As most of you know, George and I prefer to drive on the 'back-roads' in this country when we can. On our recent trip out west, we did take the interstate much of the way---mainly because of time constraints... BUT--we were able to get on some back-roads on occasion, especially in Utah.
Today, I will share with you a teeny tiny part of Scenic Highway 12 (which runs between Highway 89 near Panguitch and Torrey, Utah). You can see the map above showing where we were. I will feature Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon in other blogs --but will begin today's post a short distance beyond the entrance to Bryce Canyon at Water Canyon (near the Mossy Cave trail).
The date was June 22, and we reluctantly were leaving the Kanab, Utah area --after four wonderful days, and heading toward Green River. Our first stop that morning was, what else, to see a WATERFALL (actually TWO of them). What a neat place and hike!!!! We've never been close to a waterfall before with hoodoos around it!!!! How special is that! Here are some pictures from our 1st stop that morning.
Water came through this area at one time when the pioneers in the 1800's dug an irrigation ditch to this area to provide water for the nearby communities. All of the water changed the geology of the canyon by washing away many of the hoodoos. Note the ones left in the picture above. The water formed an arch!!
What an interesting trail. There was an actual cave/grotto which is more like a shallow alcove filled with moss. We were just amazed to be able to see some waterfalls in an area like this.
Here is one of the two waterfalls. George took a great picture of it. Its name is TROPIC DITCH FALLS... There wasn't too much water and the waterfalls weren't too large---but you know us... We love waterfalls of all sizes!!!!! ha
And here is the other waterfall, named UPPER TROPIC DITCH FALLS. Neat, huh?
Our 2nd stop that morning was in the town of Tropic (on map above). We visited the Ebenezer Bryce cabin (which is now a museum). Ebenezer Bryce (1830-1913) was a Mormon pioneer, best known as the person whom Bryce Canyon is named after. He left Scotland for Utah at the age of 17. They moved to southern Utah in 1862, and settled in Pine Valley in 1875. It was there where he built the oldest Mormon Chapel still in use today. Soon after, the family moved to the Paria Valley. Bryce Canyon became a National Monument in 1923 and a National Park in 1928. Ebenezer Bryce eventually moved his large family to Arizona.
As we left Tropic, and headed through Cannonville and Henrieville---we saw some gorgeous scenery around us. Isn't this an awesome picture???? Those rocks look like Indian teepees to me.... What say you?
Finally, here is one more picture of this gorgeous two-lane scenic highway we took... IF you ever get to spend some time in Utah--just take some drives along some of the back-roads. You'll love 'em!!!!!
MUCH more to come from Scenic Highway 12 in the future!!!!!! Hope you enjoyed the beginning of that drive with us.
Hugs,
60 comments:
I like traveling through your photography, since I don't actually get out much. Thank you!
Love the waterfalls!
Good Monday Morning Betsy, Wow! What wonderful waterfalls to add to your and George's list! They are so unique and picturesque. Absolutely beautiful pictures and interesting info. Thanks for sharing your visit with us.
Have a great week.
The natural arch and the nice scenic views along Cannonville and Henrieville are fabulous! You really make us appreciate nature's beauty besides your handsome birds and blooming flowers. It is a joy to read your blog posts always, thank you Betsy!
Hi Betsy,
what a spectacular!
beautiful views!
amazed at that great trail!
thanks for this fantastic pictorial tour!
hugs
betty xx
Beautiful trip! I know you enjoyed it all!
I love all your travel pics!
What a diverse county we live in. Some of those scenes look other worldly.
From the size of tha cabin and since he had a large family, I can see why he moved.
Wonderful shots.
This was fascinating.The scenes are so beautiful.I love the varied colors of the rocks.
Wow, so much more to see than on an interstate! This really IS a trip I want to take some day...retirement may not be that far away from me after all!
Great pictures, Betsy! I've never been out west, so I am enjoying all these photos from your trip. :)
Thanks for the trip down memory road! It's been close to twenty years since I've been there, but that is some beautiful country you are heading through. Can't wait to see Bryce and Zion. (Don't tell, but Zion was my favorite!) ;-)
beautiful! those tepee rocks look like twirling ladies in colorful dancing skirts!
every single one of these photos is stunning and absolutely amazing to me. i would so love to see this. the arch is wonderful and would never have thought of a waterfall in this type country. my ancestors came from Scotland and settle here in FL now i am wishing they had settled in Utah. wow
My niece was out there this spring, and she told us about a must-see scenic highway. I'm guessing it must have been your Highway 12. With both of you recommending it, I think we're going to have to put it on our agenda next time we're out that way. Lovely photos, as always.
