Grafton Ghost Town - Utah

Disclaimer - this post does not include any cool hikes or drinking spots. I know, that's what the whole blog is supposed to be about! However, I enjoyed my time in Grafton so much, I felt it deserved an honorable mention. As far as ghost towns go, Grafton has a lot to offer. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to add this stop to your Utah itinerary.

If you take Utah State Route 9 to Zion National Park's south entrance, you'll pass the small town of Rockville on your way in. Rockville has a few bed and breakfast's, a fruit stand, and seemingly not much else... except the gateway to Grafton, a well preserved piece of Utah's wild west history.

The people of Grafton originally settled one mile downstream of it's current location in 1859. In 1862, the nearby Virgin River flooded, and the settlers relocated to Grafton's current location. The new settlement still dealt with periodic flooding, but they also had a limited amount of farming land, making it hard to expand. Most of the settlers relocated to nearby towns around the turn of the century, although a small population remained until Grafton officially became a ghost town in 1945. 

Today, all that is left of Grafton is about 5 buildings and a pioneer cemetery. It's maintained by a volunteer organization, and they have done an excellent job of preserving what is left. It's one of the best kept ghost towns I've been to, and one of the few where you have a chance to walk inside some of the buildings. And if the pictures look vaguely familiar, it's because you may have seen it before - about 5 films were shot in Grafton, the most famous of which being Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 

My friend and I stopped by early on a Friday morning in August, and we were the only people there during our visit. There's no gift shop, no tour guides in period clothing, no cowboys putting on a fake shootout. There's desert scenery, lonely buildings, and little else, making this a truly immersive and slightly eerie ghost town experience.

When you drive in, you'll come to a fork in the road and a sign. One direction leads to the cemetery, the other to the ghost town. We stopped at the cemetery first. It's clear the town, and the people who lived there, are remembered and cared for today. Each grave is marked with an intact, legible marker, and silk flowers were left at each headstone. A plaque outside the cemetery mentions a few of the residents and how they passed, a reminder of the expected tragedies settlers regularly faced. Some died from disease, some were murdered, and two children died from an accident on a swing. We walked around for a bit, then got back in the car and headed into town.

A small, well kept pioneer cemetery

Some of the headstones may have been replaced

There isn't much left of the town except a church/school and four homes, but the buildings are in great condition. They have been restored, but not decorated or painted up. The church is closed to visitors, although there are stairs on the side where you can peer in the windows. We were able to walk through a home with only two small rooms, and I felt like I was intruding on someone's personal space, someone who isn't around to tell me to buzz off. We didn't have any "ghostly" experiences, but walking around the abandoned town empty of tourists is definitely an eerie feeling.

Between the cemetery and the town, we spent about an hour in Grafton. Zion National park is only a ten minute drive from Rockville, so it's well worth a stop in Grafton if you are passing through. Please take a note from the locals and volunteers who preserve Grafton and be respectful of the town, so people can continue to enjoy it.

 The church/schoolhouse

One of the larger homes still standing

You can walk inside this small home

If you love history, ghost towns, and the wild west, this is the place for you. Have you been to Grafton, or any other ghost town you loved? Let me know in the comments!

Easy Hikes in Zion National Park - The Narrows and Canyon Overlook Trail

Zion National Park is a Southern Utah treasure, offering beautiful sandstone cliffs and canyons, views of the Virgin River, and diverse desert wildlife. It is a must see for outdoor enthusiasts and National Park lovers. Honestly, I can't believe it took me so long to make the trip to Zion, but this red rock desert gem stole my heart and I can't wait to go back. I went in early August, and only had a short time to spend in the park, so I wanted to pack in a few short hikes that would let me see the best parts of the park without being too exhausting, and these two trails delivered!

While there are plenty of hiking options in Zion, the Narrows and Canyon Overlook Trail are great trails for families and hikers of all skill levels. I fully intend to go back and do a follow up to this post with some more challenging hikes - sadly, the Upper Emerald Pool, Kayenta Trail, and Angel's Landing were all closed on my visit due to damage from flash flooding. If a certain trail is on your "must see" list, check current conditions before you go! Now, let's talk about the trails...

The Narrows

The Narrows is a roughly 2.5 mile out and back trail, the last stretch taking you off the trail and through the Virgin River for the best views. Once you hit the Virgin River, you'll be surrounded by canyon walls a thousand feet tall, in a river thirty feet wide at most, making this the narrowest point in Zion. A huge plus with this trail is once you reach the Virgin River, how much further you decide to go is entirely up to you! You can get a few pics and turn right around, or hike several miles in for even better views.

