Miles and Miles on the Paiute Trails

    Today starts our 2nd week in Marysvale, Utah riding miles and miles on the Paiute trail systems.  The lack of blogs is not due to lack of adventure!  We've been spending 6-7 hours on the trails each day, covering 50-60 miles.

 Fishing the creeks...

 Exploring old miner's cabins...

 Enjoying our family time!

 Riding with new friends...

 Giving the RZRs and quad a workout...

 Examining natural wonders...

 Playing in the snow...

 Admiring the grandeur...

 Following the leader...

 Blooming in splendor...

 Recovering wilds...

 Surveying the vastness...

 Contemplating the National Forest Service's carelessness...

 Sliding off the trail...(digging out the snowbank)...

Winching forward...
 

(Pictures are not in order...wishing there was Livewriter for a Mac.)

So many trails traversed, many Paiute routes littered with the slashed remains of the trees that once stood overlooking the passageways.  We sought out side trails and BLM roads where the natural beauty remained.  We've been riding with some new RZR friends, truly enjoying our time on the trails! 

Return to the Paiute Trail- Marysvale, Utah

    Leaving Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, our destination was Palisade Lake State Park to hop on the Arapeen Trail.  We arrived on Thursday with reservations to hold us through the weekend, but we surely weren't going to fit in the site assigned.  Misinformation was posted on the reservation site and they were booked for the weekend.  We decided to backtrack to a familiar location, the Paiute trail in Marysvale, Utah.  We easily settled into our park of choice, the South Forty RV Park and were soon on the trail.  We did what all people who know the area do and booked our site for (at least) a week!

    With sunshine all around and temps in the low 80's, we headed for the Deer Creek trail.  The creek is flowing rapidly from recent snow melt but easily crossed by slatted bridges.

    Ascending from the sagebrush at 5800 feet to the pines and aspens at 8800 feet, the trail offers magnificent views and a fun ride.

    Camped down in the Sevier river valley, one can climb up into the mountains easily from Marysvale for a cool respite.

    We've been riding everyday and followed our Deer Creek ride with a trip up to the mountains on the other side of the valley known as Dry Creek.  Stunning rock formations line the trail in between creek crossings and aspen meadows.

   And then on a side trail, we were stopped in our tracks by snow!  Caleb quickly made snowballs and played in the drifts.

    In between rides with folks from the campground, Chris and Caleb managed to head over to the creek to do some fishing.  From the frigid waters, they pulled in some trout for dinner.  We figure this was meant to be because we are definitely enjoying our return to the Paiute trail!

Summer Journey 2013!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

   

   Our summer journey for  2013 started on Memorial Day as we traveled north to the intriguing area near Kanab, Utah where we landed at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.   We were enchanted by the area for the first time last summer and knew that we had to return!  From the fine coral pink sand rippled by the continual winds to the pine studded dunes, we were in for a few days of fun in the rustic state park campground.

 

 Russell loves to romp and play in the sand and found continual enjoyment digging away into the sand.  And then the sand takes on a whole new look as clumps solidify into rock like formations known as baked earth.

Baked Earth

   Since Russell didn't get to go out and play in the dunes, he did get to take a ride around the campground to get in his RZR ride!

    Then we were off to play on the sand trails, weaving around the clumps of Mules Ears that were waiting to bloom and resting in the shade of the mighty Ponderosa pine that line the dunes.  We met up with some RZRforums.net members and rode the dunes, the soft sand testing the power of the machine and the driver's skills.  We were fortunate to be led by some experienced Coral Pink riders to show us the way!

 

   The next day, with our BLM OHV access map in hand, we headed down the trail to the Virgin River.  Flanked by scenery comparable to what you will see in Zion, the trail was a mix of deep white sand, twisting through Pinon pine before descending to the river.

   In the shade of towering Cottonwoods, a hike up the river was an appreciated break after being on the trail.

 Back to the state park, some of the dunes tower above.  A remote location north of Kanab, you won't find a cell signal nearby.  That's just the type of place where you can get away and get connected with nature.

   A great time was had by all and we are able to say, we have been won over again by the great variety and beauty on the trail.  With only 3 nights available at the park, we had to continue our journey northward where our plan took a few detours.