05/23/01:
After driving into Page to get stamps and mail bills, etc. I headed up US 89 for Bryce Canyon National Park. Along the way I changed my mind and decided to head to Zion National Park. And then changed it again later on to go to Cedar Breaks National Monument first. Decisions, decisions.
Driving along UT 14 I was surprised at all the crumbled lava beds with aspen and spruce growing out of them. It looks as if a volcano had erupted spreading the lava over a great distance. Then, after the lava had cooled, it looks as if there was another sort of upheaval that crumbled the lava. A good deal of snow is still on the ground. I found a camp site near Cedar Breaks at 9700 feet. That's my highest elevation ever. This is also snowmobile country in the Dixie National Forest.
05/24/01:
After driving the 6 miles to the beginning of Cedar Breaks National Monument I was disappointed to find the couple of trails that did exist were closed. Snow is everywhere, up to 8 feet deep in places. I found 4 scenic overlooks, two of which were easily accessible, one I went over 4 foot drifts to get to and the 4th was impassible.
Cedar Breaks National Monument sits 10400 feet above sea level, the highest I've ever been, so the snow in late May is understandable. The scenic views look out over a drop of 2500 feet surrounded by red and white cliff faces with lots of spruce growing on the slopes. I wouldn't make a special trip to visit Cedar Breaks National Park. However, if I was traveling from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park or some such thing, I would definitely spend the hour or so to see what's what.
I drove the couple of hours to Zion National Park. As I descended the 5000-6000 feet from the mountains to Cedar City I could feel the heat rising and as I got closer to Zion it got hotter. St. George, a few miles from Zion was being forecast for 102. I got to Zion about noon and it was hot, probably close to 90 and the sun was ferocious. The park was crowded with not a parking space at the visitor center. I had lunch and decided to get out. It was much too hot for me and much to crowded this Wednesday before Memorial Day. I'll come back in the early spring or late fall. Since the $20 entrance fee was covered by Golden Eagle Passport card all I wasted was gas money and a couple of hours. I went right back to the Dixie National Forest and my campsite at 9800 feet and all that snow on the ground.
Tomorrow I'll take a shot at Bryce Canyon National Park. It seems to be 7500-10000 feet in elevation whereas Zion National Park seemed to be 5200-7000 feet. That should make a difference in the temperature. Also Dixie National Forest is right outside the northern entrance so I should be able to find some free camping before the Memorial Day weekend. We'll see.