Spendlove and Cave Knolls

We have often contemplated doing this hike several times over the last couple of years, but for one reason or another, have never gotten around to it.  Now, having completed the hike, with our friend Mike, we wonder . . . "What took us so long??"  Honestly, this is one of the best treks we have made in the last six months . . . and just 30 minutes away from our home.  Yes, there are still hidden gems that we have overlooked because we think we've seen and done all there is to do in St. George area . . . let this be a lesson to us!

Driving along Kolob Terrace Road we had a good view of the knolls we are hiking today

We started our hike from the Hop Valley Trailhead, in Zion National Park . . .
Almost immediately it turned into an ugly bushwhack . . .
This picture gives you a good idea of what we encountered! 
Thankfully, it only continued a short distance to the base of Spendlove Knoll (a volcanic cinder cone)

Our interest in Spendlove Knoll was greatly increased when we learned there was a benchmark at the top!
Spendlove Benchmark was placed here in 1938  

Surprisingly, it only took us 30 minutes to hike up Spendlove Knoll . . . bushwhack and all!
The white arrow points to the benchmark

It was refreshing to stumble upon some deer trails, making it less of a bushwhack on our way to the hoodoos
Talk about great views . . . hard to beat the scenery from the top of Spendlove Knoll!

 

The first of many hoodoos . . .  they rise about 500 ft above Cave Valley  

            When Allison took this picture of a wind blown Ponderosa pine tree growing in the sandstone,                        she didn't notice Mike standing on a hoodoo off in the distance!

Wind and water can transform sandstone into so many cool shapes

Mike and Kent walking a section of slickrock in between the hoodoos 

It's hard to believe, that plants such as Rough Indian Paintbrush, can grow out of the cracks in the sandstone

Mike & Kent look so small . . . do you see them?
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)

Looking back at Spendlove Knoll and a cluster of hoodoos . . . that's Red Butte on the left

This unique hoodoo formation really stood out with it's different colors and layers of sandstone

The Plateau lizard is a common sight in Zion

This long slickrock valley showed evidence of how rain water can quickly flow down and off this ridge

We were surprised to come across this tinaja
(A tinaja is a water-filled depression, in rock, that is found in a desert or dry area)
There were reeds growing and tadpoles swimming in this little shallow basin
Cave Knoll is straight above the tinaja

We had great views in every direction . . .
 This one shows the snow-covered Pine Valley Mountains, Spendlove Knoll and a maze of hoodoos

Our friend Mike took this picture of Allison on her final steps to the top!

Manzanita bushes had colorful flowers

We enjoyed a little break on the top of Cave Knoll . . .
We're not sure you could find a better 360° view in all the southwest!

Time for a group picture . . . woohoo, we made it!

Heading down, we came across this interesting example of cross-bedded sandstone . . .
Pine Valley Peak stands tall in the distance

Cave Knoll provided us with many different formations and colors of hoodoos

Almost to the bottom of the east ridge . . .
The sandstone had some pretty amazing striations

When we were up on top of the hoodoos we could see this pond . . .
Our GPS shows that it is fed by Wolf Spring 

Near the pond, Allison spotted some Rough Draba . . . the only yellow flowers we saw on the hike! 

Pine Valley Peak, kind of looks like a white Hershey kiss!
(We'd love to hike this peak, but understand ropes are necessary)
After bushwhacking our way up Spendlove Knoll, we looked for a better route down . . .
As you can see, this was so much easier!  

We can't say enough good things about this wonderful hike.  Hopefully, Allison's pictures will encourage you to get out and explore this place for yourself!  Round trip distance was about five and a half miles and had a total elevation gain of approximately 1,500 ft.  This hike can be completed entirely inside Zion National Park boundaries, but be careful (and respectful) of the private property in the valleys on both sides of the ridge.  We found the boundaries well marked and easy to negotiate.  If you'd like a topo map and GPS coordinates of the area, you can click here to access Tom's Peakbagger.com post . . . our starting point and exit points were different than his, but you'll be able to locate the area we hiked and be able to make plans for your own route!

Yellow Knolls

Last week, when we hiked Twin Peaks, we were able to look down on an interesting set of hills that are known as Yellow Knolls.  Both of us knew we wanted to add this area to our list of "local" hikes before the heat of summer sets in upon us.  The Knolls are located in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, near St. George, and Kent thought that April (his boss) and Nathan (a coworker) might like to meet us at the trailhead for an early morning hike.  They both responded with an enthusiastic "Yes!" . . .  Nathan even invited along his friend, Olivia, to complete our group of five.  And so, on a beautiful spring morning, we set out for a fun couple of hours to explore this neat area.

Leaving the Yellow Knolls Trailhead around 7:30am

 Yellow Evening Primrose
They open in the evening and, as we observed on our return, are closed by late morning

We had the trail to ourselves as we worked our way toward the Knolls . . .
The first one we will climb is directly in front of us

Kent is working his way up this checkerboard (dinosaur skin) section . . . 
Nathan and Olivia are waiting for him to catch up

Sandstone has many colors, textures, shapes and designs as evidenced by these colorful slabs

It didn't take us long to reach the top of the first knoll . . .
Only about 15 - 20 minutes to make the ascent

Now it's time to meet up with April and her two dogs, as we begin climbing the second knoll . . .
As you can see, the slickrock, which went almost to the top, made this an easy ascent

Mojave Popcorn flower, a fitting name for sure

Once we made the summit, Nathan broke out his drone and began filming us and our route

Here's a bird's eye view of us from the drone
(Click on the picture to enlarge our group photo)

How about a group selfie view from ground level? . . .  Allison, Olivia, Nathan, Kent and April

Nathan used his drone to shoot a flyby of our group on top the northern most knoll.  He then sent it down the ridgeline that we planned to follow as we hiked to the southern most knoll.  We have to say the drone added a whole new perspective to our hike!  Thanks, Nathan!  (Make sure to click on the "play" button above and don't miss viewing it in "full-screen" mode.)

Kent, Nathan, Olivia and Allison continued on down the ridgeline toward the other knolls . . .
April headed back down the slickrock with her dogs 

What amazing views!

Looking back at the ridgeline we just descended 

Spring in the desert!
Colorful Fernleaf Biscuitroot and Phlox surround this Century plant 

Have you ever seen a century plant in bloom?  Interestingly, they can take 8-30 years to reach maturity. Once they mature they grow a central stem that can be up to 20 ft tall.  This stalk is adorned with a unique flower top that can bloom for 3-4 months.  Once this cycle is completed the century plant dies.

Looking back to the north at the first two knolls we climbed
(The first has a green tree on top and its companion knoll, to the right, has the more rounded top)

Here's Kent on top of the third knoll . . . the one furthest to the south 

We decided to make it a four-some and hike up to the top of the last knoll (pictured on the left)

More phlox and fernleaf biscuitroot in bloom

Views from the fourth knoll . . . totally worth it!

Yes, there was a little sand, but not much
(That's the first knoll in front of Kent)

The west side of the fourth knoll had some interesting cross-bedded sandstone

Looking back at three of the knolls as we approach the trailhead and parking area . . .
Even if you don't want to climb up the knolls, it's still a worthwhile hike to an exceptional area of beauty!

What a great half-day hike!  All totaled this ended up being about four-miles (r/t) . . . this included the hike from the trailhead, ascending four knolls, and returning to the trailhead.  For a topo map, along with GPS coordinates, that closely follow the route we took, you can click here for Steven Thompson's Peakbagger.com post.