What a magical place this is -- steep, gorgeous canyon walls of sandstone towering above a valley full of cottonwoods and pines. The Virgin River winds through the valley floor, sparkling in the sunlight, roaring over rapids. Snow dusts the higher elevations, glistening white in the deep red and pink of the sandstone. The place itself has a magical feeling, something exquisite and wondrous in those canyon walls.
We hiked the Kayenta Trail to Lower, Middle and Upper Emerald Pools. Above us waterfalls cascaded from hundreds of feet up the steep canyon walls. We hiked the snowy trail which wound through deep red sandstone. As we gained altitude, below us the Virgin River became a thin, shining ribbon winding through a forest of cottonwood trees.
At night, we gazed at brilliant stars. The desert sky was so dark, I could see Comet 17P/Holmes with the naked eye.