens up and it's a good turnaround point to hike back through the narrows to the trailhead.

The continuously changing landscapes of Capitol Reef.

From Capitol Reef we take Hwy 12, the Journey Through Time Byway, from Torrey over Boulder Mountain to Escalante. The aspens are turning and the views looking down onto Capitol Reef and the Escalante Grand Stair Case National Parks are outstanding.

A panorama looking east across Capitol Reef from Boulder Mt.

The trial up Calf Creek to Lower Calf Creek Falls

We stop along the way to take a 6-mile hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls, a 128 ft. waterfall in a beautiful canyon where the riparian cottonwoods and willows offer excellent birding along the way. A numbered trail guide tells about the canyon, habitat, wildlife and large Fremont pictographs that can be seen on the canyon walls. If it’s a hot day you’ll find refreshment standing in the chilling spray of the water fall. You can plunge into the chill water if you dare. Be sure and follow the guidelines at the trailhead for how much water to take with you on the hike.  There is also a BLM campground at the trail head. The sites are small and won’t accommodate big rigs. During the busy season you’d be lucky to find a site open.

Calf Creek at the beginning of the hike.

Colorful formations along the trail.

Banded formations tower above the trail.

Three larger-than-life Fremont pictographs decorate the canyon wall in Calf Creek.

High canyon walls converge at we near the falls.

128 ft. Lower Calf Creek Falls and pool.

Looking up at the falls.

The pounding water sculpts the rocks.

Refreshing spray cools the air even on the hottest day.

Lower Calf Creek Falls in black & white.

After our hike we travel on to spend the night at the Bryce Valley KOA.  This is a nice campground surrounded by colorful sandstone cliffs. A great place to camp when you need a full-service campground and want to spend time visiting Bryce Canyon and Kodachrome Basin.

Hwy 12 curves around the upper reaches of the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Park.

The next day we continue on Hwy 12 to the trail head for the Red Canyon Bike Path near Bryce Canyon. We won’t visit Bryce because we’ve been there but we’ll stop and take a ride on this wonderful bike path. It’s a 12.5-mile paved path from Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon giving us a 25-mile round trip ride. We do a lot of road riding but we always enjoy riding on a quality bike path and always take the time to ride when we find one. This one is exceptional with good paving and wonderful scenery.

Red Canyon on Hwy 12 east of Bryce Canyon.

The Red Mountain Bike Path is nicely pave and scenic.

Jim climbs the bike path. The return tip will be a breeze.

Bike path and highway share the scenery.

Picturesque formations along the bike path.

After our ride we head north on US 89 through Panguitch and turn east on Highway 62 at Junction. We’re wandering our way across Utah on scenic little mountain highways. Small farming communities nest in the valleys amid fields and pastures. It’s so much better than traveling the interstate and we’re seeing some beautiful country.

At Koosharem we turn onto Hwy 24 then take Hwy 25, the Fishlake Scenic Byway. Our destination for the night is a BLM campground at Fish Lake. The campground is primitive but there are flush toilets and water at faucets. The sites are among the aspens and overlook the lake.

The next day we have to backtrack to Hwy 24 due to road work. Hwy 24 will take us to Loa where we head north on Hwy 72 to I-70. A short drive east on I-70 takes us to US 191 heading for Moab.

In our next post we’ll tell you about our canyoneering adventures and a great hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands.

Until then,
Jackie

Jim & Jackie at Lower Calf Creek Falls.