The color in all of these is magnificent. You have a great eye for observing the beauty you were in. I really liked them all.
When I got back here, I was telling Norma (my friend) where I went. She said she used to live in Tropic and WHY didn't I go there. I'd like to do that whole highway. I didn't have time. Thinking back I guess I probably did and why I thought I had to get back down here in a hurry is a mystery. One of my blogger friends lives in Escalante on a big ranch. I thought about going on a ways but decided I need to get back. I need a traveling partner. These decisions are too hard for me alone. :) I had a flashback just scrolling through your pictures.
I would love to take a trip out West like this one someday!I love the picture where the rocks look like teepees!
Leave it to you two to find waterfalls in an are that doesn't have very many!! And they are so beautiful -- Love the hoodoo!
Groovy waterfalls! I want that log museum and looks like your gas tank better be full before taking off down that road!
This is so useful as we are heading out that way this fall!
Ya know, I've lots of pics from out west & one thing I've noticed is that shade of blue sky... it's so beautiful & when you look at it in comparison to the green leaves in the trees, it's that much more beautiful!
Awesome skies out west =)
Gorgeous pics of a part of the country I've never seen! The rock formations are amazing!
What a fantastic drive!! I have to remember this for our next trip west:) I love that first photo. The sky is what I call heart-breakingly blue:)
Hum....what are hoodoos? And yes those rocks/mountains look like teepees to me too.
Beautiful country Betsy. I've never been there. I bet it was lovely to see the cool water in this arid place.
I've never been there, but you make me want to go.
I agree with the person who said your photos find and highlight beauty (loosely interpreted).
I love the hoodoo arch photo, but I think it's sad that people's 'needs' destroyed a lot of them in that spot.
Our governor recently signed a bill allowing for drilling of natural gas in Ohio's state parks.
It won't be the huge destruction that strip mining does, but I've seen the clearing they make to get to the spot and how the natual habitat is changed. He says it will help get Ohio out of debt. I say, find another way; don't mess with nature.
Okay, off the podium.
The waterfalls are pretty. I bet it was refreshing to find them in such an area.
I'm loving this trip you're taking us on, Betsy. :)
I am happy to see that you were in Utah. And it's fun to get your reactions. I live up north. You know that, or do you? It's interesting that you could find waterfalls down there in the desert. Usually it's very dry. And I've often wondered how someone likes all that desert if they are seeing it for the first time. I have to say, you have named some towns I've never heard of. You really were in the wilderness. Glad you had a good time. Thanks for sharing a fun post.
Wow what beauty and the waterfalls are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing..Hope you have a great week..Susie
You certainly captured the essence of much of Southern Utah with these photos. Isn't that interesting, beautiful country?
I like your take on the rocks around Cannonville and Henrieville. I've always thought they looked like painted elephant legs, but I think your imagination is more creative than mine. They do look like teepees.
Hi Betsy, I was so excited to see this post. Isn't Utah fabulous? It is such a treat to see all your photos and read about your travels. I'm not sure we'll get to see everything in Utah this fall that you did, but I definitely want to take the Hwy 12 route. My aunt and uncle used to go out west every year for years and saw much of Utah. Her favorite was Zion. It's interesting to me to hear what everyone likes best and why. Your photos are beautiful as always and I can't wait to see and hear more about your trip! Have a great day.
Betsy, thank you for taking us along on your trip through your lens. What interesting and great places you have had the pleasure of seeing. I am like you, I prefer staying away from the business and Interstate. You can see so much more on the back roads.
Thank you for the map. What interesting place names! I love the pics of the waterfalls in such an arid area. I wonder what wildlife you saw there? I guess you need a reliable means of transport to travel on the backroads. Thank you for sharing and taking us along.
Excellent post, Betsy. Your photography is amazing and that of George, where he photographed the two "neat" waterfalls. I love the arena with rocks that look like Teepees. And this is the second time I've read about Hoo-doo's - I learnt so much from your post today. Bless you, dearest Betsy. (((Hugs))) Jo
What a gorgeous part of our country! Yes, those rocks did look like teepees. "What say you?" That cracked me up.
Great post Betsy...and I won't even hold it against you that I learned something today.
xo
Very nice Betsy and you even had actual waterfalls. :) That scenery is beautiful.
