Rene Cizio's Blog, page 19

Capitol Reef National Park

I’d made up my mind to skip Capitol Reef National Park more than once in my five-week visit to Utah. But it was all the things I didn’t like about the other parks that made me go. I’m so glad I did. It ended being my 2nd favorite. Why? The number one reason is the crowds. This park doesn’t have any. My other reason is the history. Oh, and the pie. Who am I kidding? It’s because of the pie. Capitol Reef This park is geologically diverse, with many different types of rocks. But, it’s also historically fascinating and some of that history is alive. It’s in the south-central part of Utah, not too far from the much more popular Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s broken into two different sections because it surrounds a long wrinkle or warp in the earth’s crust known as the Waterpocket Fold. This “fold” created tilted layers of golden sandstone, canyons and various rock formations. There are reds, whites, blacks, browns, and gold rocks. Each section of the park’s 242,000+ acres is almost different from each other. The park has all the best features, such as canyons, cliffs, hoodoos, domes, petroglyphs, and arches. Other national […]

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Visiting Antelope Island, Utah, Where the Buffalo Roam, For Now

On Antelope Island, the buffalo roam. And it’s a beautiful miracle.   Not so many years ago, the American Bison, or buffalo as they’re commonly called, were almost extinct. They say that once in the late 18th century, these glorious beasts numbered over 60 million. There were so many buffalo in this country that a buffalo crossing could last up to six days. If your path crossed theirs, you’d have to wait as they lumbered and rumbled past, like waiting at a passing train. But then they were hunted. And hunted and hunted and hunted.   One day you didn’t see any more buffalo. None at all. By 1889 there were just 541 buffalo left in the United States.  Now, through repopulation programs in various western states and places, the buffalo have made a comeback.  Still, I never expected to see them roam in herds. I’d watched the National Geographic series on national parks. They created one about Yellowstone and featured the buffalos. So many of them, rutting and repopulating themselves now. Seemingly unstoppable, if not for humans.  Technically, there aren’t any free-roaming buffalo left in the country. They’re all regulated to public or Native American lands – and ranches, where they are bred and sold for meat. The Buffalo of Antelope Island  I’d heard that I might see buffalo on Antelope […]

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Visit a One-of-a-Kind Salt Lake City Hot Spring in a Covered Crater

There is a massive hot spring crater shaped like a beehive in Salt Lake City. It holds a 90+ degrees geothermal hot spring – and it’s big enough to swim in. The best part? It’s open to the public. The Homestead Crater spring is inside a huge 55-foot tall beehive-looking limestone cave, lacking a better description. The cave has been forming over the spring for 10,000+ years from the mineral deposits contained in the water. The hot spring crater is on the property of the Homestead Resort, but anyone can visit for a small fee. You make an appointment and at the designated time, you’re allowed to enter a tunnel they’ve bored into the side of the crater. There is also a large hole at the top, like a volcano, but you can’t get in that way, nor would you want to! It’s a long way down. But you can take stairs up to the top and look down into the crater. Hot Spring Crater Inside the hot spring crater, there is a small changing area and a hallway filled with equipment. Guests are required to wear life jackets because the spring is 65 feet deep. It’s about 400 feet […]

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Why Bryce Canyon Was Among My Least Favorite of the 5 Utah Parks

I have the most unpopular opinion about Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s beautiful and the hoodoos are spectacular, but it only ranks third on my list of best Utah National Parks. It’s ranked only third, not for lack of beauty, but because I found it unexceptional as a place to immerse yourself in nature, which, to me, is the point of national parks. There are entire blogs devoted to making fun of people like me who are under-impressed by national parks, so go ahead. I know I’m terrible, but at least I’m not alone. Hoodoo You Love The geologic features of Bryce Canyon are known as “hoodoos.” A hoodoo is a tall, thin spire of rock formed by a unique combination of geologic happenings. Bryce has the most extensive collection of hoodoos in the world. Other parks typically have some too, but not at this scale. At Bryce, they’re clustered together in patterns and arrangements that leave you breathless and amazed. You can argue that the beautiful and spectacular hoodoos at Bryce are enough, and they are. I’m glad I went and saw them. Just like I’m glad I saw the Grand Canyon and Arches National Park. I know many […]

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The Narrows: The Only Trail in Zion National Park That Changes as you Hike

In Zion National Park in Utah, “The Narrows” is a trail that changes as you hike. It changes you too. And it might kill you. The Narrows is often called one of the world’s best slot canyon hikes. Some say it’s one of the best hikes, period. I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s sure unique. How many hikes do you know of that change beneath your feet? How many are dangerous enough to kill you if the weather strikes against you? This trail is about 16 miles long, right through the middle of the Virgin River in Springdale, Utah. Alongside the river, canyon walls reach up to 1,000 feet tall. Once you are on the trail, the only way out is through or back. Neither option is as easy as it sounds. The canyon is 20-feet wide in some spots, and the water deepens, so you must wade or swim. The unpredictability of the river makes this hike ever-changing. Its difficulty level fluctuates with the whim of the river. Some have called it easy. Others would never say that. It depends on the day you attempt it. Why Hike The Narrows I believe sometimes the trails we […]

