Visitor from Iowa - Part 2

Friday morning we broke up into two groups. Nate, Ben, my dad, and I set out to hike the Sulphur Creek Route. We knew that the afternoon would bring a flash flood danger, so we hurried to finish the trip that morning.

This turned out to be one of my favorite hikes I have ever done in Capitol Reef. It was really beautiful! It took us down through the bottom of the canyon we had viewed on a previous trip from Gooseneck Overlook and Sunset Point. Luckily, the water level didn't go up more than just past my knees in the deepest spot (sometimes it is so deep it requires swimming), and the climbs down the sides of the three small waterfalls in canyon were not difficult.

I loved viewing the sheer canyon walls rising above us in a rainbow of reds, purples, browns, blacks, oranges, and yellows. Splashing through the creek while the water flowed around my legs and feet felt refreshing. The pleasant little waterfalls and water cascades added further interest to the route.

First Waterfall

Second Waterfall

Third waterfall

Meanwhile, everyone else, including Austin, hiked from the bottom of the canyon behind the Visitor's center up to the last waterfall. Austin started out being afraid to walk through the water, but by the end he was loving the experience. He also enjoyed throwing sticks in the water to create a nice splash before they floated downstream.

After returning from their hike, everyone else visited some of the other historic sites around Capitol Reef. We met back up with them when we finished our hike and ate lunch together. Then Austin went to a program about Capitol Reef geology for kids and got his Capitol Reef Jr. Ranger badge and a geology patch.

Austin with his Jr. Ranger Badge and Geology Patch

We also took a picture of us being rangers, just for fun.

Then almost all of us went on one last hike to Hickman Bridge.

Relaxing at HIckman Bridge

Last time we hiked here, we were in a hurry and failed to go around the loop at the end of the trail, or stop by the Nels Johnson Natural Bridge. This time though, we didn't miss these points of interest. The views from the point around the loop were particularly fantastic.

View from view point along the trail

Another view from the view point

Austin at the Nels Johnson Natural Bridge

My aunts took us out for dinner that evening, and we all went home Saturday. It was a good trip though, and turned out to be nice temperature-wise since it was cooler at Capitol Reef than it was at home while we were gone. This was also the end of our time with my brother Ben, since he headed back to Iowa first thing Monday that next week.