Escalante in May

In the beginning of May we took all four kids and met my parents and my brother and his wife out by Escalante, Utah.  We drove about 25 miles down the Hole in the Rock road and pulled off another road going west toward 50 Mile Mesa and camped out on the dirt road for 3 nights and 3 days.

Day 1

We drove further down the Hole in the Rock road and took a turn off left just before Dance Hall Rock and drove the dirt road to the end.  We hiked about two miles into Coyote Gulch to see a beautiful arch and hike down what is called Crack in the Wall.  We handed the kids down the crack and had lunch at the bottom while they played in the sand and we enjoyed the view of the arch as a rain storm approached. The flowers and cactus were all in bloom with oranges, yellows, reds, pinks, purples, and whites.  Each little depression in the rock had its own pristine flower garden.

Summer with a flowering prickly pear cactus

Clint trying to hike Hank through Crack in the Wall. It was so tight we each took and arm and shimmied him through, Hank didn't particularly enjoy this adventure.

The arch with the rain in the background, it was really neat until the rain  hit us and started pouring off the rock.

Samantha was easily able to hike the Crack in the Wall while 8 months pregnant, though much more and she wouldn't fit through the crack or through some of the canyons. 

We then hiked the 2 miles back to the car, though we stayed on the rock to avoid trudging through the sand on the trail. The kids were a little worn out from the rain and the cold, Ali said to Grandma Debi, "I don't think Pappa had a very good idea."  After lunch and a little rest they recovered well and we went to our next adventure.

Right about where we pulled off to go camp is a sign called Dry Wash.  That's where you turn off to go hike Peek-a-Boo, Spooky, and Brimstone Canyons.  It was a Thursday, so we had the place to ourselves.  It's about a mile and a half hike downhill to the start of Peek-a-Boo.  We climbed up the rock and started in.  I wasn't sure what to do with the kids, but we just unloaded the kid backpacks and carried Hank on our shoulders.  He wasn't super happy about it, especially when we had to snake him through narrow spots by each holding an arm, but the 3 and 6 year old girls had a riot!!! We went up Peek-a-Boo, hiked around a short little trail and then went down Spooky.  I can't imagine how you would do this with crowds of people. There's just barely room for one person at a time, so passing is virtually impossible.  There were a few little pools and tricky spots where we had to hand the kids down to each other, but we never needed ropes or anything. These were probably my favorite hikes of the trip. I don't have tons of pictures because we were having too much fun, but here's a couple.

This is the beginning of Peek-a-Boo

Clint got the kids up into Peek-a-Boo and turned around to help my sister-in-law up the cliff and as he had his hands tied helping her, Hank started crawling into the muddy, dirty pool of water.  He wanted to go for a swim!! YUCKY

Just one of many tricky spots

I think I have the coolest, toughest kiddos around!!

Exiting Peek-a-Boo before hiking into Spooky

Two happy hikers in Peek-a-Boo!!

Day 2

We drove back towards Escalante on Hole in the Rock Road to the 2nd cattle guard from the pavement and hiked about 2 miles down into the wash and up into Zebra.  This was a water hike, so we left an adult at the bottom with the kiddos and some sand toys and took turns hiking Zebra. It was only about 200 yards to a pretty gnarly rock fall where we turned around.  Ali hiked the whole thing on Uncle Ty's shoulders.  It was armpit deep water for me in places (waist deep for most normal people), but sooo amazing. The rock literally has zebra stripes.  There were all these neat rocks embedded in the sand stone and when they erode out they have sand stone in the middle so they turn into hollow bowls when they break in half.

Clint in Zebra

Ali hiking Zebra in style.

Kelli and Ali in Zebra.

After we hiked Zebra the kids were wiped out so Clint and I hoofed it out of there and my parents did a canyon called Tunnel.  It's about a half mile down the wash from Zebra. It's not very long but full of freezing cold water.

This is tunnel, the canyon closes in on itself in the top it's sooo narrow.

