So this year we decided to hurry and get a trip at the beginning of summer, before things get too crazy with the pregnancy (Kristin was 7 months along already in June). We decided to go to one of my favorite places that we used to visit often as a kid, Calf Creek falls. It’s a pretty awesome place, no matter how old you are. The falls are spectacular, and well worth the 3+ mile hike to get in there. That’s probably why the place is so crowded. Escalante is kind of out in the middle of nowhere, so I was surprised that the campground was already full when we pulled in a 2:00 pm on a Monday. Luckily someone was just leaving and we were able to sneak in. We set up camp and got situated, and within an hour we were ready to go on a hike. Unfortunately, just as we were getting ready to leave, Berkley took a spill on the campground steps and ended up needing stitches. We are pros at recognizing when a kid needs stitches, it seems like. Luckily the cut (which was right next to his eye) didn’t connect with the eyelid. We would have had to drive to Panguitch if that was the case so that they could sedate him. It was still a battle to hold him still enough to get the 5 or 6 stitches in.

Anyway, we decided to stick around and try to have fun and avoid nasty eye infections. I’m glad we did. So even though that was our real first day, we didn’t get much done except for go to the clinic in Escalante.

So Tuesday morning we decided to go to the Escalante Natural Bridge, instead of Calf Creek, since we wanted to keep Berkley out of the water for a day. I’m glad we did, because we saw a giant group of Young Women heading up to the falls as we left. To get to the bridge, you just start hiking up the Escalante river, starting at the trailhead near the Calf Creek campground. It was only 2 miles, but it is sandy and really hot in June. Luckily, you cross the river a few times along the way, so we just stopped and played in the river to cool down.

When we were there the river was warm and nice for wading. Our kids could have just played in the river the whole time.

As you come up to the natural bridge, it doesn’t look like much. It is kind of hidden in the cliffs. It was nice though that we had the place basically to ourselves. We passed a few people and only saw one couple at the bridge. Anyway, you really have to climb up under the bridge to appreciate how beautiful it is.

This is the view from behind the bridge. While we were there, the couple that we met told us about a place outside of Escalante that sounded cool, so we hiked out and headed there next. 9 miles south of Escalante on Center street is a little place that you wouldn’t expect to find. The scenery up to the trailhead is pretty desolate, but in the little wash is a carved out tunnel that is pretty sweet. It was a good place to hang out on a hot afternoon.

There is a large undercut cliff and it is as as smooth as can be. Here are the rugrats hanging out in the tunnel. It was easily 20 degrees cooler in there. The tunnel makes an arc and is only about 100 feet long, but it’s still a fun side trip, especially since it’s only about .25 miles to get there.

Inside was this important statement: SUWA SUX. Man, whoever wrote that really showed the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance a thing or two. They are probably still feeling the effects of that libelous statement. I mean, I bet there is easily 500 people that visit this place a year, and I’m sure it got each one of them thinking. A message important enough to carve in stone must be true. And just think, now the 100 people that read this blog in a year will see it too, so think about that.

Anyway, just before you get to the tunnel is this sweet little natural bridge.

Day 1 of the trip was awesome, but the best part was waiting for us on Day 2.

A few weeks ago we hiked up to Rocky Mouth Falls with the kids after work. This is a very easy hike to do with the kids, even Keaton walked the whole way. The trailhead is right off Wasatch Drive, at about 11300 South.

These guys will hike anywhere if you tell them there is some water to throw rocks in. Even Berkley gets in on the action as much as mom will let him.

So after spending Memorial Day weekend with Kristin’s family, we stopped Monday night to camp in Maple Canyon, just outside of Ephraim, Utah. Maple Canyon is well known for its awesome rock climbing. There are some pretty spectacular conglomerate rock formations and canyons, and we spent Tuesday hiking and scrambling with the kids in some of the canyons.

Here’s Parker making his way up a little chute. Parker loved this little climb and went up and down a few times as I helped Jaxon and Keaton to the top too.

Here’s the kids playing under a giant overhang while Kristin took Keaton back to the bathroom at the trailhead about a 1/4 mile away.

On our first hike of the day, we went up to an arch that was a short 3/4 mile hike up Middle Fork. Our kids had no problem getting there, even though the last 100 yards are pretty steep up to the arch.

There are plenty of maple trees in the canyon, so this would be a spectacular place to visit in the fall. The conglomerate formations are just as spectacular though. I can’t wait to get back there and check out box canyon and a large cave.

Last week, I spent a few days backpacking with some scouts in Capitol Reef National Park. The park is awesome this time of year. We had high temperatures of almost 70º F and lows were only in the high 30’s. We even had water in the canyon that is normally bone dry. It was definitely a long hike with some unexperienced scouts. We covered about 10 or 11 miles in two days. I’ve been to Capitol Reef a few times, but I’ve never seen this part of the park. We hiked through miles and miles of high walled canyons that seemed to never end. Even though the main attractions of the park were pretty crowded, we only saw a handful of people in this secluded canyon. You can see from the topo map that you get pretty far in to the backcountry on this hike. You could do this as a long day hike, but I think I would try to spend at least 2 nights next time so I could explore some more of the side canyons.

Just about the whole hike travels through a deep cut canyon. There were only a few pools of water while we were there, but obviously there are some pretty large flows that run through here from time to time.

Most of the trail is downhill following the streambed. There is one section where the canyon makes a series of 10′-15′ drops. You can downclimb those, but the first is pretty sketchy. We used the trail that goes around the drops. Part of the bypass trail cuts across an escarpment that can be just as scary for those afraid of heights (and loose sand and rocks steeply sloping to the canyon below). The scouts work their way across the escarpment (above, left). Paul and I hiked back up to the first drop during lunch. Once we made it around the large muddy pool at the bottom, Paul climbed up the drop just to make sure we could have done it (above, right).