ECHO echo echo echo CANYON STATE PARK

Lakefront property

Echo Canyon State Park, state park #5 on our zigzag through Nevada lies just a few miles east of Highway 93, near Pioche, NV. We  roll into the campground, pick a spot, and begin our approach for backing into a campsite. Old, wooden fence posts outline each campsite, which makes backing all the more difficult. It's a tight fit, but doable. The edge of our step-ladder strapped to the back threatens to clip a post so we take the ladder off and place it out of harms way. Besides the width, one has to consider several variables when backing into a campsite--overhanging trees, fire pits, shade structures all have to mesh with trailer doors and slides.

After a few attempts we are in, but we can't open the slide because the fence posts are too close and the toy hauler door opens into the fire pit. We decide to move to another site and as we pull forward Biggie Moms' rear-end brushes one of the decorative fence posts. Annette gets out of the truck, opens the storage compartment, and reappears holding a saw. Before I could say anything the saw is halfway through the post, I then take a turn and finish the job--the post still stands just not quite as tall. As we're pulling out, the ranger arrives just as I drop the saw onto the ground and points us to a better site. We park, set up, and then walk back to retrieve the saw and the ladder left behind at the other campsite. Does dropping some money into the firewood donation box make up for our blunder?

Ash Canyon hike

The next morning, we head out early to hike the Ash Canyon Trail. Starting out from the north edge of the campground, the trail climbs to a ridge, and then descends through Ash Canyon, a narrow canyon lush with the spring green of bushes and trees. Handrails bolted into the steep canyon walls guide hikers along the steepest parts as the trail drops to the bottom of the canyon.We enjoy canyon hikes and this trail is a fun one, requiring some scrambling and a bit of ledge walking atop the vertical canyon walls.

 As we head back to camp, we see American avocets wading along the bank of the reservoir, their cinnamon heads darting in and out of the water. A bonus spotting of a large group of white-faced ibis with their breeding feathers shimmering green and pink in the early morning light brings our hike to a rewarding end.

Ash canyon

After the hike, the weather turns windy and cool so we opt out of kayaking and biking. A quick check of the weather forecast predicts five days of bad weather ahead and we decide to spend just one more night at Echo Canyon before  heading to Pioche to wait out the cold front in a place that has WiFi and a coffee shop. Months of wind has turned us into weather wimps.

Shug gives this campground a 3.5 paw rating due to the fence posts surrounding the campsites (she hates drama).

What happened to that post?

Annette and Shug listening to their echo

Indian paintbrush

Ash Canyon hike

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