Cathedral Gorge & a couple of unexpected finds

Leaving Pioche we carried on to Panacea, were we stayed in a lovely B&B for a couple of nights, in order to visit Cathedral Gorge State Park and a couple of other places.

In the 1890’s Mrs. Earle Godbe from the nearby mining town of Bullionville was one of the first visitors to appreciate the landscape.   The eroded siltstone spires reminded her of European cathedrals so she suggested the name of Cathedral Gulch which was later changed to Cathedral Gorge.

Over the years people explored the area and the gorge was used as the backdrop for Biblical Pageants and other open-air dramas becoming a State Park in 1935.

We hiked along the ½ mile trail to Miller Point.   The trail wound through a canyon along a dry wash and once we got between the canyon walls it was very hot.

At the end of the trail steps lead up to Miller Point Overlook, as we were going to drive around there we decided against climbing the steps all the way.   Once at Miller Point we walked partway along the canyon rim to take some photographs.

By this time, as it was only mid-morning, we decided we’d carry on to Spring Valley State Park.   The road took us through the mountains, past the RV Park near the entrance and around a lake, where it turned into a good gravel road.

We drove past what looked like the remains of a ranch house and then further along a stone cabin.  

One of the rangers told us that we were on the Mount Wilson Back Country Byway and although it was usually a good road because of the recent snow he didn’t recommend us trying to get over Mount Wilson.   He also told us of a couple of places we should see. 

A couple of miles further on we came to the first; an old pioneer cemetery.   The cemetery was fenced, most of the graves were untended, illegible and surrounded by sage and of the few names we could make out for once none of them were Cornish or Irish.   It’s a very picturesque spot for your last resting place.

Turning around we followed the road and stopped opposite the stone cabin.   Directly across from us was George Washington Rock.   According to the ranger many years ago on a 10ft x 10ft panel someone drew George Washington in axle grease.

Believe me we studied that rock through binoculars and never did manage to find George Washington.

I suppose, as with everything, if you know where to look it’s really obvious, but it wasn’t to us.

Heading out of the park we took Eagle Canyon Road and followed it to Rose Canyon Road.   The ranger had told us to look for an old chicken coop.   It was a lovely drive, but much further than we’d expected and we were beginning to think we’d missed it, so at a T-junction we stopped to check the map and what do you know there it was right in front of us.

The old chicken coop marks the site of an old Stage Coach Station and on the rocks drivers wrote their names and the date in axle grease.   The oldest date we found was 1872.  

We enjoyed both these sites, the more so as they were both unexpected, had it not been for directions for the ranger it's unlikely we’d've found either, so thanks Mr Ranger.

Have fun, we are!