White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, October 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.

The White Rim Road is a checked Bucket List trip. Campsites and a road permit have to be pre-booked months in advance. We drove this 100 mile long primitive road with friends Paul and Sue who drove their Jeep, and Dolores in her Dodge RAM 4x4. Campsites are also primitive, which means sleeping in a tent, something I haven't done in many, many years. But I was willing to put my comfort aside for this trip of a lifetime.

	This is the Shafer Trail which is one way of accessing the White Rim Road from the Visitor Centre in Canyonlands National Park. We drove in from Moab on the Potash Road, and exited 3 days later on Mineral Bottom Trail. You can choose which direction to drive the road, just know that many sections are single-lane.
	The view from Potash Road heading towards the White Rim Road.
	Near Thelma and Louise Point and below Dead Horse Point State Park, a view of the Green River (which isn't so green here) along the Potash Road.
	It's a long way down. The White Rim Road sits about half way between the Islands in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park which is about 800 feet above and the Green River some 800 feet below. I know this photo is small, but maybe you can see our two vehicles parked in the crescent of the overhang, and some of our group standing there also.
	Setting up camp for our first night at Gooseberry Campground A. We have an amazing view of the snow-capped Manti-Las Sal Mountains at sunset. This first night was freezing, going down to 28F or -2C. And my air mattress deflated in the middle of the night so I ended up sleeping on the slickrock. All part of the experience, right?
	This rock has eroded with what looks like two hammers on either end.
	Storm clouds developed as we were setting up camp on our second night at Candlestick Campground. The sun is setting causing the red rocks to glow against that dark, cloudy backdrop. Spectacular. We did get a light sprinkle in the night, and the winds picked up, and it was still really cold, but we survived, and the scenery made it worthwhile.
	Paul in his Jeep going up the Murphy Hogback. This was on the last day and while the ascent and descent were steep, it was not extremely difficult.  Hardscrabble Hill was more scary with its tight switchbacks and steep dropoffs.
	The road had finally descended to the Green River, and we had this lovely view. We averaged about 11 mph or 18 kph overall during the 3-day drive. Much of it is very bumpy over slickrock, with some sandy stretches.
	More views from the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park showing the White Rim Road (if you can see it on the left between the two eroded canyons).
	The White Rim Road might be slightly more visible in this photo as it comes from the bottom left and skirts the eroded canyons as it continues to the top right.  Photo was also taken from Island in the Sky.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this trip, for me it was tough. Sleeping in a tent in freezing cold weather, bumping along in a pick-up truck all day, rushing to get to our reserved campsite and set up our gear before dark were all part of the adventure. I think we could have used one more day to better explore some of the side roads and hikes along the way. However, I wouldn't do it again, but I am glad I did it.  Bucket List Trip - CHECK!

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.

Escalante and Hole-in-the-Rock Road in Utah, April 2018

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 return to Escalante and the GSENM every few years, simply because it is so beautiful and so much less crowded than the national parks in Utah. We spent April 2018 here before returning home. I must say though, the desert is a very windy place in the spring. Fall is better, but sometimes you just have to endure the wind and find sheltered spots. We camp at the head of Hole-in-the-Rock Road which used to have only about a dozen spots when we first came here the Fall of 2012. Now, people have created new sites, spreading out into the grasslands. The popularity of many places like this that used to be quiet have become much busier, thanks to the proliferation of the internet. This is a double-edged sword, as we are able to locate more places to camp and hike, but so can everyone else.

There are numerous hikes to be found along Hole-in-the-Rock Road. We have done quite a few in the past, including the Devil's Garden, slot canyons such as Peek-a-Boo, Spooky, Tunnel and Zebra, Broken Bow Arch, Cedar Wash Arch, Crack in the Wall and Golden Cathedral.

From Highway 12 (which is a destination on its own), the GSENM offers many other scenic areas like Hell's Backbone and Calf Creek Falls (Upper and Lower).