Clint and I went back to the truck to get some lunch and some fresh water. As we sat around waiting for the Tunnel hikers, Clint took the kids over to a tree to sit in the shade. He set Hank down in the sand to play but Hank kept trying to eat the cow pies, so Clint moved Hank behind him by a rock. He turned around for a second and turned back and a rattlesnake was slithering past within 3 inches of Hank. Clint grabbed Hank and dashed out of there. I don't know if I've ever seen Clint so panicked. Luckily the snake was not angry or irritated and luckily Hank didn't try to grab that cool looking slithery thing.  We saw several snakes while we were hiking. Watch out for them in the shade in the hot part of the day. They are like us and are trying to escape the heat.  Clint was funny, he went back to look at the snake and thank it for not biting our baby.  When he came back he said, "That snake was good to us, so I didn't even poke it." (He likes to hear them rattle)

One of many rattlesnakes we saw on this trip

Day 3

We packed up the tents and drove up to Lower Calf Creek Falls.  This is one of the most beautiful drives I've ever been on. We had done it on the way to Escalante in the dark and missed it.  AMAZING!!! I totally want to do this on a road bike, though the shoulder is pretty narrow and dangerous.  We were told that Lower Calf Creek was pretty easy and flat and that it was a good kid hike. I probably wouldn't do it again until the kids are older. It was LONG and hot and up and down the whole way. Though the six year old stud muffins made it.  The kids almost had a melt down at the end, but thanks to some nice fellow hikers, I got a stash of gummy bears to revive the gummy bear fairy.  The gummy bear fairy dropped gummy bears along the way for the kids to keep them going. The falls were beautiful and some in our party took a swim.  We actually got cold by the falls, so we went downstream a little ways and let the kids play in the water where the falls weren't misting us and making us chili. The water was still freezing, but even Hank got in and splashed some. He would yelp when the water got as deep as his diaper. He didn't like the cold water touching him there I guess. We tried to get my mom's dog to swim across the stream, but the little chicken just whined and yelped until we saved her!

Family photo at Lower Calf Creek Falls

Summer, Hank and Ali playing in the river downstream from the falls.

After the falls we had lunch at the picnic tables in the parking lot and hit the road home. The drive got even more spectacular as we drove down a skinny road between two canyons that fell down below us. We then dropped down into the mountains and went past Capitol Reef National Monument. I think that will be our next big adventure in the fall. It looked beautiful.  All in all it was an incredible trip. 

 We love just throwing down and camping out wherever and not having to listen to dogs bark or loud music or drinking parties. We also like not having to worry about our kids crying and waking up the neighbors.  We bring plenty of water and some solar showers, so after a long sweaty hike we can take a shower with water warmed by the sun.  Even Hank got a shower and loved it! The cows would come around and look at us, Clint called them white faced deer, and Ali gathered some cow pies to burn them just like the pioneers did. They do burn, and they aren't even that stinky.

Zion's Ponderosa Resort in May

We just got back from an awesome trip to Zion's National Park with Clint's family.  I know it's not really camping, but it was still an outdoor kid adventure and I make the rules, so I can break them, ha ha. We spent about 5 days at the Zion Ponderosa resort in a massive cabin (thank you Janice and Ross for footing the bill!!).  The cabin we rented was big enough that we slept 10 adults in 6 bedrooms and 8 kids in closets and other rooms very comfortably.  KK was in the laundry room, Hank was in our closet, and the girls shared a room with two twin beds.  It was fabulous.  The cabin had it's own ping pong table and jacuzzi (though it was a little green and smelly, Clint was the only one brave enough to go swimming in it with all the kiddos), access to a hot tub and pool, mini golf, horse back riding, rock climbing, tennis, 4 wheelers, a park, ping pong and pool tables, and a restaurant.  The resort even put on a mini rodeo for us.  The kids all clung to the fence and watched as they raced around poles and barrels with horses, mules and even a donkey (hilarious).  Everyone whooped and hollered and had a grand ole time at the "Rodeo."  This was the ultimate kid hiking adventure.  We went on hikes every morning and then came home and put the toddlers to bed for naps while the big kids went to the pool.

Day 1

We hiked a little 1-2 mile round trip hike called Hidden Gardens.  We parked in the pull out directly past the first short tunnel after you enter the park on the east side.  We piled out the the vans and went right down the hill off the road into the dry river bed.  From there we hiked a little and then entered a little slot canyon.  I was amazed at the ponderosa pines growing all the way past the top of the canyon.  The canyon was cool, green, and fragrant.  We just hiked until a spot where the kids couldn't maneuver past a rock fall and turned around.  We were home by 11 am and didn't even need to pack a lunch. It was a good warm up hike.

