Two more hikes while at Lone Rock Beach

1. Wiregrass

While we were at Lone Rock, there were lots of different hikes scheduled. One of the hikes I chose was called Wiregrass, it was offered as an easy hike. It was fun when we started out - lots of climbing up and down rocks, and pretty flowers along the way.

Some of us only hiked part of the way. Our leader (who knew the way) and another hiker got ahead of us, but we were able to catch up.

Then they headed over to this canyon and descended to the bottom and were in the wash before we could get to the rim to see which way they took to get down.

Four of us just stood there, looking at them down in the canyon and at each other. We were yelling down, asking: Which way did you go? I don't know if they heard us, but we didn't get a response. I didn’t take a photo from the edge, but it was deep and I didn't see any way down! Finally one of us said, “I’m not going down there.” Whew! (I was thinking, "I'm not breaking a leg!") We agreed to head back to the car and go to another hiking location on our own. We yelled down that we were heading back, and they continued on with their hike. Luckily we had two cars.

This hike is listed on the National Park Service website as a moderate hike, but up until we turned back, it was easy with only a few places where we had to scramble, which I think made the portion we did more fun. Maybe next time I'll go further and climb down into the canyon wash. 😉

As we walked back to the car I got more shots of the beautiful scenery. I'm sure the men who went on with the hike got some great photos that we missed. But I'm usually pretty risk-adverse, and this looked a bit risky for me at this point.

We all jumped in the car and headed to Hanging Garden. This was one of the hikes that I especially wanted to take, so I was glad we all agreed to head over there.

"Wiregrass Canyon
From Page, drive north on Hwy 89 approximately 12 miles (19 km) to Big Water, Utah. Between mile posts 7 and 8 (at the Big Water Visitor’s Center), turn right (away from the VC). Turn right again 0.3 miles (0.5 km) from the junction of Hwy 89 - there is a sign at this intersection which reads “Glen Canyon Nation Recreation Area – State Highway 12”. Drive 4.6 miles (7.5 km) to “Wiregrass Canyon Back Country Use Area.” Park in the pullout provided. Sandy wash, requires some scrambling and detours - look for rock cairns to lead you out.
6.0 miles (9.7km) round-trip
Moderate" --From National Park Service Website

2. Hanging Garden

This was an easy trail lined with rocks:

There were some beautiful pink cactus flowers along the way:

The red rock surrounded us on all sides.

I’m not sure I’ve seen this flowering bush before, it was lacy and pretty:

The other two women, Diana and Rose, walked on ahead,

and Bob and I slowed down to take some photos.

The Hanging Garden has both helleborine orchids and maidenhair fern living on the wall:

It’s not large, but the fern area is taller than it looks in the above photo, way over my head. I had to reach up with my camera to get the overhead shots close up. It's really beautiful. The underneath protected part of this huge red rock has wild maidenhair ferns and helleborine orchids growing out of it.

Close-up of one of the orchids growing out of the ferns.

A little bit of fern growing from the overhanging rock ceiling:

We looked around, took in the area, snapped some pictures then headed back to the trail head.

"Hanging Garden
Turn off is one quarter mile (.4km) east of Glen Canyon Bridge (the opposite side from Carl Hayden Visitor Center) on Hwy 89. Trailhead parking is 500 yards (455m) off of Hwy 89. This hike leads you to a luxuriant Hanging Garden on the mesa top high above the Colorado River and Lake Powell.
Securely hidden by Jurassic Navajo sandstone, this seep spring quickly takes hostage every drop of rainwater it can absorb. Slowly it liberates this water over time to create a surprisingly lush plant and animal habitat that delights and surprises those who discover it.
The desert is astonishingly subtle and delicate. If you walk quietly, you will see and hear more. It can refresh observations and awaken inactive senses with each step you take.
1 mile (1.6km) round-trip Easy to Moderate" --From National Park Service Website

Looking out from the Hanging Garden - isn’t this beautiful?