	There are a few ways to access Coyote Gulch. You can hike through Hurricane Wash to the Fulch, which is a long, exposed, sandy hike. You can start at the Fortymile Ridge Trail and hike to Crack in the Wall, descend a huge sand dune, hike north on the Escalante River and into the Gulch - this is also a long, exposed, sandy hike. Or you can do what we did, and take the shorter "sneaker route" by parking at the water tank on Fortymile Ridge Road, hiking cross country and descending a very steep slickrock wall. This brings you almost directly to the main feature of Coyote Gulch, the Jacob Hamblin Arch. When we were there, someone had left ropes behind which we did use (after a careful inspection) to descend and ascend the wall, but others do it without ropes. Know your limitations!
	This is Jacob Hamblin Arch in Coyote Gulch. We hiked up and down the gulch from where we descended the wall and found small rapids and huge alcoves. This hike is our favourite one along Hole-in-the-Rock Road.  For size perspective, I am standing beneath the tree on the far left.
	Here I am at Sunset Natural Arch looking south towards Page, AZ. You can just see Navajo Mountain through the arch. This hike is also accessed from Fortymile Ridge Road. If you continue driving just south of Fortymile Ridge on Hole-in-the-Rock Road, you will come to Dance Hall Rock where the Mormon group who created the "hole in the rock" at the end of this road spent the winter.
	From Highway 12 just east of the Head of the Rocks Overlook, you can turn south onto Spencer Flat Road. There are a few camping spots out here that seemed much less busy than Hole-in-the-Rock Road, but also smaller. There is some nice slickrock along the road, and views looking towards the Escalante River.
	Hiking west from the Escalante River Trailhead, you approach Escalante Natural Bridge. The trail follows the river and is nicely shaded.
	Near the bottom of Hell's Backbone Road near the town of Escalante, we hiked the Lower Box Canyon. You can hike it to the top where it is called just Box Canyon. The lower canyon has beautifully coloured rock walls and follows Pine Creek.

Moab, Part 3 - More Great Stuff around Moab, Utah

Still in the Moab area, we find some beautiful places to explore outside of Arches National Park. We don't really even venture into Canyonlands National Park as we spent a full week hiking here a few years ago. And there's so much other new stuff to do and see around here...

Highway 128 along the Colorado River

Castle Valley - The Priest and Nuns We take the La Sal Mountain Loop Road just south of Moab. The views above the city are beautiful, but the photos are not as they're into the sun. This view of the rock formation called the Priest and Nuns in Castle Valley at the end of the loop drive is the best from our day.

Morning Glory Natural Bridge An easy, 4-mile hike up Negro Bill Canyon (aka Grandstaff Canyon) leads to Morning Glory Natural Bridge. Its huge expanse is hard to capture in a single photo.

The beautiful Colorado River A beautiful resort with at least 50 cabins along the Colorado River near Castle Valley. Some cottonwood trees are still bright yellow, contrasting with the red rock.

Potash Road and the Shafer Trail

Brad overlooking the Colorado River We spend a full day driving Potash Road from Moab. Here's Brad at Thelma and Louise Point, technically called Fossil Point for its marine fossils found in the rocks 1,000 feet above the Colorado River.

Thelma and Louise Point The final scene of the movie, Thelma and Louise, was shot here. The car was ejected over the cliff just beyond the promontory in the middle of this photo.

Me overlooking a tributary along Potash Road We started our drive on Potash Road in Moab just before lunch, and stopped to enjoy the views so often that it is getting dark by the time we get to the spot where it intersects with the Shafer Trail leading us back up to Canyonlands National Park and our campsite on Dubinky Well Road. This tributary, when there's water, falls about 400-500 feet over this smooth, rocky waterfall and joins the Colorado River just around the corner.

As we ascend the steep switchbacks of the Shafer Trail, it's fully dark and we are surprised by a group of bighorn sheep who run across the road in front of the truck and disappear over the cliff's edge.

The switchbacks of the Shafer Trail On another day, we start down the Shafer Trail late in the morning to retrace our drive backwards towards Potash Road since it was dark when we finished that previous drive and we missed some great views. These are some of the switchbacks that descend the steep cliff and lead to Potash Road and the White Rim Trail, the latter a 100-mile dirt road that follows the rim above the Colorado and Green Rivers, and is a popular backcountry 3-4 night trip for cyclists.

Panorama at the Gooseneck on Potash Road We have lunch at the Gooseneck below Dead Horse Point State Park and spend a couple of hours just enjoying the view and soaking up the sun. The road (Potash Road at this point) is fairly well travelled by all types of vehicles although parts of the road from here to the Shafer Trail are fairly rough.

Fisher Towers and Onion Creek

Climber at Fisher Towers About 20 miles east of Moab on Highway 128 is the Fisher Towers trailhead and small campground. This trail is popular not only with hikers but also climbers. There are several climbing routes in this rocky ridge, but this one seems to be the most popular.

A bigger view of the rock ridge. Note the formation being climbed in the previous photo is the second "peak" from the left. The hike is fairly easy (if you're not afraid of heights), but longer than it looks as the trail follows the canyons created by erosion - in and out, in and out. From the viewpoint at the end of the trail, the parking lot is barely one mile away as the crow flies. We have hiked 2.2 miles. Oh well, the views make the trail worthwhile.

Brad overlooking Onion Creek Below Brad is Onion Creek Road, which we drive on another day trip. It's a lovely drive through the canyon, then through and above Fisher Valley, eventually climbing North Beaver Mesa and looping back to the highway through Castle Valley.

This dinosaur trackway is not advertised on our map so is a nice surprise to find along Polar Mesa Road just before we descend into Castle Valley. There are numerous tracks found in this location with a short interpretive trail, and fabulous views of Bull Canyon and Fisher Valley if you follow the social trail along the rim.