Day 2

We got up early, packed lunches, and drove all the way down to the main entrance of the park.  Zion's has a shuttle bus you have to use to hike the main portions of the canyon.  We hiked Emerald Pools that morning with some of Clint's extended family.  It's about 5 miles round trip.  My 6 year old twins hiked it no problem, though we had to resurrect the gummy bear fairy a few times to keep kids motivated to keep walking (she leaves little gummy bear presents).  It was frog mating season, so the frogs were all over, and in pairs.  It was fun for the kids, they even picked some up to pet them.  I carried my three year old, KK and Clint carried Hank, the 1 year old.  There's a beautiful waterfall about a mile up that is a great turn around spot if you aren't ready for the full uphill battle to the upper pools.  Probably the highlight of the hike was the cool down at the end.  Clint let the kids all wade through the river and play in the mud.  Hank had a grand old time wiping mud all over his body and soggifying his diaper.  The twins and KK even joined Clint for a swim.  I was a little to wary of the cold water, but enjoyed seeing all the mating frogs and watching Hank enjoy himself.

hiking under the waterfall at lower pool

Froggy Friend

family photo at upper pool

We finished the hike, now lets cool off in style

Rocks and mud, what more could a boy want?

Great swimming hole!!

Ali enjoying her after hiking snack, maybe a hot chocolate would have been more in order.

All in all it was a good day and a fun hike.  It gets a little hot climbing up to the upper pool, but well work the sweat and maybe a few 6 year old tears.

Day 3

It was Sunday, so we caught a Sunday Service in Orderville and then spent the rest of the day trying out the park, some mini golf, and some family style doubles in tennis at the resort.

Day 4

We ventured back down into the park to try some more swimming in the narrows. The narrows is the last shuttle stop in the canyon, so we thought we'd get off and go see Weeping Rock on our way.  The deer were grazing all over on our way up to the rock (about 400 yards from the shuttle).  KK walked the whole thing and she's 3, though at one point she says, "Mommy, my knees hurt.  When are we going to go down hill?"  I guess she was feeling the muscles working in her legs for once.

KK almost petting a deer close to Weeping Rock

After our little side trip to Weeping Rock we jumped back on the shuttle to the last stop.   It's about a mile or so to the end of the trail that enters the narrows.  The kids wore crocs or sandals and Clint took the big kids up the river for about another mile.  They had fun wading through the canyon up to a little waterfall.  I guess Ali even fell all the way in and didn't even flinch about it.  I stayed with the 2 littlest kiddos and we dug in the sand and splashed in the river while we waited.  The babies both fell asleep in the backpacks, though they never sleep for long if you aren't moving.

Day 5

We were scheduled to head home, so we thought we'd take a side trip into Bryce National Park on the way.  As much fun as Zion's was, I think Bryce topped it for hiking with the kids.  We actually never even entered the park, we went to a little State Park called Red Canyon that was about 6 miles past Panguitch towards Bryce.  It was free, super kid friendly, and we had the place to ourselves Memorial Day weekend!!! We hiked a little trail called the pink ledges trail that was a mile long just starting from the little visitor center there in the parking lot.  It was perfect for the kids, though don't carry kids on your shoulders, it can be very dangerous if you slip and fall, kid backpacks are much safer.  KK walked the entire pink ledges trail by herself. I even learned something new!! Did you know that if you lean into a Ponderosa Pine inhale deeply, the bark smells of vanilla? Crazy cool!  The little balancing rock formations are called hoodoos.  The kids had fun crawling into crevices and caves they found on the way.

Pink Ledges Trail

Summer with an army of Hoodoos behind her

Hank right before Clint fell on our hike

We then hopped in the van and drove about 5 minutes up a little side road called Casto Canyon Road.  At mile 2 there's a little parking lot and out house for a trail called Arches Trail.  It was about a 2 mile loop.  We walked through amazing country seeing arches, a little stone enclosure or house, hoodos, caves, etc. It was so dense with beauty I can't believe most people never stop here!!! Unfortunately it was starting to rain so we had to book it out of there. The forest ranger was super to tell us about this one.  I think we need to go back and scour Bryce and Red Canyons for more kid friendly hikes. I think I'm feeling another adventure in the works.  Anyone want to join us?

Just go through the wash to the other side and you'll see the trail

Hold on to your hats it would be quite a scramble to go get anything you drop

Yummy, I want to smell that Ponderosa Pine!!

Clint and the girls posing in some of the Arches

More arches

Ali in the stone house

All in all we had perfect weather, perfect company, perfect hikes, and so much to feast our eyes on.  I'd recommend this trip to anyone or any hiking level.