Red Ledge RV Park, Kanarraville, UT;
April 27 to June 9, 2014
Kolob Terrace road is a 21 mile drive
up to the reservoir. This part of Zion is very quiet, with a very
different kind of scenery – rugged and raggedy but in its own way,
as beautiful as the main canyon. Along the first part of the drive is
a ranch several hundred feet below. It is right on the Virgin River,
which flows throughout the canyon. Its lush green grounds are a stark
contrast to the surrounding land – irrigation works wonders!
Farther along are craggy mountain peaks, forests of standing dead
trees, then high desert with cactus – the blooms bright and
cheerful in the otherwise drab landscape. Near the reservoir at just
over 8,100 feet are grassy meadows and acres of quaking aspen – the
Utah state tree.
On the way back down, we took a
turn-off to Lava Point. This is a dirt road (I'm being generous,
here) that travels about three miles back into the woods. There is a
primitive campground there and an overlook that is breathtaking. In
fact, it is listed as in the top five Zion views as listed in
Wordpress.com. West Temple Mountain, the highest point in Zion, is
visible from Lava Point Overlook, along with several named peaks.
True to its name, there are spots along the way where huge piles of
lava may be seen – some spilling over the cliff-edge. In other
places, there are fields strewn with chunks of lava the size of a
five-gallon bottle.
I'm not sure we would choose this drive as a favorite in Zion, but I can say I'm very glad we drove this road less
traveled.
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Aspen grove near the lake, elevation about 11,000 feet
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| Signs of an ancient volcanic eruption. |
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| Look carefully and at the base of the rock in the center, you'll see a chipmunk |
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| At Lava Point |
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| At Lava Point |
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| At Lava Point |
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| Lava spilling down the mountainside |
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| Well-irrigated ranch in a canyon along the Kolob Terrace Road |
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