Day 2 of our desert Southwest trip started with a breakfast buffet at our hotel, the Perry Lodge, after which we loaded up in the cars and drove to Pink Coral Sands State Park. This is the largest sand dunes in Utah stretching 7 miles.
We started with a group photo at the dunes overlook before beginning on a short hike across the sand.
At the beginning, we came to some Badlands Mule-ears‘s. If you recall from some of my other hikes in my home area, Mule-ears grow by us too, but are a much wider variety.
The Ranger in the visitor center said she normally walks in bare feet out on the sand, so I decided to take a hint from her and give it a shot. The sand feels like my feet are wrapped in a silk scarf.
Walking along, the sand dunes was amazing. We had panoramic views all around.
As a slight breeze came up, we could see the sand blowing right over the edge of the ridge. It is a good demonstration how the dunes are formed it makes a small wrinkle at the edge on top of the dune.
Just for a little proof, you’re never too old to act like a kid. I decided to jump down the side of the dune. Coming up. Was definitely a cardio pump.
We headed back to the vehicles along more of the dunes and loaded up for a short drive back towards town to Moqui Cave.
On the way we stopped for another scenery picture and I noticed a cow out in the field.
We arrived at Moqui cave. Which is a local museum and historical interest point.
Following our Moqui cave tour we headed 1/2 mile down the road to the Sand Caves Trailhead. The trail let us below the caves to a rock scramble a steep sandstone slope, and then double back to the caves. Looking up from below, they appear to be just a couple holes in the rock.
We reached the caves and it took my breath away. Not only are they awesome inside, but the large openings Lookout to the valley with more incredible views.
Next, we continue down the road another couple miles the Dinosaur Tracks trail. It has a beautiful view views of the canyons around us with the highway running through it. We climb a fairly steep hill.
The top is a very flat rock Ridge line that we walk along. The views are pretty and we did find a few dinosaur tracks up here.
Once again we took some time to admire the beauty of our God’s creation. I wish you could see it with your own eyes. It is spectacular.
Leaving the dinosaur tracks, we returned to Moki Cave, where we meet up with the ROAM adventure guide for a UTV trip to peekaboo Canyon.
When we arrived at the UTV staging area we had expected there to be guides to drive each UTV. We only had one guy with us. He turned around and asked is Dave driving the other UTV of course I said yes!
We loaded up five of us in my ATV and seven of us, plus the guide in another and headed up the road. We soon were flying down dirt tracks on the way to the Peekaboo Slot Canyon. The trail we are on had some really cool banking turns and long washboard sections that we bounced over at about 30 miles an hour. I don’t think I have smiled so big in years.
We arrived at the Canyon and began our hike. The walls were 30-40 feet high and only four or 5 feet wide. The colors were an amazing mix of red, tan, and orange, and wound back-and-forth.
At one point, we found a row of small circles dug into the side of the canyon. The Moqui Indians would store their grain on an upper shelf so when the canyon flooded, it would not be washed away. The holes are what they use to climb up to their storage area.
Our guide pointed out some Crinoids, which are marine animals related to starfish and sea urchins. They were fossilized on some of the rocks within the canyon. Are we human mammals in the middle of the Utah Canyon. Show makes I believe in the story of Noah more solidified.
Towards the end of the hike, I found a small cubby in the side of the canyon wall and I crawled into it. As each person of our group passed. I sat there quietly, and they looked over and saw me. A few, jumped back startled.
We climbed back into the TVs and returned to our starting location. We got back in our regular cars and it headed off of the ranch property and back to our hotel ending another amazing day with a beautiful scenery great people and awesome adventure.
Today’s trip video
