A hike well rewarded!!

Just where have I been you may be asking yourself?  Well let me give you the grand update, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument update, as well as Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey Utah and Marysville Utah.
That's right WOW, what a beautiful road trip!!  Torrey, Utah is the most amazing little town I have ever been to.  It is just outside of Capitol Reef National Park and is very charming with a couple of great restaurants.  That's where my husband and I started our adventure.  The first night we rented an adorable little cabin for $35.00 a night.  It was equipped with power, heat, two queen beds, nice big towels and of course cable.  There  is a shared bath and shower just a few feet away from the cabin and man they were clean(got to love that, also came with body wash, shampoo and rinse).  Next to the bath was a laundry room with soap, rinse and dryer sheets.  Our first night could hardly be called ruffing it.

I love all the red rocks and formations that surround Torrey.  There's a great little coffee/bookstore down the road from the cabins called "The Robbers Roost." They have great coffee, books, views and of course computers and Internet service.
After a goodnight sleep and a yummy breakfast we decides to take a ride up through Capitol Reef.  You will not be disappointed with this lovely drive.  Just as you enter the park you'll come upon a small pioneer town called "Fruitus".  Right there in the middle of all that red rock and desert you will find fruit orchards planted by the Mormon pioneers.  If the fruit is in season your welcome to pick and pay.  There's also a visitor center and a stucco pioneer home that is now used as a gift shop and info center.   Next to this charming pioneer home is a small camp grounds with flushing restrooms but no shower or hookups for R.V's.  This camp ground has lots of shade and fills up fast, it's on a first come first camp basis.  The spots are grassy and great for tents, theres also a fast moving river next to the camp grounds that's worth exploring.
After exploring Capitol Reef we headed out for Calf Creek Falls, it one of the most well know features in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Calf Creek has a small camp ground that is first come first camp as well,  luckily we got there early enough to get a great tent sight.  In order to get to the falls it requires a six mile hike, three mile to the falls, three miles out.  The trail its self is not to difficult and there are great views and vistas to take in along the way. 

sandy trail 

towering coves

spooky face on wall

This is the little sandy beach that's great for drying off after a cool dip, and I do mean cool.  Its always best to get soaking wet so you'll stay cool for the hike back to camp.  

So now you can see that the journey is well worth the effort.  Make sure to take plenty of water and pace yourself.  I don't suggest you take any pets unless your wanting to carry them in and out, the sand gets way to hot for their little paws. 

I highly enjoyed myself as well did my honey.  It's such a joy getting out on the Harley and seeing the great parks that surround us. 

We took in some desert art along the way as well.

I truly found my joy among the red rock cliffs, they touched me right down to my prickly heart.

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