October 1st, our last day of a way too short vacation took us from Arches National Park 375 miles to Kanab starting off with a slow drive to Hanksville.
After camping along the Colorado River at Big Bend Beach we returned to Arches National Park so I could get my Junior Ranger badge. Waited in line at the entrance station probably 10-15 minutes. We turned and drove right back out and now the line was clear to the main highway. I fear we are loving our National Parks to death.
Headed north on US191 but stopped in only a few miles at the Dalton Wells CCC and concentration camp. All that remains of what started off as a CCC camp between 1935-42 is the cottonwood trees planted by the enrollees of Camp DG-32. Then WWII gave these young man a different mission and the camp became a place for “troublemakers” from the Manzanar California Relocation center, yet another concentration camp for Japanese-Americans. I think the land still cries for these people. I took no photos.
Got off I 70 at Green River to be greeted by these metal sculptures of a pack train coming into town. Can’t find any information on these.
Made a pit stop at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum but knew we didn’t have time to explore it so jumped back in the truck, crossed the Green River and headed south at noon on some gravel back roads through the Green River and San Rafael Deserts.
Colorful, carved and contoured, a barren yet beautiful landscape.
A long and lonely drive.
Three hours later we pulled into Hanksville, not much of a town. Bill once lived and worked here for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). There is the historic Wolverton Mill built in the early 1900s by Edwin Thatcher Wolverton who searched for gold in the Henry Mountains. Although the mill did process some ore it was abandoned in 1929. It was a unique creation because it combined the functions of wood cutting and ore crushing.
And there’s the abandoned service station that was featured in the 1991 movie Rubin & Ed. The tagline is “As soon as Ed saves Rubin’s life, he’s gonna kill him.” Watched the movie later, kind of dumb.
In 15 minutes we were done with Hanksville and continued our journey home via Capitol Reef National Park.
Love the photos but I am curious why a ‘Junior’ Ranger badge? Take care Diane
Thanks Diane. I learn by earning the Junior Ranger badge at every park I visit. It’s a great program for learning about the parks.
Thanks I was curious 🙂
Some great shots there, Gaelyn. 15 minutes in Hanksville. I’ve been to places like that. 😉
Thanks Bibi.
You’re right, Hanksville doesn’t stand out as a great tourist destination!
But the landscapes around Hanksville are wonderful.
I love getting to Hanksville. It means I am almost to Capitol Reef. Last place to gas up to take all those back roads. Love the barren country, the creepy gray and yellow formations, Factory Butte. It is always such a wonder to go from there to the magic of the reef and the delight of Torrey. Travel safe.
The back road drive to Hanksville was amazing, the town not so much. Plus the drive to, through, and beyond Capitol Reef was gorgeous as well.
Love getting to Hanksville, it means I am almost to Capitol Reef. Love Factory Butte, the marker that tells me I am getting closer to heaven.
How amusing! The first time through Hanksville I thought it to be the armpit of Utah. No more. Not after revisiting several times. The locals are friendly, salt of the earth types. You would have to be. Stop in at the Silver Eagle convenience store, and next door Stan’s Burger Shak. Home of the delicious Hanksburger. Also veggie burgers. In the tourist season, dine at Duke’s Slickrock Grill for a Duke Burger, and more. I’ve stayed at the Whispering Sands Motel; very nice.
I’ll take your word on it.
Sounds like a long drive by my standards but clearly your wonderful pictures show some gorgeous scenery. I too worry about our National parks and the need potentially to set quotas. Is there any time of the year when Arches is not over run? Love the picture of you raising your right hand. Thanks to the cameraman. Sure would love to know the story behind those neat metal sculptures.
The whole five day vacation included too much driving but we sure saw a lot of gorgeous country. I don’t know how crowded Arches is all year. Probably pretty cold there in winter.
Such beautiful country, sorry you couldn’t drag your feet a bit more 🙁 The contrast between the old mill and the old filling station is so vivid in your photos!
Yes, lots of country to spend more time in. Unfortunately a five day vacation was no where near enough time.
Beautiful places, even the desert. Way back when a short while ago, perhaps 50 years, literally, our Scout Troop would go camping in the San Rafael desert in the summer. Roast all day and freeze all night is what I was remembering along with some sort of puzzlement of why, with all the woods Utah has, why are we in the desert.
I do find the desert beautiful but not in the summer so much. You come from hardy stock.