Show cedar city ce it ga gateway to t 0 wonderlands wonderlands Wonder on er lands an s 0 of southern bouthern ut utah a h ayt v V yx y ya 0 AA A f vh N V I 1 kaj inay f v IY A ak ir jy aa at j y a y ati tt i v v itye v li i ra la 13 ln vc sw s M iby 9 wt rort rt rt y L 45 K iy ay q a t fe tf t f A wl 41 1 e i nw w w afe 9 A V ft HI fM N A A t A ti the Rabi tate of the godsk cedar breaks courtesy zion studio cedar dar breaks the battlements of the gods God godsend sand and zion canyon Cany onLand land of majestic crags and temples MYRTLE DECKER JANSON former head of the english department branch agricultural college we gaze and turn away and know not where dazzled and drunk with beauty till the heart reels with its fullness there for ever there chained to the chariot of triumphal ai ait t we stand as captives and would not depart LORD BYRON cedar breaks and zion national park are the outstanding scenic resources of this section of the country they furnish places of recreation and inspiration holy places where we come nearer god not only for us but also for the tourists of the entire nation cheze natural wonders together with bryce canyon the grand canyon of the colorado kaibab forest and the mountain views between these points constitute the grandest scenic tour america affords cedar breaks only twenty three miles from cedar city by an excellent turnpike load leading through the majestic gorges of coal creek canyon is the highest of gorgeously colored amphitheatres in fact it is a series of seven great amphitheatres es eroded to a depth of 2000 feet into the pink cliff formation of blowhard mountain the rini rim of this highly highl Y tinted abyss stands at an ail elevation of feet at a little distance to the north the volcanic crest of brian read head rises to a height of feet affording a vast panorama of most of southern utah nevada and northern arizona this blazing chasm is reached through groves of aspens ashens and forests of stately pines and firs without warning the contrast between the green mountains and the gigantic fiery furnace apparently in the bowels of the earth is is to ninny many overwhelming over whelming men as well as women have sobbed like babies at the breath taking flame of color that flashed into their eyes from the of fantastic shapes of the colossal pit at their feet cedar bleaka displays a wilder loftier beauty on a much vaster scale than bryce canyon though the two amphitheatres resemble each other in general outline coloring and a sandstone formation both are arc masterpieces of the marvelous sculptor and architect erosion both are monstrous abysmal basins with serrated floors and millions of grotesque architectural tec tural designs but cedar is carved on baiger proportions it lacks the lacy fretwork the intricate maze inaze of architect architecture uie the limitless labyrinths and grottos of bryce but exhibits more terraces with precipitous alluvial alluvia fans at the b base ise more massive gothic walls and egyptian sphinx like statues at present comparatively few viewers of the breaks follow a guide down the uncertain trails of tl the I 1 L scalloped slopes into the midst of the columns I corridors painted buttresses colonnades natural bridges stairways organs alabaster shrines alta altars rs sculptured aured figures of fauns dauns satyrs eagles lions christian martyrs gothic cathedrals thed rals and grecian temples only a trip to the bottom can impress one avith the full immensity variety and grandeur of the ced cedar ir breaks but to fo me ine the most inspiring views are seen from point perfection and point supreme of the rim from which the out flung bastions bastic ns buttresses towers parapets and craggy spires are arc not lost in the symphony of color the delightful pink and white of the terraces ten acas mingled with tints of orange yellow lavender purple ivory ruby and vermilion in all their intermediate abail sha dings in g one is reminded of ancient C greece e and rome by the glorified temples and acropolises acropolis es moldering mold cring in in rosy marbled ruins ruin cedar breaks bre aks with its glorious panorama stretching down through ashdown gorge coal creek canyon and across tile the desert to the westward with tile the grotesque wildness of its ct etchings as the setting sun warms the various figures into living glowing fantasy of peerless pee color is a vision that chains us to triumphal art we stand captives and would not depart on 01 the c reward homeward journey from the i only two or three miles west of midway where the mountain dugway decendy the plateau is is unfolded the most magnificent pa pan aroma naronia of the entire tour of cedar mountains it is the inimitable birds eye view of the entire dixie country extending to he hazy purple peaks beyond the colorado river river A precipitous drop of about 2000 feet down the heavily wooded mountain side would bring an adventurous hiker to a wide sweep of terraced plateau covered with aspens ashens pines and