"DUCK CREEK VILLAGE, above Cedar City, UT" Day Trips Tip by solangeturner

You don't have to go to the East Coast, to see the beautiful Change of Autumn Colors, because it's right here in our Las Vegas Desert's backyard! Up Highway 14, just East of Cedar City, is a 29-mile-drive through the most interesting terrain and topography, you'll ever experience in the world. Bring your A.T.V. in the Summer and your Ski Mobiles in the Winter to Duck Creek Village and Strawberry Point. There's Lake Navajo Fishing, surrounded by black LAVA FLOWS; Log Cabins for overnight visitors at Duck Creek Village; Horse Riding in the Summer; Brian Head skiing, in the Winter; "hoo-doo's" that remind you of Bryce Canyon Park; Majestic mountain views, -on a clear day you can see the top of Zion; old volcano spills on the side of the roads; tall pine trees lining a black-top winding road; you just want to pull over at every pull-out drive, in order to take in the views! Some curves take you along tall boulders in a well carved river canyon that is just breath-taking! Watch out for falling rocks as the Winter Snow in 2009, dropped large boulders which came crashing down and closed the highway road (Hwy 14) until the work crew were able to blast and remove all the debri and all the many toppled trees!

At the top of the gorgeous 29-mile-drive is Mirror Lake, and Duck Creek Village, where you can shop, eat, rest, sleep, see some real estate chalets, participate in yearly festivals and get some gasoline, if you drove up straight through from Las Vegas. To continue further past Duck Creek Village, you won't need a map to find the street sign to Strawberry Point, 2 miles ahead at the open meadows clearing, and turn Right ( West), to a dirt road dotted with lovely log cabins tucked away behind mature evergreen trees for the next straight 6.5 miles; until it turns to the south into a widing sinouous-snake road where you'll find a view only short of the Grand Canyon North Rim! Yes! You've reached Strawberry Point, and the miles of sky and red rocks and forested mountain views and lakes, will make such a grand color contrast for your eyes that you'll feel as if you're chewing up candy for the brain! Well worth the car wash to remove the red dust that sticks to the framework of your vehicle. If you own a 4-wheel drive; the better. Just don't come in early Springtime. The meadow flowers, the cows and sheep grazing thinks it's wonderful but since the snow is melting, you don't want to get stuck in the red mud!

You will find several ATV trails ( you can Rent ATV's or Snow mobiles, in Duck Creek Village ), all around as the local "Fire Roads" keep them pretty well carved, considering the weather. There are many cabins tucked into the hills and I heard from the locals that most of them are retirees from the Las Vegas Area! Gee... I couldn't think of a better place to retire, myself. When the harsh and un-plowed winter months come about, we can leave The Edge of the World ( 9,000+ feet elevation), because I don't "do" snow-mobiles, and travel the rest of the world. BUT we'd be missing some lovely sunsets at Zion View Mountain Estates' cliff-side, I can tell you. The sky is a never ending art canvas, as the clouds roll by. Fire, rain and evening lightning storms are seen from a safe and grand distance, atop Zion View. Christmas is lovely with snow covered pine trees against the deep blue skies.

The meadows are filled with birds, tiny chipmunk, numerous deer and antelope, as eagles and hawks soar the skies above. There is no hunting near this pristine Dixie National Forest /Residential Area, but there is a lot of dry firewood from fallen trees you can gather and take home for the fireplace. The Sheriff and his team are known for keeping a good watch with vigilant roadside checks for "undesirables"... but frankly, I think the local folks are pretty good at "keeping an eye out for each other or any trouble-makers". Good neighbors are found on all the trails, willing to help anyone in need, up here, in these "hills." It seems everybody knows who lives in their area, able to identify their vehicles from a distance, and WHO, has visitors overnight! After all, this is a great quiet family-oriented area, as the wind frequently carries children's joyous laughter across the fields. What a delight to hear! All human senses are awaken here. Another place you hate to leave and love to go back to.

Address: Duck Creek Village and Strawberry Point, Utah
Directions: North, on Interstate Hwy 15, from Las Vegas, Nevada, through The Virgin River Gorge; the cusp corner of Arizona, to Cedar City. The mountains on the East-side will lead you upwards on Hwy 14, towards Duck Creek Village; and Strawberry Point.
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