Natural Bridges Natural Monument
Southern Utah

Both Don and I grew up near the beaches of Southern California. Looking at the sand now it’s hard to believe that someday in the geologic future this could be the next Natural Bridges Natural Monument, Utah’s first designated national monument. We went camping there during the kids spring break in April, trying to dodge the impending bad to freezing weather.

Perched 6,500 feet above sea level on a high Cedar Mesa in Southern Utah are three massive bridges cut in sandstone rock from an ancient sea shore. There you’ll find the second largest natural bridge in the world, Sipapu Bridge, a 1.2 mile hike. The name means “gateway through which souls may pass to the spirit world” in Hopi mythology. A trail leads to Horsecollar Ruin, two granaries named for their unique doors, and one of the finest ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings you’ll ever see, in my opinion.

Visitors to Natural Bridges can take the overlook drives and short hikes to the Kachina Bridge, Owachomo Bridge and Sipapu Bridge, or hike the 8.6 loop trail that meanders the canyon bottom along the ancient buttes passing along all three. Daytime freezing cold and whipping winds made us seek unplanned hotel stays during our southwestern tour. Two hotels, two plumbing issues. Could explain why we love camping. At least you know what to expect. Lovely bliss you don’t have to pay a lot for. Plus it leaves no carbon footprint.
Let’s go!

Thousand Steps Beach, California
Orange County

There’s a well kept secret beneath the cliffs of Orange County. Even if you know where the beach access is while traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway, it’s still easy to miss. At the foot of the cliff lays a 214 foot sea cave with multiple entrances so you don’t need light. Don and I were members of the survey team “Southern California Sea Cave Survey” that our friends formed many moons ago whose mission was to map all the sea caves along the California coast. We have the Thousand Steps Beach sea cave map hanging in our stairwell.

The name Thousand Steps Beach is very appropriate as you must walk steep steps down the cliffs to get to the ocean. As you step off, head towards the left and you can’t miss the cave.  We suggest you visit during a low tide to be able to explore more safely.  During the time of our cave survey it was possible to delight in the rich variety of tidepool life of starfish, gooseneck barnacles, anemones, including the rarely seen nudibranchs.  Oil spills and pollution have changed all that and nowadays it’s exciting to see any tide pool life in the sea cave.  It’s an easy, accessible caving trip for us to break in our friends who are new to caving and want to join along with us on our continuing outdoor adventures.
Let’s go!

Ape Cave, Washington

Want to see the longest “commercial” lava tube in the USA? Gather up three sources of light, a helmet with chin strap, warm clothing, boots, and head out to Ape Cave in Washington. The cave was constructed by a pahoehoe flow of molten lava that originated from the southwest flank of Mount St. Helens. The pahoehoe flow crusted over leaving an outer lava tube with lava stalactites, stalagmites and flow marks on the floor and walls. Ape Cave is 12,810 feet or 3.9 kilometers and you can do a complete through trip from one entrance to the other. If you plan to do this, make sure you are up to a canyon up climb that requires actual climbing up and over large piles of rock. The lower cave is an easy 0.75 mile hike that takes about a hour. We choose to hike up to the second upper entrance that is 1.5 miles long and considered more challenging. The most challenging thing we found was the heat of the day and couldn’t wait to cool off underground. Ready for a caving thru trip?
Let’s go!

Subway Cave, California

Have you ever wondered how we got some of those cave photos? Take a look at our new video. It shows Don setting up photos as I capture the moment on a digital camera (it’s first trip) on last summer’s trip to Subway Cave on the outskirts of Lassen National Park. You can see the process and the result. Enjoy.
Let’s go!
-Lisa