October 2000? Total miles 22 miles. Elevation gain 1200 feet. Backpack with Andrea and my brother Chris and his 2 boys Keenan and Zac. A 3 day/2 night trip. We hit the trail at Hop Valley Trailhead, and within 2 minutes Zac is already complaining about the weight of the backpack. But after a few adjustments by his Dad and we were all fine. The first 2 miles was relatively easy-going, slightly downhill. It was out in the open so we had good views of the Kolob Fingers of Zion just 6-7 miles ahead. At the top of a saddle that took us down into Hop Valley, we took in one of the nicer views of Zion. Hop Valley is a lush, small valley that winds it’s way to LaVerkin Creek. Once in the valley, it’s about 2 miles of easy hiking along the small running creek. There are actually a few cows that graze here, so that took away from the beauty somewhat due to needing to dodge cow patties that were laying all along the banks. After about 5 miles you came to a big 1,000 foot drop-off above Laverkin Creek. It was in this canyon that you’d be that the real beauty of hike began. After dropping down to the creek, you made a quick creek crossing, but not before we discovered where one of the nicest springs of water in Zion came out of the side cliff. This was nice fresh and clean water. We’d fill up our bottles here on numerous occasions the next day or so, since it was only ½ mile from our camp. We came to our campsite, under the Ponderosa Pine Trees along the LaVerkin Creek, at the confluence of the little creek that goes up 1/ 2mile to the view of Kolob Arch, one of the biggest arches in the world. The water was a little brown and not clear this first day due to heavy rains a day or two earlier. Today was bright blue skies. The kids loved playing in the creek. I brought a coconut along and we cracked it and enjoyed the fresh coconut meat.
The next morning we got up and hiked without our packs up the creek about 2 miles, as the canyon got narrow and quite scenic. But this time the water had changed to it’s usual bright and clear look. We made it to Bear Trap canyon about 2 miles up creek, which was a small little drainage and ¼ mile up there was a nice waterfall that blocked us from going any further. After enjoying this great sight, we headed back to our camping spot, picked up our packs and headed down the creek about 1 ½ miles to our next campsite for that night. This little hike was along the creek, which was to our left. And on either side of this were huge red cliffs, going straight up at least 1000 feet. This campsite was under pinyon pines and juniper trees, just off the trail and creek. After setting up camp, we hiked a little bit further down creek to one of the most scenic spots in Zion, some cascading falls along the slick rock. We took some nice dips into the creek below the small falls. The kids played for an hour or so with the many little frogs. They built a huge hole in the sand and tried trapping the frogs in it.
The next morning we packed up and headed up the 4 miles up, about 1000 foot climb, to our car. The views to the right of us along this hike out are as good as they get in Zion. It’s called the Kolob Fingers, there are 5 mountains (cliffs) that go straight up about 3000 feet, with bright colors of red and lush trees along the flat tops of the mountains. After loading up in the car, we ended up the great trip by getting one of the biggest ice cream cones ever at a nearby gas station near the Park’s entrance
The next morning we got up and hiked without our packs up the creek about 2 miles, as the canyon got narrow and quite scenic. But this time the water had changed to it’s usual bright and clear look. We made it to Bear Trap canyon about 2 miles up creek, which was a small little drainage and ¼ mile up there was a nice waterfall that blocked us from going any further. After enjoying this great sight, we headed back to our camping spot, picked up our packs and headed down the creek about 1 ½ miles to our next campsite for that night. This little hike was along the creek, which was to our left. And on either side of this were huge red cliffs, going straight up at least 1000 feet. This campsite was under pinyon pines and juniper trees, just off the trail and creek. After setting up camp, we hiked a little bit further down creek to one of the most scenic spots in Zion, some cascading falls along the slick rock. We took some nice dips into the creek below the small falls. The kids played for an hour or so with the many little frogs. They built a huge hole in the sand and tried trapping the frogs in it.
The next morning we packed up and headed up the 4 miles up, about 1000 foot climb, to our car. The views to the right of us along this hike out are as good as they get in Zion. It’s called the Kolob Fingers, there are 5 mountains (cliffs) that go straight up about 3000 feet, with bright colors of red and lush trees along the flat tops of the mountains. After loading up in the car, we ended up the great trip by getting one of the biggest ice cream cones ever at a nearby gas station near the Park’s entrance
No comments:
Post a Comment