Red Canyon Fall Trip

So another successful bike trip to Red Canyon just outside of Panguitch, Utah. I call it successful when one comes back in one piece. After doing an "endo" on my last trip to Moab, I am all too aware of the perils of mountain biking.

This trip was with my Sister and husband Jan and Jim, and my niece and husband, Lisa and JJ with their two very cute daughters. Also Jim's grandson CJ was with us. Heidi was not with me as she was enjoying a "Painting with the Masters" trip to Colorado with some friends. Again we camped au natural in a BLM campsite away from the established campgrounds. A beautiful view of the canyons and surrounding valley where Panguitch is located. I had my VW camper which worked out great except I found my auxiliary battery was dead and needs replacing. The first night we enjoyed a great foil dinner, cooked in the coals. A hardy breakfast the next morning (made by moi) was french toast, bacon and eggs...a good hardy meal for what lay ahead.

What lay ahead was Thunder Mounting which lay at the beginning of Hwy 12 as you head toward Bryce Canyon. It is a little jewel which contains within its bowels and miniature Bryce Canyon. Since one cannot ride a bike in Bryce Canyon (a far less destructive mode of transport) this is a great proxy for Bryce. We parted at the end of the trail and took a paved bike path up Hwy 12 about 4 miles. This then cuts off on dirt road and leads to the beginning of the trail up the mountain. It winds through Ponderosa forests, rocks and boulders and a narrow trail...sometime with precarious drop offs. It tops out with a fabulous view of the whole region where Bryce Canyon is found and then drops into a bowl similar to Bryce. On one ridge and fell off on both side making it all that more important to not do too much sight seeing along the way. As we went into the bowl, the trail was quite hairy and technical and one had to really be on their toes. The final 1/4 of the trail was a rolling race to the bottom that one could really open up on. The ride took about 2 1/2 hours with spectacular views and a great trail.

That afternoon we just chilled at camp recovering. Mtn biking is very anaerobic and really can take it out of you so the break was very welcome. Dinner that night was courtesy of Lisa which was marinated pork loin, rosemary potato, pears and asparagus. This was topped off with a homemade peach cobbler. You could not have found better in a fine restaurant.

The next morning we headed back to Red Canyon and the Cassidy trail. This is a big loop that goes over to Loosee Canyon with plateaus and lookouts. At my ripe old age I huffed and puffed but was not too far behind the pace setter, JJ. You can tell what 14 years less in age can do. Anyway the views were again spectacular and again the trail had some great cruisers and enough technical spots to keep you awake and watchful. The ride was about 2 hours and a great way to cap off the trip.

Overall I like this area as much is not more than Moab. It has higher elevation, thus cooler temps, trees (did you know that Ponderosa Pines, if the bark is pealed back, smell like vanilla) and wonderful hoodoos and rock canyons. Unfortunately the season is shorter due to elevation, but a great destination.