March Monthly Review

 

Monthly Review March

Places visited:

• Arches National Moab, Utah
• Highlight, great scenic road with easy access to beautiful rock formations and views and we successfully hiked to Delicate Arch.
• Lowlight, the Fiery Furnace Trail led by Park Rangers was off due to Covid 19.
• We are here in March; the weather is great and there are other people in the park but we had no problem with traffic or getting parking at trailheads.
• Canyonlands National Park Moab, Utah
• Highlight, Shaffer Canyon Overlook was awesome. It has amazing views.
• Lowlight, it is far away from where I live.  
• Wonderful compact park, all the canyons are great to see. The Rim Trail was wonderful.
•  Dead Horse Point State Park Moab, Utah
• Highlight, the views at Dead Horse Point of the canyon and Colorado river.
• Lowlight, the Solar Evaporation Ponds kill the full-on nature vibe
• It is a nice state park with a unique environment, just not as nice as Canyonlands.
• Zion National Park Springdale, Utah
• Highlight, coming in the East Entrance, a curvy very scenic drive.
• Lowlight, we were able to drive the Zion Canyon Scenic since the shuttle was not running and plenty of people were parking everywhere.  We did luck out and get a spot every time we needed it.
• This was our second time here but the first time on the Canyon Overlook Trail which made it all fresh again.
•   Squaw Trail Kanab, Utah
• Highlight, the view of Grand-Staircase Escalante from the top of the trail was breathtaking.
• Lowlight, plenty of switchbacks to get to the top of the hill.
• The hike was rated moderate due to the elevation change, but worth it all for the views on the trail and at the end.
•   Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Canyon City, Utah
• Highlight, snow; capping the hoodoos and covering the trails, an magical time at Bryce.
• Lowlight, the snow made the trail slick and a little scary on the downhill portion.
• I was happy that we came regardless of the weather, it was a unique experience and added beauty to the orange hoodoos.
•   Grand-Staircase Escalante Driving Tour Johnson Canyon, Kanab, Utah
• Highlight, the views were unending on this trail.
• Lowlight, the Gunsmoke movie set was pretty run down.
• If you are in the area come down this trail, it was well worth it.
•   Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree, California
• Highlight, The Mojave Desert section on the north side of the park was full of Joshua Trees and crazy rock formations with good trails.
• Lowlight, the Colorado Desert, in the southern part of the park is a dry area much barer than the northern desert.    
• Jim and I took 6 hikes in Joshua and loved all the crazy rock formations.

 

•   Santa Clarita, California
• Highlight, our excellent tour guides TJ & Dani who showed us all the sites.
• Lowlight, again hard to think of one, it was all great.
• I learned California is hilly and that LA, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, and Malibu are all close together, who knew?
•   Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
• Highlight, magnificent Sequoia trees everywhere.
• Lowlight, the road into Kings Canyon was currently closed.
• Come on out and see these trees, they are grand.

My overall favorite place of all the places in March was Arches National Park.  The park is all connected by one main road with many places to stop and see natures wonders. Jim’s overall favorite place was Sequoia National Park. (so many great places in March, hard to pick a favorite)

My favorite trail was Schafer Canyon Overlook at Canyonlands National Park.  Breathtaking views on this large overlook of the canyon.  You can watch ATVs descending the switchbacks into the canyon.  Jim’s favorite trail was the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Trail in snow-covered Bryce Canyon.

My favorite day in March was exploring the canyon road to the Pacific Coast with Dani & TJ Miller, our gracious hosts in Santa Clarita. Who does not like a day on the California coast?  Jim’s favorite day was our first day in Arches National Park driving the entire park from end to end.

My favorite pictures: My inner child told me to climb into the hole in this rock, I like that it shows what a good time I am having.  And Jim at Shafer Canyon Overlook, look at that background.