Headed for Utah

[Lily&Me]

Mmmmm, makes me want to go to Utah, one of the few states we have not been in with the Interstate.

Travel safe,

Maggie

[kingfisher24]

quite a beautiful place

[kingfisher24]

anyone traveled route 95 up to the natural bridge national monument and across the norther end of lake powell???? and on to hanksville

[Gene]

I can't remember the route numbers, but the route along the Dirty Devil River is very scenic. I've always wanted to explore the Henry Mtns. (south of Hanksville). That is all Edward "Cactus Ed" Abbey country.

Gene

[mojo]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

anyone traveled route 95 up to the natural bridge national monument and across the norther end of lake powell???? and on to hanksville

Several times...It's a good road with a few steep grades but not as bad as Hwy 12 through the Dixie NF. Natural Bridges has only 13 sites of which only half will accommodate a 25', no hook-ups. But there is a overflow campground just off 95 before the entrance to NBNM that is free. You can get water at the visitor center.

Just past where the Colorado River dumps into Powell is a nice canyon with some boondock spots. The ride to Hanksville is open desert and the only spot to fill the fuel tanks between Blanding and Torrey.

[kingfisher24]

i am leaving moab tomorrow morning and and going to go south on US 191 to
blanding and then up route 95 towards hanksville and torrey as the destination....looks quite scenic.../two warning indications in the mountain directory.

mile marker 97....5-9% grade...10 mile descent and several up and down 85 grades...

then there is a 2 mile 9% northbound descent to lake powell....

but here we go

[Gene]

King', if you are really adventurous, just after you cross a bridge over Lake Powell on 95, there's a two track jeep trail north into Canyonlands' Maze District. It's pretty easy drive for a while, but then it is not and eventually leads to the Maze and Doll House rock formations. Beautiful area, and you need a permit to enter. Not the place for an Airstream, but the first miles may be good boondocking. It could take a lot of time to get to the end of the road and a tent and sleeping bags would be necessary. The end of the road overlooks the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. This is an arduous drive and probably needs much more planning.

Just after Natural Bridges, Fry Canyon had a small restaurant and motel and probably a smaller store 20 years ago. I don't know if it still there, and there little else around there. Hanksville has gas and motels and probably some food.

North of Hanksville is Goblin Valley State Park. Nice campground and if you stay there, you don't have to pay the entrance fee. The rock formations are strange and you can walk among them. The Horseshoe Canyon part of Canyonlands is not far, but accessed from a dirt road from 24 or Green River. This has lots of rock art including the Grand Gallery. This requires a hike down about 600' into the canyon. I don't recall this being a bad road.

I haven't been on these roads for a very long time, so things change. Permits were introduced for the 4wd areas in the late '90's and I haven't been back since, but we had seen everything before that. Canyonlands is one of out favorite NP's and exploring the backcountry is memorable, but much planning, good knees and maps are necessary. Horseshoe Canyon is easier to get to, and I don't know whether permits are required there.

Gene

[kingfisher24]

don't miss this scenic road if traveling in utah....we left moab and headed south on US 191 and then at blending we turn west on route 95...a 122 mile trek to hanksville....but the scenery if varied and beautiful....down into the glenn canyon area....
we are in torrey and will explore some of capitol reef,,,,
pictures

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

quite a beautiful place

Agreed. Here's a photo of one of the formations in your first photo. Quite some time ago, now.

Another formation the next day.

[kingfisher24]

Utah route 12 is NOT TO BE Missed from Torrey to Escalante is quite a trip. leaving torrey one begins a long ascent towards round top flat @ 9600 feet...torrey is a 6000 feet about 20 miles of steep stair stepping....makes the teton pass look mild and a continuing up and down climb to Boulder, utah...

after this the climb to escalante takes you along the Devils Backbone...a hog back road with only a ridge to traverse as the highway.meanders..steep, steep canyons on each side...and then the final 14 % grades down into a valley and then a 12% climb up again and then finally into the escalante valley....

we are here at the escalante petrified forrest state park on the banks of a beautiful lake......

while in torrey we toured capitol reef national park and the frutia district and will post pictures later when more bandwidth is available...

as a side note....the shooting star rv park/drive in is a supreme disappointment......i paid for the privilege to drive away from the place....neat concept....but it will be a long road to see it for any potential it might have....

[murreywalker]

Gene, I camped at Goblin Valley last October and completely agree that the place is great.

However, there's an entrance fee I believe. Well worth the toll.

With regard to the road to Horseshoe Canyon. It's about 40 miles of bad, bad washboard road (as of last October). Wouldn't recommend anything other than a SUV or better.

The whole area (Southern Utah) is God's country when it comes to camping!!

[kingfisher24]

escalante petrified forrest state park was a great stay...and then it was down the road to kodachrome state park...a really great place and exploring the area of red rock canyon and bryce canyon....southwestern utah is really beautiful

[kingfisher24]

has anyone been through the tunnel????

[Lily&Me]

Beautiful, beautiful pictures!

Sorry to hear shooting star rv park/drive-in was a bust.


Maggie

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

has anyone been through the tunnel????

Yep. It isn't a big deal, the switch backs are more of an issue and they aren't bad. I hope you have a park pass. They eat you up on the entrance fee there.

[Mr & Mrs S]

Wow Kingfisher, those are some amazing pictures! My sister-in-law lives in Utah ( cant remember what part right now) and she has never sent us pictures like the ones you have posted. Makes me want to take a trip up there to see her now!
Safe travels to ya'll, hope you get to share some stories and pictures back in Texas with us in November.

[Howard E]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

has anyone been through the tunnel????

We have used the tunnel many times going to and from Zion. One restriction that they enforce is a 50 foot maximum length for the combined RV and TV. There are pull-offs and billboards on UT-9 that give all of the rules, restrictions, and hours of operation for the tunnel.

If you take the long way around, listed below, you will burn more fuel than the tunnel pass costs.

The drill is:

1. Pay the fee ($15 or $20) for the tunnel pass at the entry station. It is good for two trips.

2. When you get to the tunnel, the ranger will stop you (or you may join the line waiting to go through). They then stop the oncoming traffic through the tunnel.

3. When the oncoming traffic has cleared the tunnel, you drive through going down the center of the road. The tunnel was designed for Model Ts!

4. Once you get the rig parked, go to Springdale and have the fried chicken at Blondies.

The other alternative, if you are on the East side of the park, is to continue on US-89 through Kanab and to Fredonia, AZ. You then take AZ-389 (becomes UT-59) through Colorado City to Hurricane, UT. From Hurricane, take UT-9 to Springdale and Zion NP. This route adds an hour or two and ~80+ miles to the trip.

[Phoenix]

Save money on National Park entrance fees by purchasing the annual pass, which is $80. It's good for the whole family. If you are 62, the senior pass is $10 for a lifetime pass, which also gets you 1/2 on camping fees -- a real bargain!

[kingfisher24]

of course i have the "golden age" pass....i can't wait this morning to get started and go thru the tunnel....

i was just wondering about good fried chicken yesterday....when one gets old....things fall apart

thanks howard

[Howard E]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

of course i have the "golden age" pass....

A.K.A. Geezer Pass

We have ours also. Enjoy Zion. We will be there in about a month for the Fall color in the canyon.