Today may be the last day wood gets tossed into the woodstove.  The fruit trees here at Savage Point are fully dressed in a palette of  delicate white to pink then raging red buds. Savage Point itself, the big butte looming high above the garden, is no longer dressed in a lace of snow.  Me & little dog Snuffles may hike the high Squaw Trail early tomorrow morning and no longer need to do a  glissade across slippery  cold rock.
All this is good news for visitors. Like our garden, so much is erupting into action here the calendar is bulging. Of course there are the obvious adventures into the numerous National and State Parks, Public Lands and highly under-estimated Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. What people don’t necessarily realize is how much happens outside of their obvious path of homage to the geologic  “Rock Stars”, so let’s take a second look at how to plan a more fulfilling adventure in this remarkable wedge of the world.
ZION CANYON FIELD INSTITUTE offers a truly amazing schedule of events (www.zionpark.org). Just 40 minutes from our cozy place, Zion offers non-stop events and April to June are prime months. Events range from Poetry in the Park, Zion Through the Lens, Plein Air Painting,Bat Study (one of my favorite events), and The Hanging Gardens, countless hikes etc.. Many writers and painters have tried but it truly is impossible to express the extreme beauty of Zion, especially in the spring and fall. These events give you an extra boost when it comes to discovering and remembering Zion.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon re-opens May 15th. For those interested in Rock Art Panels as well as the mind-breaking view of the Grand there is a spectacular hike down thru a 2,000 year history of sand storms, volcanoes, oceans and – art possibly depicting a world view of peoples we can’t possibly understand  from years very long ago (North Rim Hike to Rock Art Panel - your hosts can provide details).

THE AMAZING EARTHFEST begins here in Kanabs  May 13th and ends with spectacular views of the solar eclipse on May 20th. This highly under-estimated week-long festival “follows the tracks of dinosaurs, tours galleries of pre-historic art, features night skies with the guidance of expert astronomers” and on the list of over 50 events goes – including guided back country hikes and a documentary film festival and so much more (www.amazingearthfest.com / (435)733-5263). Considering that the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument surrounds this region, there is no small number of regional scientific experts available to speak on fascinating topics around geology, paleontology, botany – name your interest here and even bring your kids to a paleo-lab to clean dino bones! A really unusual and special  Festival in the heart of the Great National Parks.

There is a saying around here that always comes to my mind because it is so true, “Once you get this red dirt in your shoes, you’ll never get it out.” It’s true. Come visit and some grit will always stay in your memory of the place. Back to you soon, and we’ll remind you of what our guests keep saying… “we needed more time, there is so much here to explore.” Haven’t told you yet about Western Legends, The Maynard Dixon Gallery of Western Art, and so many other great things that will be happening.

Spring (& Desert Wildflowers) In Southern Utah
 While the sharp sting of winter is still on your mind, start planning a spring get-away to the blue skies, kind temperatures and blooming beauty of Utah. With desert temperatures reaching mid 50’s to 70’s during the day and 30-45 at night (depending on elevation) spring is an excellent time to explore before the rush of summertime tourists. 
The NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON re-opens Mid-May and once again offers visitors a grand beauty that nearly overwhelms the senses. The classic old National Parks Lodge will again be serving meals in its dining room with an unforgettable view, while it is still wise to make dinner reservations in advance your chances of getting in last minute are greatly improved. The North Rim, in my mind, is more impressive then the South Rim, more serene and definitely less developed. Those early weeks in spring are a tremendous time to be there and feel the splendor of the place in greater privacy.

There is no doubt that the best time to explore ZION NATIONAL PARK is spring and autumn. Zion is Utah’s 1st National Park and encompasses 229 square miles of deep canyons, steep walls and rocky plateaus that look like colorful sandcastles crowning desert canyons. Due to its location at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert, Zion possesses a variety of life zones resulting in unusual plant and animal diversity – there are over 900 different plant species.
By April, many of the cactus and other wildflowers will erupt into their short-lived dramatic beauty – desert marigold, the eye-catching slickrock paintbrush. The Zion Field Institute conducts several field trips to the lower canyon in April to view wildflowers, and a trip to Kolob Canyon mid-May.
 Other great sites for viewing spring wildflowers are the Lake Powell/Glen Canyon region and in the Grand Staircase- Escalante
National Monument. Cedar Breaks and Bryce Canyon are at higher elevations so begin their bloom later in June.  Spring storms at Bryce, with an elevation up to 9,115’ above sea level, brings the opportunity to rent cross-country skiis or snow shoes at Ruby’s Lodge and glide along the Fairyland Rim Loop viewing the fantastic red-orange spires of the canyon laced in white.
 For the adventurous visitors who wish to seriously explore slot canyons like Peek-A-Boo, Round Valley Draw and others spring is also considered the optimal time. Our next blog will be on Slot Canyons large and small. 

With over five National Parks, 7 National Monuments and over 22 million acres of BLM land there is a desert vacation in Southern Utah to suit everyone – casual hikes to serious wilderness exploration. We look forward to helping you discover this amazing region in all its diversity and plan your adventure.