Much of the drive through Utah along the I-15, is past the urban area that stretches from Ogden in the north, to Provo in the south. This is a stretch of the highway that is about 100 miles long. Driving along this big freeway, the thoroughfare can at times widen to 10 lanes. Here it is an interstate but also an important commuter route in both directions. The problem is that the greater Salt Lake urban area is jammed in between the Great Salt Lake and the steep Wasatch Mountains. This choke point is no fun, you can't see anything and you need all your wits about you, just to get from one end to the other. This is the only part of the I-15 from Calgary to Las Vegas that is like this.
The route calms down as you leave Provo. Then further south, you begin to notice the red sandstone cliffs in the southernmost part of the state of Utah. This is one the prettiest parts of the drive on the I-15. You eventually end up in St. George, Utah. It is situated where the Colorado Plateau meets the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin. It is also the first place on the long journey south that a so-called 'snowbird' should think about spending the winter. Snow is rare in the city, the golf courses are open year-round and there is plenty of beautiful protected parkland nearby that features incredible hiking and biking opportunities.
There are no high-rise buildings in St. George and the city planners have tried to have all development blend into the desert. Gym and his lovely sidekick, spent an afternoon exploring the northern residential areas and visited Snow Valley State Park right on the outskirts of the city.
A drone shot that Gym found showing the
picturesque community of St. George.
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Just on the outskirts of St. George is the Snow
Canyon State Park. |
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| There are several appealing desert trails here |
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| Jenny's Canyon is very short but really cool |
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| Jenny's trail leads to a narrow slot canyon |
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| which this bride chose to have her pictures in. |
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| Hidden Pinyon Trail |
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| A mix of red and white sandstone cliffs rising above black lava. |
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