Rene Cizio's Blog, page 20

Mossy Cave at Bryce Canyon Doesn’t Have a Cave, FYI

Hiking to the Mossy Cave trail at Bryce Canyon National Park might come with a bit of a surprise – if you’re looking for moss or a cave. Overall and with great regularity, I’ve found the National Park Service descriptions confounding, lacking, and obtuse. But the maps are good, and that’s the important thing. What you will find at Mossy Cave is, in my opinion, is something better than a cave, especially in the hot desert. What you’ll find is water. Lots of it, falling off a cliff – as in a waterfall. (There will be no mention of this in the literature). Falling Water This Utah summer has been a scorcher so far, and the places for water recreation, especially in Bryce Canyon, are few and far between. That’s what makes Mossy Cave such a surprising delight. The trail is at the end of the park off of Highway 12. It’s described as less than a mile long with an elevation gain of 200 feet. That much is true. It says it’s a streamside walk to a mossy grotto that fills with icicles in winter and dripping moss in the summer. What it doesn’t say is that there’s a […]

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How I Fell in Love at an Alpaca Farm in Utah

I found Zion Alpaca on Airbnb and, of course, learning I could play with alpacas, mini donkeys, baby doll sheep, goats, silky chickens, and highland cows, I booked my adventure immediately. Now I’m in love with alpacas and what am I supposed to do about it? I mean, I don’t have a farm or 1,000 pounds of alfalfa. And I don’t even know how to create alpaca fiber. But I feel love, so I have to figure this out. I’m not sure if there is an animal that amuses me more than a llama or an alpaca. Do you know they’re different animals? Yep. They have different ears (llamas are longer), face shapes (alpaca have a shorter face) and fur. Alpacas are generally used for their fur and llamas are used as pack animals. How I found the Alpaca Farm I found Zion Alpacas on Airbnb, where you can rent a casita for the night and feed the animals in the morning if you’d like! I don’t know why you’d rent a place there if you didn’t want to mingle with the animals. It’d be really funny if you didn’t realize you were staying on an alpaca farm and woke […]

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Visit Kolob Canyon – it’s Zion National Park’s Secret Sister Canyon with Far Fewer Crowds

The Zion National Park has a secret. The beautiful canyon that makes up Zion may not be as unique as we once believed. It turns out Zion has a sister – the Kolob Canyon – right around the corner. And you know the best part? While Zion is packed with thousands of people each day, the Kolab Canyon is almost empty and dare I say, just as beautiful. Plus, it offers the kind of hiking you dream of long walks amid rare and exquisite scenery that’s tougher to traverse than a sidewalk, but not so hard it kills you. OK, maybe it’s not so secret. The park does mention on the visitor’s map. But hardly anybody goes there. I spent several hours one day to find out why. What I found is a great park with excellent views and few awesome quiet hikes. Kolob Canyon The sister canyon is tucked away in the northwest corner of Zion, but you can’t get to it from the park; you must take a long way around. To get to it from Zion, you must drive through Springdale, Virgin, LaVerkin and Tocqueville. It’s about 40 miles. I’ve been staying in LaVerkin, so it’s an […]

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Experience This Surprise at Zion’s Emerald Pools

A Fun Surprise Awaits at the Emerald Pools in Zion National Park, in Utah. I hiked the Kayenta Trail to the Emerald Pools. This trail is listed on the park map as a 1.5-hour hike on an unpaved path with moderate drop-offs and a 150-foot elevation gain. It says it’s connected to the Emerald Pools. However, of the Emerald Pools themselves, little is said and that’s where the surprise comes in. All that is said is that there are lower, middle and upper pool trails. That is all the National Park Service deemed fit to tell. But this is their way – insanely understated. Hiking to the Pools Since the weather had been 100+ degrees for weeks and dry as a bone, any mention of “pool” sounded good to me. So off I went. Running along the Virgin River, the trail was lightly trafficked on the day I went in the late afternoon and had scenic views. Alongside the river are massive canyon walls. A Distress Call? About 1 mile along the trail, it becomes more cliff-life and the mossy signs of the nearby pool start to appear. Along with the moss, there was an unexpected noise. At first, I […]

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Check Out a Natural Adventurescape in St. George, Utah’s Pioneer Park

I stumbled upon Pioneer Park by looking for a nearby trail on the AllTrails app. They marked it as a short and moderate exertion trail, which I was looking for, but they didn’t say anything about the natural rock adventure center! I never did find the trail. But what I found was much more fun. It’s a 52-acre rustic community park that is a natural jungle gym and adventure center for adults and kids alike. Pioneer Park is easy to get to and right off the road near downtown St. George. There are trails, picnic tables, restrooms, and plenty of parking. The locals call it “Dixie Rock” because of a large overlook area that says “Dixie” in painted white square block letters on the red rock overlooking the nearby highway. Trails When I arrived, I was only looking for a trail. I saw what I thought was the trailhead and headed down it, only to turn back after about half a mile. I saw others do the same later. I began following another trail onto the red rocks, which I at first avoided. The trail was unclear and stayed that way, but soon it didn’t matter. I had exploring to […]

