Near the western entrance of Valley of Fire State Park we find dark red Aztec sandstone. In the red rock nooks and crannies campsites are available and at this outcropping’s northern end is Atlatl Rock. Home to petroglyphs about 4,000 years old carved by unknown ancient tribes. Yes, these peoples lived sometime around 2,000 B.C. and we can only imagine their thoughts through their art. Let’s go!
Hello friend! It was a wonderful trip spending time with Sandhill Cranes this March. However, there was another site I know you’ll enjoy as much as I did. What a surprise to spend time with a flock of Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides). You cannot miss them hunting in the grasses. They clearly do not blend in.
Welcome back to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge for the spring Sandhill Crane migration! Between late February and early April up to 27,000 Sandhill Cranes spend time preparing for the next, perhaps last, leg of their trip to breeding grounds primarily in the Yellowstone Eco-system. Although not near as many as travel through Nebraska heading to northern Canada, what a spectacular sight!
Thanks to Susan Alexander for the video. A good friend who loves birds as much as I do.
LET’S GO!
Many of the trails in Valley of Fire State Park are less than 2.5 miles. That’s great because we can do much more each day. Well . . . the trails may be short but often take you twice as long as expected. Learned that the hard way. Why? Most trails are sand and that’s hard walking. Then you travel over rock with some steep sections, some five +/- foot drops to negotiate, and it is difficult to keep trail markers on top of rock so were some missing? Yes. The good news is this rock is not slippery unless wet which rarely happens in the desert. In addition some trails are not well marked even on sand so walking in circles can leave you wondering. The good news? The scenery is to die for!! Off we go . . . in sand.