firs beyond is the dolob plateau from the green forests of which blaze forth the white and pink topped temples and towers of zion the grand west temple or steamboat mountain dominating the scene beyond the fiery tops of little zion are barely discernible the white pink and vermilion cliffs the misty arch of kaibab and the mazy dome of navajo mountain the other side of the colorado people from the east particularly are astounded at the immense range of visibility in this arid terraced plateau region it is one of the strong attractions tr of western sightseeing sight seeing though it is a glorious pan panorama panorania orania a birdseye birds eye view of zion canyon at the distance of twenty five miles by air is only a stimulation to the high way sixty four miles from cedar city no wonder the early settlers of utah gave the name of zion to the majestic crags and the temples of the no one can step within the portals of guardian angel pass without feeling the presence of his maker according to one of the translations by major powell means place of the gods so that even the indians reverenced reveren ced little zion canyon as sacred ground and placed their sacrifices of fruit and flesh at the foot of ali tha crags of the darkly crimson temple of sin awana no indians would spend the night in the shadows of its darkening towers gigantic soaring scraps with the biblical titles of court of the patriarchs angels landing altar of sacrifice great white thorne the cicat organ east temple west temple to gether with the hallowed peace religious serenity and superb natural n a tural grandeur of the canyon impress us more convincingly than any church ritual can with tile the power ind and ea sublimity u of god the enor enormous towers and temples of zion canyon have been chiseled by the river the north fork of the virgin arii gin river from froin the ko lob plateau through more than feet of jurassic stand stone of the white and ni I 1 d vermilion vei milion cliffs and into the fhe lower beds of mauve sandstone ne I 1 and I 1 nd purple and maroon most of the cliffs stand from two to three thousand feet above tho the river bottom and many st stand and alone as individual gigantic buttes of surpassing beauty and majenty among these at the great bend of the river and across the canyon aiom ang angles es landing st stands ands the most massive and a nd imperial of the entire group the great white throne true to its royal title it stands crowned with white which catches all the diamonds pearls rubies sapphires sapp hires topazes to pazes ci emeralds ds and garnets gal nets the suns brilliance brillia nce can bedeck bedea k it with every hour of the day f lashes flashes new gens gems of color ind and light and shade over the ivory surface of this regal dome the lower portion of his colossal butte is a deep red or maroon angles landing across the stream to the nort north h is the delight of all hikers who enter zion it is easily accessible ces sible by means of in an excellent horse to within a few i trail tr ail from camp of the landing itself the narro narrow w neck of cliff with perpendicular walls descending sc ending tr to tile the river bottom on oil both sides of the arbow n trail leads to the dizzy angels angela landing giving the zest of adventure to those who love dangerous gero us heights from this isolated point is ih obtained 1 a I glo glorious flous pan panorama orania of tile the cliffs of vermilion and buff and the beautiful iv ivory ory pink river bottoni bottom green with aspens ashens junipers juni pers and cottonwoods cotton woods the same trail leading to angels landing turns to the north and extends a mile or two farther to the west rim from which one can look down on angels landing as a comparatively ively small peak peah from this altitude the canyon assumes the wierd foreign atmosphere of a strange land of giants living in solemn dragons blood towers and mosques and wor shipping in their white capped and pink tinted temples the high pinnacles na cles the deep gorges are awe in in and with the general effort of the glorious panorama with its ever shifting color and light effects the spectacle is not only enchanting but sublime those who are sure footed and fot not inclined to dizziness on perilous heights may enjoy the hike up lady mountain more than any other but I 1 prefer the four mile tramp to the east rim the wide horse trail enables us to climb and drink in the incomparable beauty at the same time cirlic the great chasm feet below with its tiny serpentine river bordered in green takes our breath as we wind alou around nd the dizzy curves of the highest accessible point along the gorge the se eney every step of the long climb is is marvelous from the narrow rock walled tiny gorge we pass through near the bottom of the trail to the winding birath bi oath taking at the top of the world the oxblood ox blood geiges open thear dragon throats and perpendicular rock temples loom into space with awe inspiring dignity the