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10 Things to Love About New Mexico (with Photos)

I spent a month in New Mexico and on my last day, I walked around enjoying the ever-present perfect weather and frequently stopping to smell the flowers. Those were the biggest surprise in this place I’d never been to before—the flowers. Flowers It’s springtime, but I didn’t expect it to be so grand in New Mexico. I pictured cactus blooms if I thought of them at all. But, as I walk along the streets, lilacs and wisteria permeate the entire town. Flowers pop up everywhere. Nearly every bush has a bloom of some sort, yes, even the cactus. Their blooms are so bright they’re startling. I sigh and inhale and keep walking. Fences Then I notice the fences. Again, I notice the fences. They’re made of small trees strung together. Uneven at the top. It’s charming. Each one is unique and of this place. Ristras Everywhere I go I’m welcomed with open arms, a cheerful smile and a red chili pepper ristra. Moons The sun shined down on me and I remembered last night when the moon was full. It was so bright it shined like the sun. In the morning, just before sunrise, I looked out my window and […]

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How to Take an Epic Drive Through Monument Valley in Utah and Arizona

When I took the scenic route toward Monument Valley along US 191 from Moab down into Arizona, I had no idea of the surreal, almost magical drive that awaited me. I’ve been to Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, the Grand Canyon and many other places in the area considered among the most beautiful, but none compared to the simple majesty of Monument Valley. I think perhaps the beauty comes from the simplicity that we so seldom find in today’s world. There are no lines to wait in or marked hiking trails to share with others. No pass is required for entry and no sign to let you know that you’ve left. In Monument Valley, there is you and a history as old as time. But, hidden within its folds are the Navajo people who protect it as the land protects them. Long Drives In Utah, it’s become my habit always to choose the long drive. The entire state is glorious and traveling its roads a complete joy. But Monument Valley is unsurpassed. I didn’t know anything about Monument Valley when I took US 191 through Utah heading toward US 163, in Kayenta, Arizona. But, my surprise and delight could not have […]

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12 Books to Consider Reading This Summer

Summer reading to me is about relaxation and escapism. When I read, I truly go into another world. It is also a sort of meditative practice for me as reading requires your brain to focus. Too often, our brains are thinking 20 different things and multitasking like crazy. With reading, you must focus. It’s calming and peaceful. I read 12 books recently and so far, I’m one book behind my goal for the year – aiming to read 70 books this year. I’ve listened to many audiobooks, but I don’t count them, or I’d be at about double this number. Since I’ve been driving a lot, I’ve listened to a ton! So, here are the 12 books I read recently and what I thought about them. Please share in the comments what you’re reading/have read and if you recommend it. What I’ve Been Reading Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen 5/5 Stars I’ve never been a Springsteen fan. Not that I’m not a fan, I obviously know some of his songs (Born to Run, c’mon). I’ve just never bought any of his albums, but I am a sucker for a good creative memoir. He describes growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, […]

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Paddle and Hike to Petroglyphs in Quail Creek State Park in Utah

Near St. George, Utah, there isn’t a lot of water, but there is the Quail Creek State Park and it’s the perfect lake for recreation and history. I went to the park for a 3-hour tour paddleboard tour culminating with a hike to some nearby ancient petroglyphs. Dig Paddlesports, who rents watersports equipment at the park, hosted the tour. I met my guides and group at 8 am at the lake to get an early start on the day and avoid the 100+ degree temperatures. There, we received our gear and a thoughtful introduction to the area’s geography from our guides Bill and Pat. Quail Creek Quail Creek State Park is a 600-acre reservoir diverting water from the Virgin River. Two dams form the reservoir, one of earth and on the other side, concrete. Glowing red sandstone mesas surround the lake in the middle of the Virgin Anticline formation. Our group of nine paddled in the middle of the unique geology about 40 minutes over to a gypsum shoreline. It’s been a few years since I paddle boarded and my sea legs aren’t what they used to be. Luckily I was hot and happy to get wet from my frequent […]

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5 Reasons I Found Canyonlands National Park an Unexpected Delight

When you hear about Utah National Parks, it’s always about Zion, Arches and Bryce, but others are less crowded and dare I say, maybe more beautiful. Canyonlands is one of those. It may not be on your shortlist because of those other parks, but after visiting for a day, I’d say, depending on the kind of person you are, Canyonlands should top your list. Why? For several reasons. Because I like the solitude of nature and being out moving around in it, hiking, and listening to the sounds of the animals and wind. Because Canyonlands is less crowded, you can enjoy the park versus battle the crowds of bustling people. (I also went to Arches and was dismayed by the chaos and Disneyland-like atmosphere). Canyonlands was only a “maybe” on my list. I’d planned to spend most of my time in the Moab area at Arches. But it turns out, so did half of the rest of America. That park is facing such intense overcrowding it’s hard to get in. So, I opted for nearby Canyonlands, and I’m so happy I did. Driving to Canyonlands To get to Canyonlands, I drove 30 miles down a side road off the highway. […]

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