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!
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| Driving along Kolob Terrace Road we had a good view of the knolls we are hiking today |
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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)
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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 |
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Surprisingly, it only took us 30 minutes to hike up Spendlove Knoll . . . bushwhack and all!
The white arrow points to the benchmark |
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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! |
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| The first of many hoodoos . . . they rise about 500 ft above Cave Valley |
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| 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! |
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| Wind and water can transform sandstone into so many cool shapes |
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| Mike and Kent walking a section of slickrock in between the hoodoos |
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| It's hard to believe, that plants such as Rough Indian Paintbrush, can grow out of the cracks in the sandstone |
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Mike & Kent look so small . . . do you see them?
(Click on the picture to enlarge it) |
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| Looking back at Spendlove Knoll and a cluster of hoodoos . . . that's Red Butte on the left |
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| This unique hoodoo formation really stood out with it's different colors and layers of sandstone |
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| The Plateau lizard is a common sight in Zion |
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| This long slickrock valley showed evidence of how rain water can quickly flow down and off this ridge |
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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 |
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We had great views in every direction . . .
This one shows the snow-covered Pine Valley Mountains, Spendlove Knoll and a maze of hoodoos |
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| Our friend Mike took this picture of Allison on her final steps to the top! |
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| Manzanita bushes had colorful flowers |
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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! |
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| Time for a group picture . . . woohoo, we made it! |
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Heading down, we came across this interesting example of cross-bedded sandstone . . .
Pine Valley Peak stands tall in the distance |
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| Cave Knoll provided us with many different formations and colors of hoodoos |
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Almost to the bottom of the east ridge . . .
The sandstone had some pretty amazing striations |
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When we were up on top of the hoodoos we could see this pond . . .
Our GPS shows that it is fed by Wolf Spring |
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| Near the pond, Allison spotted some Rough Draba . . . the only yellow flowers we saw on the hike! |
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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!
