Author: Nomad

Progress: Boulder to Bryce Canyon National Park

Mileage: 210

Scenic drive to and in Bryce Canyon, with a few short hikes around the lookouts over amazing rock formations called hoodoos

Progress: Capitol Reef to Boulder, UT

Mileage: 60

Quick detour over Boulder Mountain on Scenic Byway UT-12 to Boulder, a remote town near Escalante Wilderness and one of the last areas surveyed in the continental US

Stayed at the lovely Boulder Mountain Lodge with an exceptional restaurant called Hell’s Backbone Grill

Progress: Moab to Capitol Reef National Park

Mileage: 190

Much cooler at the higher elevation around Capitol Reef, although mountain storms came in off and on.

Stunning vistas here, where the main feature is a massive monocline. I did some hiking in the gorges, the scenic drive, a couple ranger presentations and camped near old Mormon orchards that are still maintained

Progress: Moab

Mileage: 40

Hiked and drove Arches National Park, just north of Moab. Hot desert but with remarkable sandstone arches and bridges

Far view of Utah’s symbol: Delicate Arch

Progress: Moab

Mileage: 80

Visited Canyonlands National Park (40 minutes from Moab) for scenic driving and hiking to the Upheaveal Dome

Stayed the night at a nice campground south of town, part of the KOA chain

Progress: Montrose, CO to Moab, UT via Colorado N.M. and Dead Horse Pt State Park

Mileage: 220

Headed NW on US-50 to Grand Junction to hike at Colorado NM. Hiked Devil’s Kitchen, a rather steep route to a rock formation from the East entrance. Routed around to West Entrance and up Rim Top Road for a bit to the visitor center and nature trail hike

I-70 into Utah and then South to Dead Horse Point State Park. Hiked 3.2 miles out and back along the canyon’s east rim to Dead Horse Point Lookout, along and over an amazing river canyon. It was hot! 106 degrees for a desert hike

On to Moab for overnight at Bowen Motel

Progress: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (from Montrose)

Mileage: 75 (round-trip and around town)

Spent the morning hiking and driving in the Black Canyon NP, a road and trails arranged along the 2000 foot cliff above the Gunnison River. It was possible to hike or drive to the bottom but I had to pass..

Progress: Durango, CO to Montrose, CO via US-550 (the “Million Dollar Highway”)

Mileage: 108

Drove north. First stop, the Historic Durango and Silverton Railroad, for a 2 hour out and back into San Juan Forest on a steam train

Next the lovely old mountain town of Silverton for lunch

Afternoon over winding mountain roads to the town of Ouray, set into a narrow valley

Finally arrived at the farm town of Montrose for 2 nights

Progress: Cortez to Durango, CO

Mileage: 120

Made a quick detour to Aztec Ruins National Monument on the way to Durango, a historic foothill city just south of the mountains. Worked, hiked the area and explored Durango. Lots of nice shops and great restaurants, including Carvery Brewery downtown.

Progress: Mesa Verde National Park

Mileage: 60 miles round trip

After work drove 9 miles to Mesa Verde National Park. There I drove the Mesa Top Scenic road with stops for some pueblo ruins up close (800-1400 years old) and a view across the valley to cliff houses, palaces and even towns built into the side of the sandstone. Finished with a short hike to Soda Point outlooks