Keeping Cool in Cedar Canyon: The Art of the Slow Rock Hunt

When the Southern Utah summer heat really starts to crank up, your standard hiking trails can turn into a literal oven. Walking miles through dusty sagebrush under a blazing sun stops being fun right around mid-July.

When it gets that hot, my strategy shifts completely: I trade the dusty paths for water, find a creek bed, and go for a wade.

Between the edge of town and the canyon, we have the perfect setup to do exactly that. It is the perfect way to slow down, take your time, and enjoy the sun while keeping your feet freezing cold in the running water.

There are a couple of great ways to access it, too. If you want to start right from town, you can take the paved Coal Creek Trail that connects all throughout Cedar. Head right to the very end of the pavement where it winds up into the canyon, and you can step straight off the path and into the water to head upstream.

Or, if you want to get a little further up Highway 14, you can drive about ten minutes up the canyon to the Ashdown Gorge Trailhead. There’s a nice gravel pull-off to park your car, and a trail that drops you right into Ashdown Creek.

Either way you choose, you aren't hiking for a high-intensity cardio workout. Moving through running water over slippery stones forces you to slow down—which is exactly the point. It's a peaceful, cooling wander.

But because I like to keep my mind mentally busy, I’ve turned creek-walking into another game: the pretty rock hunt.

Just like with the wildflowers, I don’t know much about geology, I don't do a lick of research, and I honestly don't care about the scientific names or where the rocks came from. I only care about one thing: Are they pretty?

I love slowly wading through the current, looking down through the ripples, and seeing how many different bright colors and unique patterns I can spot under the water. But there is a very strict rule to this game: Look, but don't carry. I love seeing them, but I absolutely refuse to carry heavy rocks for miles and miles. They belong right where they are, so I check them out, appreciate the color, and leave them behind for the next wanderer.

If you're going to try it yourself this summer, take it from me: water shoes are an absolute must. Do not try it barefoot—that just hurts. And definitely do not wear flip-flops, unless you want to watch one float down the canyon or twist your ankle on a slick boulder.

Grab some sturdy water shoes, pick a direction up the creek, and take your time. It’s the ultimate way to stay perfectly cool on the hottest day of the year.