May 10-11, 2017 Escalante, Utah

It was a rainy day, we headed from Kanab to Escalante. We went through Red Canyon State Park-which we may have to come back and see, past Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State park –which we have been to in the past and over the top of the Paria River.  We are now parked at the Grand Staircase RV resort in Escalante. It is a brand new park and they are still doing the landscaping.

We hiked the Calf Creek wash to Calf Creek Falls. There is water year round in this wash and it is very green. Lots of gamble oak-which are just leafing out in bright spring green.  I love following spring north.

The walls are Navajo sandstone with a mix of colors.

Calf Creek is crystal clear. The falls are stunning. It is cool under the trees and by the river.  We had lunch at the falls.

 My new boots. I wore out the old ones and got these last night. So far so good. Hiking on the way back.

I love the backlit oaks. A cool looking alcove above the canyon floor.

Nice lines of desert varnish on the canyon walls. On the informational sign at the overlook for the Escalante canyon area is this.  You are looking out over some of the wildest lands in the United States. The last area to be mapped in the lower 48 states. This rugged region remains a sparsely roaded frontier. They safeguard on of the rarest natural resources of all—the opportunity for solitude in a landscape sculpted by wind, water and time.

Sunset last night. Sumac berries, unknown seeding tree, white asters and mallow, yellow sunflowers.

Yellow flowers an inchworm, prickly pear cactus and claret cup cactus. Blue milkvetch, false solomon's seal, canada goose and gosling, a roof top tent.