I’ve explained to many visitors that the 18-mile gravel road to Point Sublime requires at least a high clearance vehicle, maybe 4×4, and if they question the conditions, turn around. Yet I’d never been there.
I own a Big 1-ton 4×4 pickup that hadn’t been christened with Arizona pin striping from brush and branch.
So I figured twas time to get this big girl down and dirty.
After several miles of rough and rocky tare-the-steering-wheel-out-of-you-hands road the forest opened.
And this glorious flower filled meadow known as the Basin stretched ahead.
Of course I had to stop for some photos.
Then continued on winding through the forest on this hairy, scary, exhilarating and challenging road.
When I saw a pull out with canyon views I gladly stopped.
This plateau lizard greeted me.
And I sat down on a rock to absorbed the canyon.
Yet as I looked out and then examined the map I realized I was looking down the Crystal Creek drainage.
The Dragon temples on the left and Point Sublime on the right. After 1.5 hours driving I wasn’t there yet.
Oh to fly like these Peregrine falcons.
So I continued another several miles driving to Point Sublime, the real destination. Which I’ll post about soon.
To tour more of the world go to Our World Tuesday.
I’ve always been curious about that road. I wonder if my Forester could make it?
Garry Hayes recently posted..The Abandoned Lands…A Journey Through the Colorado Plateau: Twitter and Facebook, circa 1605; exploring El Morro National Monument
i think now we know how your truck got so dirty =o)
That looks like a few of the roads we used to experience from time to time in Africa, pretty horrible. The photos of the canyon though are amazing. Strange you mention the peregrine falcon, I have always said if I ever come back to this world that is what I want to be
Diane
Diane recently posted..My First Trip to Africa
Worth getting dirty for, for sure. I like the view with your sandals…
Bibi, Serbia recently posted..Under watchful eyes…
Great photos.
longdog2 recently posted..Flying Through the Water
What a cool drive!! Is this how the truck got muddy?
Sally in WA recently posted..Caribbean Cruise Week – The Ship & Departure Day
Looks fabulous, I’ve always wanted to drive that road.
Our kind of jeep road! Views so far are fabulous but can’t wait to see The Sublime!
Stillhowlyn in 2012 recently posted..Ashland, OR.
Wonderful scenery. It’s so rugged and beautiful.
Carver recently posted..Our World Tuesday: A little over a year ago
A gorgeous view and worth a rough ride, Gaelyn! Superb captures for the day! Have a great week!
Sylvia Kirkwood recently posted..Our World!!
Absorbing the best of both High and Low Leaves One Floating Wherever they go.
Love the photos!
Bernie recently posted..Honey Bee’s Drinking Water While Standing On Duckweed In A Pond
Wow!!! What a treat! Thanks for the muddy road trip up. It makes getting the truck all dirty, doesn’t it? That’s the hard part for me at times….I don’t have a high clearance vehicle to get up some of those canyons. It would be nice to have a truck to get into these areas. I’ve gotten once or twice stuck up in Prescott and around Mayer in the back roads. Never again:) Beautiful views. Quiet. Little human traffic. Must have been perfection:)
Wow..a great adventure.. I’ve done 3 posts on our western trip and I’m only at Desert View on the South Rim..To be honest I enjoyed your North Rim more than the South Rim… All in All makes Ohio seem a little boring LOL…………..
Joe Todd recently posted..WESTERN TRIP:ARIZONA,COLORADO, UTAH,NEW MEXICO::SOUTH RIM GRAND CANYON::EAST ENTRANCE::DESERT VIEW::
The drive almost makes me wish I had a 4X4. The field of flowers and views are beautiful, Gaelyn! And I the shots of the Canyon always amaze me. Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing.
Eileen recently posted..Oregon birds..Columbia Gorge
Loved the meadow flowers and the view of the canyon. Not sure I could make that drive though.
Fun60 recently posted..The Olympic teams residences
absolutely gorgeous!
i have been driving endless dirt roads lately too.
Tammie recently posted..Yum yum!
One of these days, we will have to get a 4×4…it makes things so much more interesting!
Katie recently posted..Wildlife (sort of…)
Oh, now see, I want you to pull your feet away from that edge. And, it’s so green there in the Canyon.
The Good Luck Duck recently posted..Boondocking tip #33 – How to have the forest to yourself
So is this the mud place? Gorgeous places, beautiful views — wonderful wildflower meadow — but I’ll stay tuned for Chapter 2 and the mud!
Sallie (FullTime-Life) recently posted..SIMPLE BEAUTY
A grand adventure for you and your trusty steed! There is nothing like a good dirt road to really connect with your surroundings! It helps you to slow down and really absorb the scenery when you are focusing on each move to make with your truck. It looks like a beautiful journey, and a memory to add to your lifetime album.
Hi there – looks like it was worth the time to get there – and a little bit of 4WD is always fun (if not very ecologically sound!)
cheers – Stewart M
Stewart Monckton recently posted..Our World Tuesday – Great Barrier Reef
Hah, what an adventure. I love it. No way in my Kia Soul.
yogi recently posted..Watery Wednesday – Idaho Falls
You always feel a bit unsure giving somebody advise on something you haven’t been to yourself. You are so much like me when it comes to wanting to explore and expand your own knowledge. With my little car I would not have been able to make it. The flowers are beautiful but those views are fantastic. So worth doing the route
Firefly recently posted..Kidz Adventures – Exploring PE’s history