Route: Escalante Petrified Forest State Park-Escalante-Boulder-Torrey-Capitol Reef National Park.
Leaving our campsite early, along a road only tarred in 1985, which winds its way over huge cream-colored volcanic domes known as laccoliths.
On the spur of the moment we decided to do the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail.
Unlike me, I have left nothing in reserve, when comes to adjectives to describe the beauty of this magnificent trail. Lorna rated it as the best walk we have done so far.
The 8km walk alongside the crystal clear Calf Creek, so named,because the farmer in the area used to corral his calves in this cut off canyon.
The entire route was a blaze of spring flowers.
Three varieties of trout, brown, brooks and rainbow are found in the icy water. The trail ends where the creek cascades in two drops as it plummets into the circular pool below.
Although the hike was relatively flat,the fine sandy path made going tough. The road continues climbing through the Dixie National Forest,consisting of cross growing,white barked Aspen, which were just starting to green, interspersed with Pine. The temperature plummeted dramatically with the mountain peaks still covered in thick snow.
Finally at 9600 feet the road starts its decent of the rugged Colorado Plateau, into Boulder We were lucky to find a campsite at Fruita camp, Capitol Reef NP. However the Ford decided to Flex its muscles, locking itself as we closed the door. The helpful park ranger tried her luck with her long pink hook that she uses for regular “lock outs”, but to no avail. So a 1 hour wait, $120 poorer and literally 1 second later, we could finally have breakfast at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. But what a wonderful day!
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