Golden Hour

Red Canyon is a small section of the massive Dixie National Forest. It sits astride Utah Highway 12 about 7 miles east of Panguitch, Utah. It is filled with spectacular spires, towering columns, hoodoos, and shear walls made of sandstone of varying colors including rusty red, blushing pink, golden carmel, and antique white. There are several trails that you can hike within this section, and I barely touched the surface with what I saw.

We have found incredible views all along Highway 12, which is possibly the most scenic road in the country. I was feeling dead and drained after sauntering around Bryce Canyon on just my morning cup of joe and bowl of cereal. I had already told Tom that I was on my way and should be there shortly when I drove through two short tunnels cut into the sandstone banks. They are very picturesque with their mottled carmel tones on the shaded side and the dazzling golden hues glowing in the sun on the other side. The beauty of the arches is very evident, but in my practical mind, it would have been so much easier and faster to dynamite all the rock away to build the road. I am grateful though that they built the arches and preserved as much of the beautiful stone as possible so we can delight in it today.

Continuing west, I was soon awestruck by the sight in front of me. The blazing yellow rays of sunlight had set the hillside on fire. Not literally, but the intensity of the colors in the spires and hoodoos was stunning. They glowed like torches against the sky and renewed my energy enough, that I quickly hiked up the very steep trail to stand among the formations and appreciate the viewpoints. It was only then that I noted for a moment that I would have to return down that same precipitous slope. It didn’t matter at that point as I was exhilarated upon reaching the ridgeline and the only noise I heard there was matter the wind blowing. The magnificent views could be seen in all directions. With all this beauty, it was hard believe I was the only one there, which is so different than my experiences with crowds at the big name national parks. It is a shame that more people don’t make the time to stop at these lesser known places, that are just as spectacular and photo-worthy.

Standing there in awe at the beauty all around, a feeling of peacefulness came over me, or was that the cold wind blowing on my back. It was getting colder afterall, and darker, two things I do not like, so it was time to head back down the trail. On the way down the slopes, I noticed a scraggly little pine tree growing on the slope. Somehow a seed had miraculously found its way here and established a foothold in this inhospitable terrain. I admired its perseverance.

Although the trails were very steep and my shoes slipped a few times, I made certain to stay on the established trails to protect the cryptobiotic soils. This crust of soil contains microscopic cyanobacteria and other organisms that improve the nutrient value of the soil, and helps reduce erosion and increase rainwater infiltration. You can see the difference in the soils in the photos, with the cryptobiotic soils being darker than where people have walked.

I am overjoyed my gut told me to stop, because I almost didn’t. The serene atmosphere coupled with the vibrant colors made it surreal, and an experience not to miss. The strength of the rocks withstanding the wind and rain along with that of the little pine tree are wonderful reminders of what is possible. Red Canyon is a spectacular little place, and I would come back here in a heartbeat and do more exploring.

We slept in this morning and then went for a drive to explore places south and west of here. The are some odd things out here in the desert. that are worth seeing and glad we took the time to go to them. We finished out the day with a grocery run and some Angry Tacos, that were good, but not really all that spicy.

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