Scare Canyon, Wild Elk, a Rustic Log Cabin & an Australian Tourist

Driving through the wild Wasatch Mountains only an hour and half drive from picturesque Salt Lake City, Utah, we turned off the unpaved road into Scare Canyon. This dusty one car lane meandered through the forest and deep into the thick woods where we were greeted by the charming A-frame log cabin we were to call home for the next three days. It’s rustic out here with no running water, no electricity and just the stars to guide us. I was in love already…

The mountain air is cool, crisp and inviting with every breath possessing a feel of pure oxygen. This is nature at her best and most beautiful. Our daily pilgrimage to the fresh water creek was met with gentle forest landscapes reminiscent of a Monet painting.

While riding a four wheeler along the open forest trails and through the vast open fields towards the creek, we would pass each day a small Beaver dam. Common in the area, these neatly placed piles of sticks create small ponds and are where the beavers live and breed. It also provides protection from their natural predators such as the cougars and coyotes that roam freely. This is one stunning location filled with beautiful flora and fauna.

While enjoying a cup of tea on our first morning with my sister and brother-in-law, I stepped out onto the small rickety front balcony. From this post I was admiring the American flag snapping in the breeze when I heard a soft rustling of the bushes. This could be anything I thought.

My vivid Australian city slicker mind instantly turned to thoughts of a large black bear, stalking my every move with its razor sharp teeth ready to pounce on this naïve boy from Australia standing in the open. But my apprehension was soon turned to delight when through the bushes emerged a large elk followed by a smaller wobbly legged spotted calf.

You may also like…
Utah Parks – Utah’s 5 National Parks
More National Parks – A guide to America’s National Parks
Grand Canyon – The South Rim of the Grand Canyon

As the elk and her calf moved from the dense forest into the small clearing in front of the cabin, they stopped to have a look up at me before continuing up the side of the cabin and into the thick wooded forest beyond. I marvelled as I watched these majestic animals slowly meander their way around while foraging for food.

I now understand where the saying ‘a deer caught in headlights’ comes from; except in this case I was the deer caught in headlights, an Aussie boy in Utah watching a big, beautiful elk in the wilds of Scare Canyon.

This really is God’s country.