The easiest way to get to the trail is to board the shuttle at the visitor center, and get off at stop 9 for the Temple of Sinawava. The line to board the shuttle at the visitor center can get pretty long in the summer, so get there early. When my friend and I got there around 10 am, the shuttle line looked more like the line for Space Mountain. It did move pretty quickly, and we got to the trail shortly after 11 am.

You'll start at the trail for the Riverside Walk, which follows the Virgin River for 1 mile. This trail is paved and mostly shady, and offers nice views. We saw one deer on the side of the river enjoying her lunch, and plenty of squirrels. We followed the Riverside Walk until the trail gives out and the only way to continue is through the river, which will take you to the Narrows.

View from the Riverside Walk

Damp canyon walls along the Riverside Walk

Because this portion of the hike requires you to go through a river, quick drying water shoes are recommended, but not necessary. I skipped the water shoes and let my hiking boots get soaked which was no problem, the weather was so hot the shoes dried quickly when we got back to camp. I saw several groups who had rented shoes and walking sticks. Not sure what those cost, but I wouldn't say they were necessary, unless you planned to spend your whole day in The Narrows.

Small waterfall going down the canyon

Officially in the Narrows

We only went in about half a mile before turning around, although I'm told the best views are a few miles in. Unfortunately, we saw some clouds rolling in and had been warned of flash floods in the area, so we cut the trail short and headed back. Later that day, we were caught in a huge thunderstorm on our way back to camp. When I told a local we had hiked the Narrows that day, he asked, "Are you crazy?!" I am, but he made his point. If this hike is on your must-do list, it may be best to avoid coming during monsoon season, which lasts from July through August.

Even with cutting the hike short, this trail was a ton of fun and the canyons are gorgeous. I loved that the shaded trail and getting wet in the river kept us relatively cool. The only downside to this trail was the crowds - made it hard to get a good picture!

But I did manage to get one!

Canyon Overlook Trail

The next morning my friend and I went to Canyon Overlook Trail, which I would describe as an easy alternative to Angel's Landing. And since Angel's Landing was closed on our trip, this was the next best option. This trail will give you the chance to take in a panoramic view of the canyon, and if you're lucky, you may be able to spot bighorn sheep climbing through the canyon.

Canyon Overlook Trail is 1 mile round trip, with minimal elevation gain, making it great for all skill levels. The shuttle doesn't go to the trailhead, so you'll have to drive. The parking lot is on the right as soon as you exit the Zion - Mt. Carmel tunnel on Route 9, and it only has ten parking spaces, so arrive early! If the lot is full, there is overflow parking down the road. Once you park, the trail starts at the ranger station directly across the road.

We started this trail around 10 am, and it was getting hot quick. You'll want to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water for this hike. Thankfully, the trail isn't entirely exposed, and through much of the trip you'll be going through carved out sections of the sandstone canyon walls, offering surprisingly cool and shady spots. One section of the trail requires you to cross a high, narrow bridge, which can create a small challenge for those afraid of heights, but this section is very short.

Nothing sketchy about that rickety bridge...

Looking out from inside the canyon walls

Enjoying a break in the shade

Some parts of the trail offer a handrail, but be careful of the sections that don't. There are a few steep areas where a fall could be very dangerous, especially at the top of the canyon. Once you get to the top, the views are great. Bring binoculars if you're eager to see bighorn sheep!

THIS is the view you have to see!

If you've enjoyed either of these trails, or have another trail in Zion you love, let me know in the comments!

Norco, CA - Pumpkin Rock, The Powerhouse, and a Very Patriotic Brewery

Pumpkin Rock

A giant rock, in the hillside of Norco, painted like a glorious grinning pumpkin. Who painted it? I don't know. When did it appear? I don't know. But it's a year round taste of Halloween in my backyard and that's all I need to know.

Pumpkin Rock trail was a favorite of mine when training for Half Dome. It's short, but steep, and will give you a decent workout. It's a fun hike to do at dusk, especially in the summer. From the rock, you can enjoy a cool evening breeze, take in the valley views and watch the sunset.

There are two ways to do this trail; you can park at nearby Pike's Peak Park and follow the trail past the equestrian center for the full 1.7 mile loop, or park on Vandermolen Dr. for the short route. Either way, the trail isn't hard to find, just keep walking toward the giant pumpkin.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

For this visit, I did the short route, and brought my dog along too. My pup loved this trail, but I kept a close eye on her. Although I haven't yet come across snakes on this trail, they are in the area, so I tried to keep her from sticking her nose in bushes and holes. Which was difficult, since that's all she wants to do.

