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NATIONAL PARKS

Wyoming
YELLOWSTONE National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring


Lower Yellowstone Falls. 308′ high. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Old Faithful Geyser

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming rises 1,267 feet (386 m) above the Belle Fourche River. It is the world’s largest example of columnar jointing. An easy 1 1/2 hr walk around the base.

Square Top, Wind River Range, Wyoming (11,695′, 3565m) is the most recognizable and photographed peak in the Wind River Range. In the foreground are the Green River and upper Green River Lakes. It was a huge hike to climb Square Top in one day. We came home in pitch blackness – with no headlights. 

MESA VERDE National Park, Colorado: Cliff Palace Ruins, Long House, Spruce Tree House, Balcony House and Square Tower House. I saw Spring House on a special 100th-anniversary hike. Many day hikes to spectacular Anasazi ruins. Because of its higher elevation, Cedar Mesa was the last of the Colorado Plateau to be abandoned by the Anasazi in about 1350 AD. 

Cliff Palace 

Spruce House 

ARCHES National Park. Devils Garden/Primitive Trail, Fiery Furness, The Windows, Klondike Bluffs, Petrified Dunes

Delicate Arch. A popular place for sunset. A great hike.

Landscape Arch.
The longest arch at 290 feet, it has a gravity-defying ribbon of rock only 7 feet in thickness.

Tunnel Arch through North Window


CANYONLANDS NP
Island in the Sky:
White Rim Road Drive, Upheaval Dome and Canyon Grand View Point, Musselman Arch

Mesa Arch. Beside the road.

Green River Overlook from Island in the Sky

CANYONLANDS NP – The Maze District: South Fork, Shot and Water Canyons, Sweet Alice Canyon, Surprise Valley, Confluence Overlook.
My first trip involved a 1 km low-range 4WD drive around Teakettle Rock. We spent 4 days hiking in the Maze (Pictograph Fork, Confluence Overlook, Chocolate Drops), my favourite part of Canyonlands. My second trip was on the Green River Trip. We had day hikes up Shot Canyon and down Water Canyon and Sweet Alice Canyon from Spanish Bottom. Jasper Canyon is only one of two canyons in the entire Colorado Plateau that never had cattle. It is pristine and part of the Maze. 

Pictograph Fork (Harvest Scene)

Chocolate Drops

CANYONLANDS NP – Horseshoe Canyon – The Great Gallery. A nice day hike into a spectacular canyon. 

CANYONLANDS NP – Needles District. Chesler Park and the Joint x3, Other destinations include Druid Arch, Confluence Overlook (there are confluence overlooks in each of the three districts of Canyonlands NP), Newspaper Rock, Cave Springs Loop Trail, Scenic Loop Trail, Lost Canyon/Squaw Canyon loop. Virginia Park is one of two canyons that never saw cattle. It is pristine and is difficult to find and access. NP keeps it off-limits. 

Chesler Park and the Joint. One of my favourite day hikes in the entire Colorado Plateau.

Druid Arch. Another good destination and very close to the access to Virginia Park.  

Salt Creek Canyon. Angel Arch and the All-American Man. A 3-day backpack in a great canyon, with good Anasazi ruins, one of the most beautiful arches and an unusual pictograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corona & Bow Tie Arches. A favourite day hike near Moab.

CAPITAL REEF National Park: Hickman Bridge, Frying Pan Trail, Fremont River Trail, Rim Overlook/Navajo Knobs x2 (a favourite hike), Chimney Rock Loop Trail, Cohab Canyon, Capitol Gorge to the Tanks (Pioneer Register).


Rim Overlook/Navajo Knobs

BRYCE CANYON NP: Fairyland Tr., Fairyland Point to Bryce Point, Queens
Garden T, Peekaboo Loop T, Navajo Loop Trail, Wall Street. 

ZION NP: Emerald Pools T, Scout Lookout and Angels Landing, Weeping Rock to Hidden Canyon, Observation Point, Narrows: North Fork of Virgin River (Chamberlain Ranch to Temple of Sinawava backpack) x2, Subway (Kolob Terrace to the Subway), West Rim T (Lava Point to Angels Landing), La Verkin Creek and Bear Trap Canyon, middle fork Taylor Creek and Double Arch Alcove, Kolob Arch

 

 

 

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I would like to think of myself as a full time traveler. I have been retired since 2006 and in that time have traveled every winter for four to seven months. The months that I am "home", are often also spent on the road, hiking or kayaking. I hope to present a website that describes my travel along with my hiking and sea kayaking experiences.

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