We returned to our favorite state of Utah for some hiking in the far southern part of the state. Having already visited all the National Parks in Utah, we decided to explore the lesser known areas. And we were not disappointed. We hiked in what felt like alien landscapes, we hiked through peaceful washes, and we spent an incredible day in an old favorite at Bryce Canyon. The centerpiece of our trip was a visit and stay overnight at White Pocket… and yes, I am aware it is located just across the border in Arizona. :)

White Pocket - The Centerpiece Of The Trip

It took us three hours to get to White Pocket and the last hour was on a narrow, very deep, sand road.  I spent that last hour gripping the wheel tightly hoping we wouldn't get stuck, and hoping the few Jeeps coming from the opposite direction would get out of my way so I wouldn't have to pull over and risk even deeper sand. We made it by mid afternoon and arrived at the most beautiful rock formation I have ever hiked on.  Of course we had to contend with fifty mph wind gusts sandblasting our skin and making it very difficult to get sharp photographs.  We hiked, explored, and photographed in the late afternoon.  After that, it was time for dinner in the Jeep (you guessed it... chicken in a can!) and then some sleep before doing another hike and photo session at sunrise. After a freezing night of sleeping in all the clothing and jackets we had, a hat and gloves, under two heavy blankets, we went back out for sunrise.  The soft pale colors before the sun came up made the place look completely different.  White Pocket is an amazing place to visit.  It's hard to get there, but so worth it!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

This was an unexpected surprise and a very pleasant morning. We arrived at the sand dunes before sunrise and it was beautifully quiet… that is until we repeatedly set off the car alarm causing Rich to run back from the dune field to silence the deafening horn. Usually moving about in a dune field is very tiresome. But in this case, yesterday’s rain and the evening’s chill froze the top layer of sand making it easy to walk on the surface. These are the only dunes on the Colorado Plateau and it takes a very unique set of landscape and weather features to make it all come together. It was beautiful to see the color of the sand constantly change as we went from the pre-dawn light to full sunrise.

A Reverence For Rock

To really appreciate Utah and the Colorado Plateau means that you have a deep reverence for, and love of… rock. The rocky underpinnings of the landscape are exposed here for as far as the eye can see. Red, orange, navajo white, pink, yellow, and in some cases brown. The shades of those colors change with the sun’s position throughout the day. Constantly changing, gently eroding, sandstone is everywhere and everything. You start to understand the rock by walking over and through and sometimes under it… touching it as you brush by. The Colorado Plateau is all about the rock and it calls us back to visit over and over again.

A Return To Bryce

How can you visit southern Utah and not spend some time in Bryce Canyon? It is one of my absolute favorite places because of how unique it looks and how accessible it is. If you are willing to walk, you can spend the entire day weaving in and out of the hoodoos… the view around each bend in the trail more stunning than the last one. And throw in some changeable weather in spring and it makes for a remarkable day. We started in sunshine with clear blue skies, covered up as light snow fell in the early afternoon, and ran for the car at the end of the day as sleet pounded us while the sun shown over the canyon. I don’t think I have ever seen a day like this one!