She managed to have fun anyway

I started this hike at 5pm, and finished in about 45 minutes, mostly because I was stopping to take pictures. There is absolutely no shade, so bring sunscreen and plenty of water. I definitely would not recommend starting this trail midday, you will roast. Plus, the lighting is better for pumpkin pictures at sunset!

The Great Pumpkin agrees

View of smoggy SoCal from the top

The Powerhouse

I first heard about the powerhouse years ago, when I joined a group of friends on a night hike trying to find the spooky abandoned powerhouse. We spent a lot of time fumbling in the dark, found nothing, and left doubting it's existence. It was only last year I discovered that not only does it exist, it is incredibly easy to find!

To get there, you will need to park in the residential area near Viceroy Avenue and North Drive. In between the residential homes and the nursery you'll see a dirt road, that's where the trail starts. Follow the trail for just under half a mile. The trail will break off at certain sections, but don't take any turns. Just keep going straight, and you'll get to the powerhouse.

The start of the trail

If you find rocks with graffiti, you're going the right way

Norco is officially known as Horsetown USA (seriously, the sign says so when you drive in), and you will likely see plenty of horse riders along this trail. Which means the trail also has some surprises left behind by the horses, so be careful not to step in them! Like pumpkin rock, this trail has no shade, so bring sunscreen and water. Luckily, the trail is just under a mile round trip, so it is fairly easy.

 View from the front

 Inside the powerhouse

Is that supposed to be a zombie head?

And there you have it, two fairly simple but awesome and rewarding trails!

As for the brewery...

Sons of Liberty Aleworks

Southern California has a lot to offer in way of breweries. My own hometown has several breweries, one only a few blocks away from me. It's easy to get lost among the newest, trendiest breweries constantly popping up in the area, but Sons of Liberty is different. Instead of a trivia night, they host a history lesson on Monday nights. Instead of naming their beers after a current pop cultural reference, they name each beer after a significant person from America's history, and have a handbook that tells you each person's story. And to top it off, their beer is pretty darn good. They've been around since 2012 and picked up some recognition along the way, including being voted the Inland Empire's #1 Microbrewery in 2017.

They also have the coolest beer tap handles I've ever seen

I came in on a Saturday afternoon, tired and sweaty from the hike to the Powerhouse, but no one was turned off by my sweat. Norco is known to have a small town feel you don't find easily in Southern California. People talk to their neighbors, they'll stop to say hello on the trail, I've even had people I do not know wave hello from their yards as I drive past, using Norco as a detour to avoid the freeway getting home. And it is the same inside the brewery, the staff and regulars warm up to you pretty quickly. They asked where I was from, if I had stopped in before, etc. One of the regulars brought us some pretzels and mustard, just because.

We ordered a flight of 10 tasters, to try every beer they currently had on tap. The first 6 came out on a lazy Susan, that I am told was handmade by one of the owners, and I want to know if I can get one for my house! It's pretty nifty.

First round of tasters

I was most eager to try the Betsy Ross, their strawberry hefeweizen. It's tasty enough on it's own, but the owner suggested I try it as a shandy, and gave me a sample mixed with strawberry lemonade. I had never had a shandy, and it was delicious! I came back a few weeks later just for a growler of the Betsy Ross to enjoy during a camping trip. My friend and I both particularly enjoyed the Nathan Hale, a golden stout, and the Henry Knox, a vanilla oatmeal stout. We were also lucky to be able to try their Mayan Chocolate Stout, which I believe is a seasonal beer. Hopefully that one makes a comeback, because it was one of my favorites. When the flight was done, we got seconds of the Nathan Hale.

If you do stop by, I recommend sitting at the bar, you'll make friends with the staff and patrons before you leave. We got to talk to the owner for a while, about the beer, American history, and my friend even got to indulge in a discussion of political philosophy with him. The patriotism behind the brewery is far more than just a theme, everything from the decor to the carefully chosen beer names is an honor to America's heritage, and the beliefs that founded the nation. And even if American history isn't your passion, you should still stop by for a Monday night history lesson, which covers various topics from world history. You can find out the planned topic for the week on their Facebook page.

You'll find this flag in the brewery, and in several local's front lawns

Have you been to any of these hidden treasures in Norco? Let me know in the comments!