October 20
Today is our last full day for the desert southwest trip. We are back in the cars to return to Kanab, the city we first stayed in. Along the way we stopped at the Navajo national monument.
Our first stop is an overlook of the valley. Like all of the others on this trip the view is amazing.
The visitor center is closed because of the idiots in Washington playing their games, but we did opt to hike down the Betatakin overlook Trail. It’s more of a walk than a hike 1 mile round-trip on a paved path. We pass some areas of desert soil that has a unique look to it. It is very fragile and should not be disturbed.
The overlook has an amazing view of some ruins of a Navajo Village. It is believe they left the area due to a drought. Rings on trees, indicate that the drought lasted for 20 years causing the tribe to work for a new home.
On the trail we passed A Short but stout tree growing out of the rocks on the hill above us highlighted by the sun.
Following the village overlook, we took another side trail called the Aspen overlook Trail. This one is not paved and much more to my liking.
The rock Hillside across from us has some very interesting groove patterns in it. We’ve learned from our previous guides that when the wind blows sand under the debris across the rock, it creates these grooves over many years.
Walking down the trail we passed some large Douglas fur pine trees. Not what I expect for the desert Landscape.
The overlook has a great view of the canyon down below. The aspens have not yet turned golden and are in the shadows Hidden amongst the Conifers.
We passed round leaf Buffalo berry, I originally thought it looked a little bit like basil, it doesn’t taste like it at all
The gamble Oak has a bright yellow leaf in this season
Prickly pear are more typical of what I imagine for the Arizona desert
We’ve reached the top of the Aspen overlook trail. That was a cardio pumping calf burning 300 feet down and up.
I stand on the red rock with a good view of the valley behind me
A third Trail, we are checking out is the canyon view Trail appropriately named with the view that we see
The short trail to the Canyon view campground ends at one of the parks first cabins used by the on-site range. It has since been replaced by the visitor center.
Once again, we are back in the cars. Our drive takes us right back through Page where we stayed earlier in the trip. We decided to stop and do another hike on the Hanging Garden trail.
We stopped for a group photo by some hoodoo’s right at the beginning of the trail.
We begin walking through a desert environment with large sandstone Hills around us.
We passed by a wide open view of the sandstone mountains across the wash
As we arrive to what it’s called the hanging gardens, there is much more of vegetation and a large rock with a cut out underneath that is full of ferns growing out of its side
The foliage is made up of multiple species of plant. Some of the fern truly does hang from the rock forming a small ceiling
We arrived back in Kanab and went to our farewell group dinner.
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