Cycling and Hiking in Southern Utah National Parks

After a wonderful weekend with our families in Northern Utah, Rosie and I drove to Salt Lake where I dropped her off at the airport to fly back to Seattle. I drove to Utah County and went for a very nice bike ride and to lunch with Marc and then drove to Springdale, which is just outside of Zions National Park. There, I met my best friend from High School, Bob Andersen, for a few days of cycling and hiking adventure in the incomparable southern Utah National Parks.

That evening we got on our bikes and rode into Zions Canyon as the sun was going down. Zions Canyon is drop dead gorgeous and one gets an even greater appreciation of its grandeur and majesty when riding through on a bike. The Park Service does not allow cars in the canyon -- they provide a shuttle bus service -- so it was a most peaceful ride and it felt at times we were the only people in this sacred place. Below is a picture of Bob riding the very appropriate red roads of Zions that blend so well with the surroundings.
Tuesday morning we got back on our bikes and rode up the canyon to The Grotto, where we locked up the bikes and hit the trail to Angel's Landing -- one of the best hikes/climbs in the world. It is only five miles (round trip) but every step is gorgeous as you climb 1,500 feet to a view that is beyond description of this priceless park. The last five hundred feet of the climb have a lot of exposure and there are chains provided for safety (even with the chains it seems every year people fall and die making this climb). Bob had never done this kind of climbing, as you might detect from his face in the photo below, but he did great and made it without a problem. I did overhear him a number of times wondering what I had "gotten him into". Peer pressure can sometimes get us to go beyond our self appointed limitations.
But once we made it to the summit he agreed it was well worth his effort as the 360 degree view is stunningly beautiful. Here we are in our bike gear on Angel's Landing.
That afternoon we made the two hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. I got on the bike and went for a grand ride all the way through the paved areas of the park -- from our hotel the total mileage was 42. I had a great ride but a couple of times I was wondering why I was struggling climbing some of the hills that should not have been that hard. After a while I realized I was at 9,000 feet and for someone who lives at sea level that has an impact. It was a beautiful evening in one of my favorite National Parks, with only one problem -- I forgot to take my camera, so I have no good pictures of that ride except a few poor quality photos taken with my blackberry like the one below at Rainbow Point -- the end of the Bryce Road.
When we got down from our Angel's Landing hike we talked with a guy who had spent the last four days in Southern Utah. We asked him what the best thing he had done during that time. He said, the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls in Escalante, Grand Staircase National Monument was even better than Angel's Landing. With that strong endorsement I called Julie who is an expert on Escalante and got directions to Lower Calf Creek Falls. It was right on our way along route 12 -- which has a well deserved reputation as one of the most beautiful roads in the country. The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is six miles (round trip) over fairly flat but beautiful terrain to a jaw droppingly gorgeous setting as you can see in the photo below of us at the falls. However, while we loved this hike we would disagree with our new friend as it was not as good as Angel's Landing.
We drove from there up route 12 to Boulder, where our next adventure originated. We rode the first part of the spectacular Burr Trail Road. The road has virtually no cars and every inch of this section is stunningly pretty with sheer walls, slot canyons and checkerboard mountains everywhere. Below is a typical view we had as we rode our bikes. The view is framed by the Aero bars on my bike.
There was a considerable amount of climbing with some steep grades on the Burr Trail. Look at this truly spectacular road that weaves through the canyon in the upper left section of the photo.
That night I rode back up highway 12 over the Hogsback section of the road as the sun was setting on the rugged and picturesque vistas of Escalante, Grand Staircase. It took many years, brilliant engineering and incredibly hard work to complete this road. On the Hogsback there is a big drop off on each side of the road and you can see seemingly forever as the photo below shows.
One more photo of me and the "Red Rocket" on the Hogsback.
Thursday morning we hiked to Upper Calf Creek Falls just outside of Boulder. While not as pretty as Lower Calf Creek Falls, it was well worth the steep descent from the Hogsback to get to this brilliant site.
On our way home we drove over Boulder Mountain (a great climb that I would like to do on my bike next time I am in that gorgeous place) into Capital Reef National Park. We did not have time to get out our bikes and go for a ride but the scenery was spectacular as you can see below.
It was a most memorable three days with world class cycling, hiking and excellent philosophizing and reminiscing with a wonderful old friend. We saw three national parks and one national monument in those days and did some of the best hikes and rides I have done. I would love to make this trip again with Rosie and my children sometime in the coming years.