Summer Trip 2021, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City, Utah

 Cedar Breaks National Monument

Point Supreme Campground

Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater stretching across a distance of about three miles with a depth of over 2,000 feet. The elevation of the rim of the amphitheater is over 10,000 feet. The formations in this park closely resemble those that are found in Bryce National Park and the Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest. 

This park is extra special. At a height of over 10,000 feet the air is crisp and clear. The views are spectacular. We camped out at Point Supreme campground in the heart of the park. The nighttime skies were amazing with the milky way clearly visible spanning across the sky. We had flush toilets, hot showers (a luxury), firewood from the campground host to keep us warm at night and a nice site with great views. Just about perfect.

We enjoyed several hikes while in the park. One of the hikes took us along the rim to a lovely Alpine pond with views of the canyons that make this park so dynamic.

We drove up to Brian Head peak the highest point in this area at over 11,000 feet. It was a drive we will never forget. All of it was gravel road with several spots that were steep and a bit rocky. We were rewarded with views that were so amazing of the surrounding landscapes that stretched on for miles in every direction.

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Summer Trip 2021, Craters of the Moon National Monument, central Idaho

 Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho. There are three lava fields that lie along the Great Rift of Idaho. The geological features in this park our other worldly giving one a sense of how powerful the internal energy of the earth has shaped the features here not to far in the distant past in terms of geological time spans.

Our Campsite was nestled in between Lave Rock making for a unique experience that fit right into the theme of the park. We had flush toilets nearby with paved sights which we like to keep our home a bit cleaner.

The features of this unique landscape are volcanic but also are teaming with life. We marveled at the small clusters of flowering blooms that covered the landscape in areas that had gentle slopes. 

Craters of the Moon left us with a feeling that the powers that have made our planet are still there just below the surface waiting to release the energy that created so many landscapes over time.

Summer Trip 2021, Sawtooth National Forest, Redfish Lake, Idaho

 Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Sunny Gulch Campground

Sunny Gulch is three miles from Redfish Lake, but is quieter and less crowded then the campgrounds closer to Red Fish Lake in the summer. In this area there is access to great hiking trails with views into the Sawtooth Wilderness and the White Cloud Wilderness. Redfish Lake Lodge is also nearby with a great view of the Lake and the Sawtooth Mountain range. There is a sandy beach along to enjoy the views with food and beverages that are severed at the lodge in a nice shaded setting. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the landscapes that make this place so special.

Our campground at Sunny Gulch was very nice with the Salmon River running swiftly in the Canyon that was our home for three nights. Our friend from Florida Diane Dahlberg came up from Florida to join us for this part of our trip. It was so nice to experience this great wilderness landscape with a dear friend.

The wildlife, the landscapes, the majestic Sawtooth mountains make this area a perfect place to discover nature and all the beauty that is so soothing to the soul.

 

 

Summer Trip 2021, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Recreation Area, Lulu, Idaho

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Recreation Area

Powell Campground

Lochsa Lodge

Located in north central Idaho Powell Campground is located in scenic Lachsa River Valley. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The Lochsa Lodge is located within walking distance from the campground. This is the second time we visited this wildly beautiful section of Idaho. The Lodge has a convenience store and cabins for those visitors who are not campers.

The Lochsa River Valley as seen from the Lochsa Lodge

We had electric at our campsite which is available in one loop of the campground. It is wise to make your reservations well in advance as Powell is popular in the summer time. In the winter time it is snow mobile heaven where area residents come to play. The campground has flush toilets along with several fresh water sources scattered through out to campground. It is great place to use as a base to see this areas many interesting features.

 

 

Suspension walking bridge over the Lochsa River

Nearby about 10 miles west of here there are some lovely hot springs. Jerry Johnson hot springs is perhaps one of nicest in the area. After crossing a walking suspension bridge over the Lochsa river you come to a 1.2 mile trail paralleling the river. It is a beautiful hike passing a hot spring that flows right out of the rock to the river. The path is steep to this hot spring so we decided not to go there however we did see some younger folks who ventured down. Jerry Johnson hot springs are nestled also along the river with pools that visitors built to soak in. The setting is absolutely beautiful with the river and forest providing a perfect setting. The main hot springs is up the hill from the river and overlooks a lovely meadow. We really enjoyed our time soaking here walking back totally relaxed enjoying the wildflowers in bloom. 

The Lochsa River

Warm water Spring emanating from a cliff on the shore line of the Lochsa river

Jerry Johnson head spring

Barbara and our friend Diane enjoying a soak 

Walking Trail suspension bridge over the Lochsa river

Fire Weed Blooming

River side pools of warm water at Jerry Johnson hot springs

Just east of our campground is we visited a Salmon hatchery. Salmon swim up the Lochsa river about 600 miles from the Pacific from the mouth of the Columbia river. The Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creek meet here to form the wild Lochsa river. 

The confluence of Killed Colt Creek and Crooked Creek to form the Lochsa River 

Salmon spawning shelter 

Large Salmon in the spawning center pools

Idaho is a beautiful state full of unspoiled wilderness. Our stay at Powell was an experience that delighted us as we love nature and all the beauty that surrounds it.