The road trip runs from Cedar City to Virgin, Utah via state highway 14, about 5 miles up Cedar canyon to Right Hand Canyon Road, just before Milt’s Stage Stop. When reaching the aspen forest, the road turns to dirt. Just after that there’s a road to the left which we took for about 1/4 mile to a spectacular view of the pink cliffs and wildflower meadows. After turning back to the main road we drove through the aspen forest and alpine meadows in bloom and a steep downhill grade to Kolob Reservoir, and another steep downhill run to the city of Virgin, then a left turn on state highway 9 to Springdale. The road is marked “Kolob Mountain Road” where it meets highway 9.
Highlights of the trip:
- Cedar City and west desert overlook, 5 miles up Right Hand Canyon. 50-100 mile view.
- alpine meadows with wild flowers along Kanarra Mountain
- Kolob Reservoir
- hidden gorge waterfall and condor viewing south of the reservoir where the road crosses Kolob Creek. Yes, we saw 3 condors soaring above the canyon.
- back side of Zion National Park that most tourists never see
- dinner at Jack’s bar & grill next to the Switchback Grill in Springdale with John & Sonya Swatsley
- John was able to take photos of flowers, meadows, a corral of designer horses, and mountains. John is a very successful artist who, until recently moving to Utah, has produced paintings of African wildlife and landscapes.
Pink Cliffs & wildflower meadows
Wasatch penstemon & lupine
lupine & pink gilia
wild delphinium & coneflower
pink gilia
vetch & balsamroot
waterfall near condor viewing area
condor viewing area, Zion canyon in distance
Kolob Canyon
back side of Zion N.P.
back side of Zion N.P.
back side of Zion N.P.
back side of Mt. Kinesava
more back side of Zion
scarlet gilia
utahpetrifiedprospector 