Menu

Category: Utah

Hanksville west along Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway = 28 miles of wonderful

We followed part of the Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway, also called Utah State Route 24, along the Freemont River upstream through 28 miles of spectacular scenery west from Hanksville to Capitol Reef National Park.

Maybe North Pinto Hills & Fremont River Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahFreemont River & maybe North Pinto Hills

The 95 mile Fremont River flows from the Johnson Valley Reservoir in Fish Lake National Forest, southeast through Capitol Reef to the Muddy Creek near Hanksville where the two rivers combine to form the Dirty Devil River, a tributary of the Colorado River.

Maybe Skyline Rim Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahMaybe Skyline Rim beyond the Red planet’s terrain

Yet not far from the flowing waters lies the barren land of the Upper Blue Hills.  In fact I just found out that the Mars Society Desert Research Station where spacesuits and equipment are tested is located east of Hanksville because of its resemblance to the surface of Mars.  Now, two months after this journey, I’ve probably mislabeled some of the photos but the colorful names on the map seem to fit.  When will I learn to take notes when I travel.

Factory Butte Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahFactory Butte

The Factory Bench Road beckoned for exploration across mud flats bearing sparse grass and occasional bushes.  Presumably at least 10 miles of unpaved road eventually leading to Goblin Valley is suitable for any vehicle when conditions are dry.  Yet we had no time and only stopped briefly to look longingly at the prominent orange-brown sandstone of Factory Butte.

Maybe North Caineville Mesa Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahMaybe North Caineville Mesa

Maybe South Caineville Mesa Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahMaybe South Caineville Mesa

Mudhill bandlands composed of bentonite rich clay, mud and volcanic ash turned to stone slowly erodes away from the bases of both of the exposed sandstone of North and South Caineville Mesas.  Didn’t the clouds put on a beautiful show over the colorful formations?

Caineville Reef Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahCaineville Reef

Then looming ahead as if to block the way rose the Caineville Reef, an extension of the San Rafael Reef to the north and merging with Capitol Reef’s Waterpocket Fold to the south.  Although there were shallow seas in this region around 200 million years ago these “reefs” are actually uplifts caused by forces of geologic compression during the Laramide Orogeny about 60 million years ago.  In many cases, settlers and pioneers named them “reefs” defined as a barrier.

Freemont River Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahFreemont River through dirty side window on the fly

Caineville Reef Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahCaineville Reef

Crossed the Freemont River and paralleled Caineville Reef southward.

Caineville Reef Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahCaineville Reef

Maybe Red Desert Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahMaybe Red Desert

Maybe North Blue Flats Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UT24 UtahMaybe North Blue Flats

Then the road jogged west past the Red Desert, North Blue Flats and all too soon we entered Capitol Reef National Park.  Took a little over an hour from Hanksville with a couple of photo stops along the way.  Could take much longer by exploring those side roads.  A good excuse to return.

Map Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway UtahMore nearby scenic drives to explore

The 160 mile (260 km) Capitol Reef Country Scenic Byway runs east and west between US50 near Salina and I70 near Green River between the Fishlake and Dixie National Forests then through Capitol Reef National Park and along the eastern side of the San Rafael Reef passing Goblin Valley State Park.  On the east side of Capitol Reef National Park the Notom Road Scenic Backway runs south from SR24 along the base of the Waterpocket Fold and junctions with the Burr Trail Road to Bullfrog Bay, Marina and Visitor Center on the shores of Lake Powell.

Utah , , , 24 Comments

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

Lijit

© Copyright 2008-2024. Geogypsytraveler.com