Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah, Fall 2022

Blog Resurrection ...

I haven't updated this Blog in seven years, and we have been to so many NEW places in these past years that it seems prudent to do so now.

We started our 2022-2023 trip in Lewes, Delaware at Cape Henlopen State Park with family. However, since it was really a family vacation, I am not posting any photos here. Cape Henlopen is a lovely park bordered by Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean with beaches, fishing, cycling, etc. Following our week here, we were supposed to visit friends Mike and Julie in the mountains of North Carolina, then visit friends Barbara and Wayne in Central Florida, however Hurricane Ian changed all of that and we decided to make a run for Colorado since it was still only the end of September. We haven't been to Dinosaur National Monument (which sits on the border of Utah and Colorado) since 2012 and have always wanted to return. And so we did ...

	We found excellent boondocking just off of Harper's Corner Road, on Blue Mountain Road with a view of the valley below us and mountains south of us.  It doesn't get much better than this!
Split Mountain Area
	At the Split Mountain boat launch on the Green River.  This is a typical take-out point for rafters.
	The Cub Creek Petroglyphs on the road to the Josie Morris Cabin.
	The Josie Morris Cabin which she built and lived in from 1905-1964 until about age 90! She had a garden, fruit trees and some livestock. She dug her own irrigation trenches in this harsh environment.
Island Park
	The Island Park area is spectacular. The small primitive campground, Rainbow Park, is on the Green River and suitable for tents, car camping, and vans. The road is accessible by most vehicles in good weather. This photo is taken from the Island Park Overlook, just past the campground.
	Another view from the Island Park Overlook. The cottonwoods and aspens are almost in full fall foliage.
	The Green River is popular with rafters. I suspect these rafters put in at the Gates of Lodore in the very north of the park, and will take out at Split Mountain.
	The abandoned Ruple Ranch on the Green River.
Yampa Bench Road and Echo Park
	The Yampa Bench Road provides sweeping views of the Green River and vertical cliffs that tower above it. 4x4 is recommended.
	At the western end of Yampa Bench Road is Echo Park and this feature called Steamboat Rock. There is a primitive campground here at Echo Park for small vans, cars and tents, although 4x4 is necessary to navigate the roads here.
Gates of Lodore and Loop Drive
	Getting to the Gates of Lodore in the northern-most section of the park takes almost 2 hours from the town of Dinosaur, CO, but it is worth it. Here is a group of rafters who had just put in at the Gates of Lodore Campground, which would accommodate RVs up to about 30'.
	Just north of the Gates of Lodore is Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the time of year (early October), we didn't see many fowl, but the drive through the park on Wildlife Drive was really nice.
	From the northwest end of Wildlife Drive, we took the Swinging Bridge across the Green River, and followed Crouse Creek Road. The bridge is VERY narrow. Our truck had mere inches to spare on either side. Here I am on Crouse Creek Road.  Google Maps has marked a spot on this road as a Hideout for Butch Cassidy, but we didn't see the cave which is apparently high up on the canyon wall.
	Crouse Creek Road ended at Jones Hole Road, which we drove to the Fish Hatchery. It was getting late in the afternoon, so we hiked just a bit of the trail at the end of parking lot. This, I assume, is Jones Hole Creek. What a beautiful spot.
Fantasy Canyon
	Fantasy Canyon isn't far from Dinosaur National Monument, and just south of the town of Vernal, so we take a day trip there from our campsite. It is a protected area of weathered grey sandstone in the midst of oil and gas drilling.
	The stange shapes created by erosion show many weird faces!
	We roam the area for hours. There are picnic tables and a porta-potty on-site, but no overnight camping allowed.
Flaming Gorge
	In the Fall of 2012, we visited the Flaming Gorge, but were just passing through on a cloudy day, so photos were rather blah. So we take a day trip north to this reservoir on the Green River to see it in its spendor. This is Red Canyon, 1,700 feet deep and 4,000 feet across (518m x 1,200m).
	Cart Creek Bridge on Highway 191.
	The Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam. There is a boat launch behind where I am standing to take this photo.

We are so glad we were able to return to Dinosaur National Monument after 10 years!  We spent two full weeks exploring the park and the area.  Thankfully, we had excellent weather for the duration.  We didn't go back to the Quarry Exhibit Hall this time, although I highly recommend it.  This park does NOT disappoint, and we don't understand why it isn't a national park.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Only 3 hours from Moab, Utah in the southwest corner of Colorado, we take a quick side trip to Mesa Verde National Park.

The park and the ruins are over 1,000 feet above the valley. The Mancos Mountains are snow-capped, and it is much cooler here. The highest elevation in the park is over 8,400 feet. Mesa Verde contains some of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the world built by ancient pueblo people, the Anasazi, who populated the Colorado Plateau starting about 1,500 years ago until about 800 years ago.

Of over 4,500 archeological sites, only 600 are cliff dwellings, like this most famous ruin, Cliff Palace. Unfortunately tours have ended for the season and that's the only way to get a closer look. During off-season, only the rim drives are open with overviews of most of the ruins.

It is mind-boggling to imagine how the Anasazi accessed these homes. Many dwellings have evidence of toe and finger holds carved into the cliff walls. While these incredible builders lived in this area for 700 years, no one knows what caused them to leave in about 1,200 AD, but the cliff dwellings have been vacant since that time.

Near the very informative museum is Spruce Tree House. Mesa Verde NP also contains numerous sites of pit houses built on top of the mesas, but the cliff dwellings are the most intriguing. Pit houses and villages were built prior to the cliff dwellings, but were dangerous places, many succumbing to fires.

