Menu

Category: Places I’ve been

Slow drive to Hanksville

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.

Waiting line at entrance station Arches National Park Utah

Gaelyn getting JR badge Arches National Park UtahAfter 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.

Metal sculpture Green River UtahGot 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.

Green River UtahMade 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.

Green River desert Utah

San Rafael Valley Utah

San Rafael desert Utah

Sand dunes & Henry Mountains San Rafael desert Utah

San Rafael desert UtahColorful, carved and contoured, a barren yet beautiful landscape.

Hans Flats Utah

Henry Mountains UT24 south UtahA long and lonely drive.

Wolverton Mill Hanksville UtahThree 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.

Abandoned fuel station Hanksville UtahAnd 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.

Utah , , 18 Comments

Camping along the Colorado River at Big Bend Beach

Colorado River UT128 Colorado Riverway Recreation Area UtahWe didn’t have much luck camping in national parks on this fall vacation and because Arches campground was full we went right outside the park to BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and camped along the Colorado River at Big Bend Beach.

Colorado River UT128 Colorado Riverway Recreation Area UtahThere are seven campgrounds within 7.4 miles of US191.  Pulled into the first one and did the loop.  Full.  Second, third, fourth…you get the picture, all full.  Finally at the last one we got the last site.  And what a fantastic view of the Colorado River cutting through the towering sandstone bluffs.

Colorado River UT128 Colorado Riverway Recreation Area Big Bend Beach campground UtahSome of the sites look big enough for large RVs,  first come first serve, with picnic tables, drop-pit toilets and a few water spigots.  In fact BLM offers many “camps” along the Colorado Riverway further along UT128 30 miles to Dewey and on the southwest side of US191 on both sides of the river.  Paid half price with ‘Geezer’ card.

Boat on Colorado River Colorado Riverway Recreation Area Big Bend Beach campground UtahA loud noise caught my attention in this quiet landscape and a tour boat came whipping down stream full of smiling and screaming passengers.

Morning light Colorado Riverway Recreation Area Big Bend Beach campground UtahWoke up to light slowly sliding down these steep canyon walls with the moon overhead.

Colorado River junction US191 and UT128 UtahPacked up camp, headed to US191 and turned north towards I70 where we’d go west to Green River on the way home to Kanab saying goodbye to the Colorado River.  We did take a long drive to Hanskville before crossing through Capitol Reef National Park on the way.  Our last day of vacation on the 1st of October.

 

Utah , , , 17 Comments

Arches National Park via unusual histories

North Sixshooter Peak UT211 UtahNorth Sixshooter Peak

On the fourth day of our short five-day vacation after a delightfully quiet night camped near Hamburger Rock BLM just outside The Needles District of Canyonlands and after repacking the back of Bill’s truck hit the road headed to Arches National Park.

Newspaper Rock UtahA quick stop at Newspaper Rock had me wondering what it all means.  Archaeologists think “the figures represent storytelling, doodling, hunting magic, clan symbols, ancient graffiti, or something else.”  What do they know?  It’s all open to interpretation.  I see the 2000 year history of people.

Mario's Place UT211 UtahWe continued to drive through intriguing geologic and more recent cultural history like quickly flipping the pages of a book.  Currently called Mario’s Place with a sign hung on the gate to prove it—or somewhere in the general area—Bill was told a women once lived in the shadow of Shay’s Mountain and had several men living around the acreage that she could choose which one to bed any night.  Known as polyandry when a woman has multiple husbands instead of the more frequently heard of polygamy—multiple wives—that’s usually heard of in Utah.  (Please remember the source.)

Church Rock Junction UT211 & US191 UtahJunction UT211 & US191 Church Rock then north up Dry Valley.  Would you have called this Church Rock?

Arch in the making US191 UtahMaybe an arch in the making.  Over time cracks, joints, and folds in the sandstone are saturated with water which then freezes and melts over time causing rock to break away and eventually can create an arch.

Wilson Arch US191 UtahLike Wilson Arch seen a little further down the road named after Joe Wilson, a local pioneer who had a cabin nearby in Dry Valley.  Can you imagine living here in the early 1880s likely a Mormon farmer or his wife as the earliest of white settlers scratching a life from the red and white rocky landscape?  Not for me, but I’d love to wander into this land for many days to discover some of its secrets.

Hole in the Rock US191 UtahPast Hole in the rock, where we did not stop, which is referred to as an historic 5,000 square foot home and now an unusual gift shop and trading post.  Read tourist trap.

Barkery Moab UtahStopped in Moab for lunch at Eddie McStiff’s with an outside eating area that’s dog friendly.  The server even brought Sasha a bowl of ice water.  I had a delicious Gyros sandwich, which are difficult to find.  I’d recommend the place.  Then Bill went to a book store while I thought about taking Sasha to the BARKery.  Seriously, I think a self-serve dog wash is a great idea.

Finally crossed the Colorado River and entered Arches National Park.  Only waited in line to enter the park a few minuets, not so the next morning when we returned.  Stopped at the Visitor Center for a Junior Ranger book.

La Sal Mountains Arches National Park UtahThen drove up, literally up, the park road with our first stop at the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint.

Three Gossips Arches National Park UtahOnce again, no time for hiking so most of the photos are drivebys including the iconic Three Gossips.  Wondering what they’re talking about?

Arch interpretive sign Arches National Park Utah

Baby Arch & Sheep Rock Arches National Park UtahOr quick overlook stops like at Baby Arch, to the left, and Sheep Rock to the right, possibly an ancient arch that is no more.

The Great Wall with arches Arches National Park UtahPast the Great Wall with many arches.  All of these places calling to hike in closer.  Unfortunately Arches is not dog friendly.

Delicate Arch Arches National Park Utah

Delicate Arch Arches National Park UtahTwo trails lead to Delicate Arch, or at least views of it.  Back in 1983, Bill was married under Delicate Arch which required a 3-mile round trip hike.  On this day we settled with a 100 yard walk to the lower viewpoint so as not to leave Sasha in the truck too long.

Fiery Furnace Arches National Park UtahBack to the main park road headed to the campground, which of course was full, we made another stop at the Fiery Furnace overlook named not for heat but the iron red colors of the fines and spires that make up the landscape.  Trails lead through this labyrinth that looks like it would be easy to get lost in.

Arches National Park Utah

Arches National Park UtahSaw several more arches on the return drive back out of the park.

Three Gossips Arches National Park UtahBack past the Three Gossips.

Colorado River Recreation Area UT128 UtahThen we searched for a place to camp along the Colorado River Recreation Area for our last night before the October 1st drive back to Kanab via more back roads.

 

BTW, today being veterans day, a BIG Thank You to all those who served in the US Military, is also a FEE FREE day for your National Park sites.

National Parks and Monuments, Utah 20 Comments

Lijit

© Copyright 2008-2024. Geogypsytraveler.com