Mutton stew on the hoof

Mike was thinking of fry bread and mutton stew.

When we went to Cedar Breaks National Monument we’d planned to camp in the adjacent Dixie National Forest. There weren’t very many side roads in this forest, at least not like I’m used to in other National Forests. We pulled off onto a nice little overlook and were looking for someplace level to park…

…when the Brian Head Marshall pulled up and informed us that the sheep were coming through so we’d better park and turn off the noisy diesel.

Mutton stew on the hoof

We stayed in the truck for what seemed like 15 minutes watching the flock flow past then two cowboys, or sheep herders, rode out of the dust at the rear. After this show, and all the sheep poop left behind, we camped at the monument’s campground.

Cedar Canyon Breaks for City Utah

After I left Navajo Lake I headed to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay long as I still needed to get to Cedar City to shop and get an oil change.

So I continued west on scenic State Route 14.

Which lies north of Zion National Park.

The road continues downhill through forest that shows the standing dead of a bark beetle kill off. Yet there are also trees decades old to carry on.

Continuing west I drop off the Colorado Plateau through Cedar Canyon which follows Coal Creek.
Cedar City lies in a valley below at almost 6000 feet (1829 km). Of course it took me longer than planned to get all my stops made in this unknown town.

Because that’s four hours from the North Rim and I prefer not to drive in the dark I decided to camp in the Dixie National Forest at Cedar Canyon campground then return to Cedar Breaks National Monument the next day. (I will post Cedar Breaks soon, I promise.)

Sky Watch Friday - Navajo Lake Sunset

7:11pm

7:22pm

7:38pm

7:41pm
It seemed to go on forever as I stood by the lake slowly being covered with tiny mayflies. Couldn’t get a pic of them.

To see more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Camping at Navajo Lake

Navajo Lake formed when lava flowed across the east end of this valley thousands of years ago.  Read more.