Enjoyed your pictures. It reminded me of some of the scenry we say when we were in that area last fall. However, at that time there was a big forest fire north of Bryce Canyon and we drove through a lot of haze and smoke. We didn't see the waterfalls though.
Hard to believe it is just the other side of our country.
Cannonville and Henrieville - the sites were amazing along 'our' visit.
See I get to go with you on your trips - hope hubby doesn't mind.
Love the rocks and waterfall.
Amazing photos. We too like to take the back roads when possible. You see so much more of the country.
Well Hello my friend.....long time, no see/ha
I knew you must be on another wonderful trip and couldn't wait to see your photos.
I have been so busy, can't sit still very long.....summer time!!!!
Yes, definitely looks like teepees....great shots!
Love these photos...soooo different from our lush TN landscapes...I would love to visit Utah.
Have a beautiful week!!!
Fantastic pics. Love the museum, waterfalls & cliffs. Does the different colors mean that that was once the soil line?
When we were "touring" around we always took the back roads as you can see so much more. I sure miss that & him.
What a trip of a lifetime, Betsy! Wow. just wow :)
I love being able to travel through you :)
xo, misha
Hi Betsy, it's been a long time since I visited but I am so happy to be back and catching up. Great to hear you got out west. These photographs have been marvelous and I look forward to your other posts.
Gorgeous photos, Betsy. As bad as the drought has been out west, I'm a bit surprised that you found any waterfalls at all. Super!!
Absolutely gorgeous scenery. I love that little pioneer museum.
ohhh that looks great! I wouldn't mind driving there someday. And i didn't know there was a town called Escalante! haha 2 of our guys are last names are like that.
Thank you for your sweet comment on my "friends" post. And yes thankfully the cancer is all gone. I just have to go in every 3 months for checkups.
Leontien
Ya got me on that "hoodoos" entry. Had to look it up to find that it was a tent rock, formed by water cutting into the rocks. You made the ideal kind of a trip for me, taking the back roads! Thanks for sharing.
I love this trip we just took down the side roads. The scenery is so very pretty. I smiled looking at all of them and don't want to have to pick a favorite. I wonder how many people will take a trip out there after reading your blog.
I like waterfalls of all sizes too. Your two waterfalls were quite nice. I liked the soft water effect in both of them. You captured beautiful scenery in Utah; looking forward to seeing more!
So strange to see water falls in what looks like a dessert area. That is a beautiful area. My father-in-law's dad was a Mormon and lived in the area of Bryce Canyon.
Blessings to you
Marilyn
what a beautiful trip and the views are breathtaking. i enjoy tagging along with you Betsy. thanks for sharing the fun.
Such beauty Betsy! Your shots are awesome too! I can't even begin to imagine how much of a gift this trip was for you two! God has truly blessed you both!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful sites with us...
Even in such a dry looking area leave it to you and George to find the waterfalls. They are really pretty ones too.
Bryce Canyon is on our to do list next time we visit Utah.
I've been on HWY 12, and I agree, it's one of the most spectacular backroads anywhere.
I love how you found a couple of waterfalls. Those are 2 that I have not seen.
We took a trip out west for 3 weeks in 1998. It is wonderful to see, isn't it? I remember when we got to middle Tennessee I was getting excited because I was close to home.
That was the last vacation with both my children and my mother. Jimmy did almost all of the driving. I only drove when we were in places that Jimmy couldn't stand to see the lack of ground right beside the road. Then he made me drive.
Beautiful scenes! I know you had a wonderful time on this trip. Mike and I want to do a similar trip some time.
That last shot is my favorite and the one of the arch..I have to go there sometime, I am sure I would marvel over EVERYthing. LOL
Utah, sure is a beautiful state. Full of surprises.
I would never think one would find one, let alone two waterfalls in the landscape. Amazing! Yes, the one rock formation does look exactly like Tepees. I thought that first and then read your words. I probably will not get to Utah so I am enjoying your photos very much. Even more, I am enjoying the thought of the two of you on this trip. Since Terry and I have such fun when we travel, and due to his surgery don't have any short term travel plans, I am really enjoying your trip through the wonderful pictures you are sharing with us. Blessings.
Couldn't get much better...just beautiful. You did well on the pictures. We went up as far as Idaho this summer and back down to Calf. and back to La. in a week. We have been out west 3 vacations. Love it love it ....so much to see. Enjoyed your trip. Blessings.
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