7-8 June

Route: Moab-Canyonlands NP, Needles section. You always seem to waste a lot of time when you go into a town. We managed to leave at about 10, immediately heading south towards Canyonlands NP, Needles section. Canyonlands is a vast area, divided into 3 separate areas. The northern, Island in the Sky, high on the mesa, overlooking the incised valley of the Colorado River, the Maze, which is entered from the east of the park and Needles in the South. On route we visited Newspaper Rock, a cliff face covered with pre-historic and historic rock art, thought to represent about 2000 years of mans history.


We arrived at Sqaw Flats campsite in the heat of the day. The dry oppressive heat forced us to linger in the visitors centre long enough for them to suspect we were up to no good.



We had our first ‘braai’, 6 delicious Bratwors, which we took with us when we went done to the canyon, to try to get a good shot of the golden glow of the sun as it turned the rocks a rich autumn in colour. As the sky started to fade from the rich oranges to grey, we had a picnic supper, high on a ridge overlooking the vast rocky plains.

8 June

Route: Canyonlands NP-Manti-La Sal NF-Montecello-Blanding-Natural Bridges NP-Moki Dugway-Gooseneks SP-Mexican Hat-Bluff.

Another 10 k’s by 10 o’clock day, this time over sliprock paths, that meandered through huge dome shaped beige and pinky rust boulders. Massive cliffs dwarf us, their height further exaggerated, when the path lead us between rock faces so narrow, you can only pass, sideways.

Along the way, we see first hand how, Biological soil, stabilizers the sand so other plants can survive. We have seen this type of crusty looking soil, through out Utah.

When viewed under a microscope, you can see the fine treads, like spiders web, that starts the process, taking hundred’s of years to develop into a crusty black soil, that allows other forms of life a habitat to develop.

The final ascent through a saddle between cliff faces opens up to reveal an open grassy plain with horizontally striped, needle shaped rocks, as a backdrop………. Chesler Park.

A quick, ‘top & tail’ wash, and we are on our way, continuing S via the La Sal Mountains, this scenic route passes through the Manti-La Sal NF. Tree covered slopes, still with the odd patch of snow, are showing off their spring best. Along the way, a fisheries truck was restocking one of the many, crystal clear, icy cold lakes of the area. Fast flowing streams cross the road, which becomes impassable during the winter months.

We had hoped to spend the night at Natural Bridges NP, unfortunately it was full, but we did learn the difference between a rock bridge and an arch.

A bridge forms when a river erodes through a wall of rock to form a arch, whereas an arch, forms due to the action of gravity plus water & temperature, causing chunks of softer rock to break off, resulting in a bridge. The Americans have a wonderful way of showing their natural splendor, and Natural Bridges is no exception. An interpretive self-drive one-way route, allows excellent views of 3 natural bridges.

Ever S we go, this time we take a route not recommended for the feint hearted. A gravel switch-backed road, plunges down to the valley below. Known as Moki Dugway, built in the 1950’s during the uranium boom, has a gradient of 13% and the tightest corners, we’ve ever had to negotiate.

A quicker, but shorter descent than Leba Pass, in Angola.

Time was marching and we still had no digs for the night and nearby Mexican Hat a mining towns, only reasonable motel was full.

We decided to try Goosenecks SP. What it lacked in camping facilities, it made up for with the most spectacular viewpoint, I have ever seen.

Described as the longest entrenched river meander in N America, the San Juan River, twists & turns 6 mile, while only advancing 2. We gaze down at the 1500 feet, canyon in absolute awe.

We finally get a place for the night, 34 miles back in Bluff.