main gorge yawns deeper than from the west rini rim and a larger panorama is visible the river itself sparkles for twelve miles winding its delicate course like a blue ribbon joining dazzling gems geins of ruby amethyst garnet topaz and bloodstone as one after another of zions temples assume these various colors in their myrinda myriads of tints and blend ings like a great emerald brooch the tices cices a 0 Sp ringdale deco decora rafe fe the throat of little zion words are futile in cx expressing pressing the magic of this mo most st im impress pressie he most inspiring view I 1 ever beheld people who ride into zion and st stia laight ight out again as many do are likely to be disappointed for the beauty of zion canyon is like the beauty of cicat art or great literature it must us t be lived it niu must t be seen again and again for the mind to grasp its full glory and harmony it must have tinie time to sink deep into ones soul the person who sits and gazes long as at it a gallery of famous paintings is going to be benefited far more by the beauty of zion than one who rushes madly from one scene to another to se sec e zion properly one should have at least a week at his disposal to wander at will and level in the delights of sumptuous beauty still those who have only a half day to spend in the canyon can be well paid for their trip almost any hike can be made in four or five hours by rushing but sf if less strenuous siahs secina is desired an automo bile can call be taken to within a mile or so of the narrows from here a foot trail leads as far up the constantly nan owing gulch as the water ner mits on the way a refreshing little nook nooh is encountered called zion stadium and the performers make the high walls echo with their music they are arc a company of silver figgs that live in the emerald pool of this stadium when they are not skipping shipping over the silver gray boulders at its edge As the journey continues up the canyon the precipitous dark red and mahogany walls grow closer higher and more imposing then the path has t to 0 give way to the river 1 and only those who wish to ride hors horses es can go farther for adventurous spirits t there here are arc eight miles more of the canyon much of it so narrow that the out arms can touch the wide vide walls and the overhanging over hanging cliffs shut out the light of day ind and occasionally even tile the light of the stars but most of us are not eager to venture into rushing torrents in the dark on the return trip we have to stop and gaze in wonder at the master n inting of little zion the great white throne seen through a vi vista aa between the great organ and angels I landing anding it is a superb piece of art near the great bend in the river we conie come to weeping rock which presents one of the most fantastic views of tile the park from the constant dripping a recess has been formed in this little cave cavern rn spectators may sit perfectly dry and watch the falling waters flom tile the cliffs above bioni the brink of the mountain comes a waterfall which spreads in a veil of spray splashing and refreshing the ferns mosses and flowers about the spot the distant ios losy buttes and cliffs see seen through that mist lend to the scene the air of enchantment we ask ourselves if we have lave fallen into alic alices als wonder land then there is the grotto another fairylike fairy like nook only a fifteen minutes walk south of camp here we should enjoy gazing indefinitely the shim ahll meimi waterfall froni from the top of another vertical cliff clif f sends a shower into the sparl sparkling ding on oil the rocks below A charming little atre with the stage set and decorated for a grand oratorio stands waiting fur for tile the festival about a mile west of camp in the direction of lady mountain are arc the emeriald pools limpid as crystal but with a greenish tinge from the alie reflection of light effects in the water gjere etere too delightful and fantastic veils of spray shimmer bewitchingly witchingly bc from the high peak into the pools beneath causing the most phantomlike phantom like plays of clia changing ging color A verti able paradise for f fairies and elves as well as for deer that hide their young behind blankets of f spray at last when all the enchanting nooks of the river bottom have been enjoyed when lady mountain ain cable mountain and angels landing have been scaled and the glories of little zion have been viewed from the east and west rim and you ire arp still eager for new visions perhaps you can find a way to scale the west temple of the great white throne whose heights have never known human foot ste step P or perhaps you can call solve the mystery of mystery mountain ind learn on oil which side of its delicate pink and white cone flows the I 1 liver iver it is a lofty peak near the narrows of such su uprising surprising symmetry delicate and ethereal tints that the beholder exclaims in 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