Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway and More!

Friday, June 19th, 2015. Today it was back on the road after 2 nights at Capitol Reef. Because days were now going consistently into the 90's, we were looking forward to a days drive with A/C. To help get us off to an early start we decided we would just have to go back to the Gifford House one last time. Enjoying their brewed coffee, sharing a fresh baked cinnamon roll and picking up a peach pie for later would eliminate breakfast prep and clean up. What could be more logical? We were anxious to get going. Park Rangers and other we had talked to about our route assured us it would be spectacular.

Out of the park we headed East on Route 24 to Hanksville. This leg was about 40 miles. Traffic was very light. It was easy to enjoy watching the hills, valleys and gorges roll by. At Hanksville we turned South onto Route 95. This leg was about 95 miles to our next junction. Travel continued to be easy and the scenery just seemed to keep getting better. After about 45 miles we were amazed by the surrounding chocolate cliffs folding around our curving roadway. We were in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. We stopped at a large scenic overlook. The view was breathtaking. We were several thousand feet above the Colorado River. The river was quite wide at this point. To the Southwest the river had been dammed in the 1960's to form Lake Powell. The frontier town of Hite had once been on the banks of the river below. It was a casualty of the dam building.

We continued on feeling like we often did last year in Alaska. It just keeps getting better!

Just one mile before our next junction we decided to try the turn off to Natural Bridges National Monument. We discovered that this area was the first place in Utah designated as a National Monument. This site has a 9 - mile loop road overlooking a sandstone gorge which is home to three natural bridges and some well preserved ancient cliff dwellings. We spent about 2 1/2 hours exploring this area. It was very hot, but well worth the effort to walk the short trails to amazing overlooks.

After exiting the park we continued one mile down the road and turned South onto Route 261. In 26 miles this would bring us to Route 163 and on through Monument Valley. After about 23 miles of 55 mph driving Route 261 comes to a precipice. As the road turns to gravel, multiple signs warn of hairpin turns, 10% grades, and 5 to 15 mph speed limits.

We turned into the wide turn-out to stop and see what we were in for just before the road took a 90 degree turn to the left. This view was amazing.

We were at the top of a large bluff which dropped straight down 1100 feet! The valley floor was beautiful. Red sandstone monoliths and buttes dotted the visible landscape. This was the North-Eastern end of Monument Valley. The 2.2 mile looping drive down was carved into the face of the bluff. They call this the Moki Dugway. It was an experience not to be missed!

Once down we headed into Mexican Hat for Dinner. (A stone formation just north of town is named Mexican Hat as well.) At 98 degrees we were not up for supper chores. We had a good meal at a Navajo restaurant next to the bridge crossing the San Juan River. After dinner we took the 17 mile BLM loop road through The Valley of the Gods. This road started at it's eastern end on Route 163 about 10 miles north of Mexican Hat and it ends a mile or so from the base of Moki Dugway. We got an up close look at many sandstone monoliths.

Several turn-outs were available along this road for overnight camping. All the BLM asked for was no campfires and pack out all waste. We were alone in a most beautiful world. The night sky was incredible. The scent of fragrant spring night blooms descended upon us as we began to fall asleep. A perfect ending to a 'Top 10' day!

"Going Places With Smiling Faces!" "Just have to see what is beyond the next curve!"