Grand Mesa, CO

	Grand Mesa, which sits above Grand Junction, Colorado, is the highest mesa in the world at an elevation over 10,000 feet. We are fortunate enough to arrive during the fall colour peak.
	Many (about 100?) lakes dot the mesa making it a popular place for fishing and camping (and some say mosquitoes, but I think it's too late in the season as we don't see any). In the hot summer months when it might be 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the valley, residents flock to the mesa to "chill out".
	And just to prove that we are really here and this isn't some postcard backdrop...

Following our stay near Grand Junction, we head into Utah and hope to visit the northern section of Capitol Reef National Park where Cathedral Valley highlights some spectacular red rock formations (yeah, I know - been there, done that!), but rain keeps us from traveling the clay/sand roads which become IMPASSABLE when wet - truly! We wait for two days in the mountainous area of Fish Lake National Forest, but it rains steadily, depositing snow on the higher peaks. So maybe next year. We move westward ho!

The Upper Colorado River Area, CO

Finally, a decent internet signal that will allow me to upload all my photos (taken almost 2 weeks ago!) Enjoy!

	A much better campsite along the sparkling Deep Creek. Although we have to park the trailer in the parking area about 20 feet above the creek, a little BLM campsite below allows us to sit or walk by the creek and enjoy the cool shade.
Glenwood Canyon, an unbelievable drive along Interstate 70 between Denver and Grand Junction.
	Along the 18-mile Glenwood Canyon hiking & biking trail. That's I-70 above me, so it is a bit noisy, but the interstate follows the Colorado River through the steep canyon and at several points is elevated. A truly amazing feat of engineering.
The Dotsero Crater was formed over 4,000 years ago during a volcanic eruption that left a 3-mile long lava flow and a 2,300-foot wide, 1,300-foot deep crater.
	Marilyn overlooking the crater. The lava rock is red and black reminding us of Sunset Crater in Arizona.
	Along the 4x4 road that takes us to the top.
	Brad checking out the lava rock.
A drive along the Colorado River near our campsite was the perfect thing for a drizzly morning.
	Following a loop road west of the river, we drive through open meadow and up into an aspen forest. It reminds us of being "up north" in Ontario, near Bracebridge or Huntsville during the fall colour tour. Even though the sun is not shining, the aspen are so yellow it looks like the sun is lighting them.
	The loop road overlooks the Colorado River as it switchbacks down the steep canyon wall. An amazing view of the red rock canyon and the mighty Colorado River only about 100 miles from its source in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Those are raindrops on the lens.)
	Mountain Goats or Bighorn Sheep? I can never tell the difference, but Brad caught sight of these guys getting a drink and enjoying the lush vegetation along the river.
Hanging Lake, a very popular hike in Glenwood Canyon, so popular in fact that, during our first attempt to see it, the parking lot is full and numerous vehicles are circling. It is Sunday, so we decide to return on a week day and arrive earlier in the morning (9:30) - and realize success! The trail is a 1.2-mile long, 1,100 foot ascent.
	This is Spouting Rock, feeding the creek above Hanging Lake. The water is actually gushing out of a hole in this rock face, fed by underground springs. The sound is quite thunderous.
	Atop a small cliff sits Hanging Lake. The aqua colour of the water is provided by the travertine bottom. Hanging gardens absorb some of the water falling over the edge, only to release it moments later.
	As the water from Hanging Lake falls over the cliffside, this rapid waterfall is created and visible from the trail.
We visit Rifle Falls for a few hours on our way west, but do not stay overnight in the State Park.
	A few hundred feet from the parking area is this lovely triplet that makes for a cool rest on a hot day. A loop trail takes us up and over the top of the falls and back down through the woods to the camping area.

Colorado Springs, CO

	Nestled on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is the city of Colorado Springs, about 2 hours south of Denver. No free camping here! We are wedged into our campsite like sardines! We also meet with friends Carol and Steve Dwyer who are full-time RVers and happen to be visiting family in nearby Denver. Sadly, no pic of us hanging out, catching up and enjoying each other's stories..
Garden of the Gods, barely on the outskirts of the city.
	Some of the rocky outcrops along the paved trail that winds throughout the park.
	A slightly different view of the eroded fins.
	Balanced Rock - how the heck does it stay there?
The Royal Gorge and Bridge, near Canon City.
	The Bridge spanning across the Royal Gorge, above the Arkansas River which is over 1,000 feet below. This is one of the world's highest suspension bridges and is a quarter of a mile long.
	A train heading up-river.
	The train looks like a snake winding through the canyon.
	Brad between the suspension cables of the bridge.
Pike's Peak, a "fourteener" that boasts being the most visited mountain in North America and is just a few minutes up the highway from Colorado Springs.
	Pike's Peak Highway climbs 7,000 feet in elevation and 19 miles in distance on a twisting road with breathtaking views. We pass through 5 different (plant) zones during the drive and are above the tree line at the top!
	Marilyn at the summit, elevation 14,110 feet, temperature 42 degrees fahrenheit but sunny and not too windy. Visibility is also pretty good today, although is better in the winter - no thanks!
	Brad at the summit overlooking the reservoirs below.
	What a view!
	Part of the road is so steep, there is a brake check station on the way down. This station marks the half-way point of a 7-mile 7% grade. Our brakes were only 102F thanks to our super-low first gear which I used all the way down. Hardly ever touched the brakes at all. Unfortunately, the ranger had no prizes for the lowest temperature, although he did tell several other drivers to pull into the rest area to cool down their brakes.
	Looking up at the summit from Crystal Reservoir, viewing the changing colours of the gorgeous aspens against the dark green spruce trees.