Day 3, Saturday - Red Canyon, Cedar Breaks

After a full day at Zion, we decided to stay closer to the house. We drove through the Dixie National Forest. and spent some time at the Red Canyon. This was our first close encounter with hoodoos.

 

 

 Took a couple hikes - they were labeled "easy" but they were still slow going.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The red colored ground and dirt made the green trees and leaves wash out and look quite blue. Only after looking at the photos in normal light did the green show up.

 







 

 

 

  

After a quick stop back at the house to eat lunch, we headed to Cedar Breaks National Monument. An interesting side note - Cedar City and Cedar Breaks were named such because the explorers thought the local juniper trees were cedar trees.

The ranger gave a short geology lecture and we drove to some of the lookout points for fabulous view of the natural amphitheater. The photos just can't do justice to the size of the landscape.

 

 

Snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

In the evening we returned to Cedar Breaks Visitor Center for the ranger led Night Sky Party on the lookout. They set up several telescopes which could be aimed at the moon and Jupiter. Ranger Dave and some of the other rangers werre very willing to share their expertise. Fortunately most of the earlier clouds got out of the way. No picutes though, except for the sunset.