June 3, 2016, Panaca, NV- Kodachrome turned into monochrome, once I left Pioche.  No matter, though; Miller Point overlook, on the north side of Cathedral Gorge, has views that elicit thoughts of how the Grand Canyon must have looked, back in the Triassic Era.

Cathedral Gorge, from Miller Point

The Edwards Brothers, Nephi and Elbert, discovered Cathedral Gorge in 1911, making it a playground for their family. They built a series of ladders and explored several caves here.  The Edwards family pushed to have the State of Nevada safeguard the gorge, and in 1935, it became a state park.

Here are several more views from Miller Point, and along the first section of trail, below the Point.

Cathedral Gorge, from Miller Point

Cathedral Gorge, from Miller Point

Cathedral Gorge, from Miller Point

Cathedral Gorge, along Miller Point Trail

Cathedral Gorge, along Miller Point Trail

Cathedral Gorge, along Miller Point Trail

View of Juniper Draw Loop, from Miller Point Trail

Eagle Point, from Miller Point Trail

It’s a reasonable assumption that I will be back here, relatively soon, for a full exploration of Cathedral Gorge on my own.  The heat precludes doing so in summer, so maybe next Spring.

Panaca, a short distance down the road, is a rather utilitarian community, with modern buildings that distinguish it from Pioche- as does the sere Great Basin landscape. It is a friendly town, and when my attention was drawn to the sizable butte, just beyond the fence of Lincoln County High School, two girls playing in a nearby yard called to their father, who came outside, saw where I was heading, and shook his head, in a good-natured way.  Not many visitors, apparently, are interested in this formation- which goes by the simple name of Box Butte.

Box Butte, Panaca, NV

Small cave, Box Butte, Panaca, NV

Small cave, Box Butte, Panaca, NV

West side of Box Butte, Panaca, NV

Free-form mural, inside cave, Box Butte, Panaca, NV

East side, Box Butte, Panaca, NV

Crane-lifted slabs, top of Box Butte, Panaca, NV

East side, Box Butte, Panaca, NV

As I drove off, I heard the girls call- “Daddy, he’s leaving now.”  It is unusual to be of note, but something tells me I’d be welcome back, if only to take further examination of this local play place.

I didn’t spend a whole lot of time stopping and photographing the innumerable wonders of southern Utah- if for no other reason than I had a destination, in the Native American Baha’i Institute, some 380 miles further southeast.

NEXT UP:  Navajo Lake and Orderville Canyon, Utah