Navajo Lake is part of the Dixie National Forest and is in easy striking distance of Cedar Breaks National Monument.   On scenic highway 14, this high altitude campground and hiking/biking area is about 25 miles east of Cedar City, Utah.   The temperatures can be expected to be about 20 degrees cooler than Cedar City, Zion, or Kanab.

     With our tents set at Spruces Campground, we captured some great views from the Virgin Rim Trail, about 500 vertical feet above the lake.   From this vantange point, we had a birdseye view of Zion and the drainage of the North Fork of the Virgin River.

At right:   Aspen Groves that inhabited the area and portions of the Spruce Trail that gave access to the higher elevations and the Virgin Rim Trail.   Shuttles are available at Brian Head Ski Resort that make the entire or parts of the 33 mile Rim easily accessible, as well as many other biking and hiking trails.

Below:   The view from the rim to the southwest.   The higher elevations of Zion stand out like the City of Oz about 30 miles distant.   West Temple is most prominent.

A marmot surverys his territory.   His home is a rough and irregular rock field formed when lava cooled 1,000 to 5,000 years ago.   The lava flowed from cinder cones and volcanic vents that existed during that time.

Below:   Cedar Breaks- Sediment from a ancient sea formed the salmon colored rocks that are now exposed.   Millions of years ago, the sea departed and the area was slowly uplifted by thousands of feet. by plate teutonics.   The thick layers of sediment were exposed and became subject to forces of erosion.   From these cliffs, the terrain drops to the west 5,000 feet to the town of Cedar City.

Above:    The Valley of the Chessmen