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The Narrows: The Only Trail in Zion National Park That Changes as You Hike

In Zion National Park in Utah, “The Narrows” is a trail that changes as you hike. It changes you too. And it might kill you. The Narrows is often called one of the world’s best slot canyon hikes. Some say it’s one of the best hikes, period. I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s sure unique. How many hikes do you know of that change beneath your feet? How many are dangerous enough to kill you if the weather strikes against you? This trail is about 16 miles long, right through the middle of the Virgin River in Springdale, Utah. Alongside the river, canyon walls reach up to 1,000 feet tall. Once you are on the trail, the only way out is through or back. Neither option is as easy as it sounds. The canyon is 20-feet wide in some spots, and the water deepens, so you must wade or swim. The unpredictability of the river makes this hike ever-changing. Its difficulty level fluctuates with the whim of the river. Some have called it easy. Others would never say that. It depends on the day you attempt it. Why Hike The Narrows I believe sometimes the trails we […]

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Why It’s Called the Valley of Fire in Nevada and How to See It

They say the Valley of Fire state park in Nevada is named for the red sandstone formations, but it’s probably also the blazing intense heat in the park where 115-degree temperatures aren’t unusual. The area was formed by the uplifting and faulting of geography, followed by erosion during the time of dinosaurs 150 million years ago (if you believe in that sort of thing). It now has a Mars-like landscape, with a likewise unlivable environment. Unless you’re a lizard. Though even the lizards have a tough time living in the Valley of Fire. Hiking Through Fire I visited the Valley of Fire with my friend Erica (hi Erica!). We had three hikes planned for the day and were hoping to beat the heat, so we left early. Unfortunately, by the time we left the St. George area at about 6:15 am, it was already about 80-degrees. So much for good intentions. As we drove the two hours into Nevada, you could watch the thermostat on my van rise like it was a ticker tape. I’d periodically shout out the temperature for fun. “99-degrees!” “We hit 100! No, wait, 101 .. 102!” In the winter, the area averages mid-70s with an […]

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Beyond van Gogh Showcases the Artist’s Best-Known Work in Engaging Display

The Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience finally made its way to the United States and it’s a fun and unique way to immerse yourself in Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works.   Van Gogh lived and created his paintings in the 1800s in Holland and France. During his lifetime, he was a poor, struggling artist supported only by the help of his beloved brother Theo. He only sold one painting in his lifetime. Eventually, he fell into mental illness and suicide. His brother too died within months, leaving his wife, Jo, to secure a legacy for Vincent. Today, thanks to her work, van Gogh is among the world’s most well-known and loved artists.   Beyond van Gogh This show celebrates his work in a way you’ve likely never seen before.   Created by audiovisual designers, Beyond Van Gogh projects the artist’s most famous works on the walls of a large room in Hall D of the TCF Center.   First, you’ll walk through a series of informational panels, highlighting work and quotes from his letters. Then you’ll enter a middle room of swirling darkness before coming to the main room.   Displays in themes, such as “flowers,” “portraits,” or “landscapes,” the exhibit follows a timeline and walks you through the work as you walk about […]

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Why Zion Canyon Overlook Trail is Awesome and Underrated

If you’re looking for a different type of trail in Zion National Park with a little bit of adventure built in, the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail may be the one for you. Although it’s a heavily trafficked out and back trail, it’s just one mile long and you can complete it very quickly. Plus there are several neat features to see. First, it offers a gorgeous view of the Zion Canyon you can’t get anywhere else. It’s fun because the sandy, red trail passes through semi-shaded nooks, across a short plank wood bridge, a grotto/cave and various rocks. It feels like an adventure. This is the type of trail where hiking poles will be helpful. You’re consistently up a few steps and down a few to keep moving forward. Photo tip: If you go at sunrise or sunset, the pictures are spectacular. Getting There The thing about the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail, which makes it a bit overlooked, is that it’s on the upper east canyon portion of the park and you must drive to it. But this is a bonus! A trail in Zion that doesn’t require the use of the shuttle is a good thing. Spend your park […]

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3 Reasons The Watchman is the Most Overlooked Trail at Zion National Park

The Watchman Trail in Zion National Park is the most underrated and overlooked trail in the system. That’s to your disadvantage. It may be my favorite of all the hikes in the park. Now, hear me out. I have my reasons. Zion is a hiker’s park. Unlike most other national parks, if you’re going to Zion, chances are you’re also a hiker of some level. Sure you could just drive through and look at the glorious bright red-orange mountains, but most people also want to get on those trails. I went to the park several times and hiked the Watchman twice. There aren’t a lot of people on it, they go for the bigger name hikes like Angel’s Landing and The Narrows, but they’re missing a really great trail. Why I Love The Watchman The Watchman trail is the only “real hike” available without getting on the shuttle; that right there makes it awesome. You find it right at the front of the main entrance to the park near the Visitor’s Center. Simply park (if you’re lucky enough to get a spot in the parking lot) and walk a few hundred yards to the trailhead. It’s convenient! This trail is […]

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