Ahhh Utah
I just got back from my Utah trip with my buddy Clint. It might have been the best trip yet, and we've done some great trips over the last 23 years!
We tent camped a couple of nights in awesome spots outside the Canyonlands park where we could have campfires, which we needed because it was cold and windy at night. I slept in my clothes, including my coat, geez that wind was cold. Pro Tip - A true three season tent is a good investment over a summer tent this time of year :)
We first went to Monticello, then on to Canyonlands where we had back country permits for three nights. We drove up elephant hill and nearly all the roads in the park the first day. However the first night we drove south out of the park near bobby's hill, and camped in a fantastic little canyon.
The next day we hiked in the Chesler Park area. Amazing, the trail starts out going through some beautiful rock formations, then you get up on top and boom, there's a little maze of slot canyons to top it all off. So...very...cool.
Next we drove out just east of the park then headed north on Lockhart basin rd...all the way to Moab. In places this is a rugged 4x4 road. It was sketchy in a nearly stock full size F150, but with me spotting and Clint fearlessly driving, we made it no problem. Note - don't do this without good quality skid plates, a locking rear diff and tough tires.
We camped one night along the way, it's a long way from Canyonlands to Moab on that crazy winding road, often hugging the edge of a cliff. Compelling scenery that the average tourist will probably never see.
We spent a night in Moab, drove up the Kane creek rd and watched all the activity there. Very different from the other planet we had to ourselves for the last couple of days. From Moab we headed south on 163/191 down to the Needles Overlook road, and the Anticline Overlook. One of the best overlooks I've ever seen, like ever! From that high vantage point, we could see the kane creek valley on one side, and the Colorado River on the other.
Far below we could see the Lockhart basin road we had driven the day before, so crazy to see it winding in and around all the canyon drainages from high above. Later a dinner stop in Monticello at the Granary Bar & Grill, a cool little restaurant inside a couple of renovated silos. The food was pretty good too.
We continued on to Bluff, which has some nice river access, and a crazy steep ridge line we hiked up the first day of our trip. Spent the night there, and the last day we drove through Valley of the Gods early in the morning so I could get some good photos. It did not disappoint. Wow, what a trip. I'll be working on a short video and post it to YouTube at some point.
Well, I'm off to get my first rabies shot tomorrow :)
Until next time I hope you are well and enjoying a bit of spring weather.
(Yes, I meant Covid shot :)
Cheers.
