Capitol Reef Nat'l Park

May 12, 2019

The campground in Capitol Reef Nat'l Park is reservation only.  We found this BLM boondocking  spot 11 miles from the park and only a half mile from Torrey UT, the nearest town to Capital Reef.  Not too shaby!

May 13, 2019

Playing tourist, stopping at the overlooks.

The campground in Capitol Reef is set in a beautiful orchard.

Along the Scenic Drive.

May 14, 2019

The first 2 miles of Capitol Gorge is the road used to enter park before US 24 was built.

Photo bombing Joan's pic.

May 15, 2019

Hickman Bridge

Capitol Dome, Fremont river.

Petroglyphs

Joan on her throne, backpack and all fit like a glove.

Desert rose in full bloom, quite fragrant.  Made us stop to smell the roses!

See Joan in lower right for scale.

June 16, 2019

The original plan was to continue along Hwy 12 toward Grand Staircase-Escalante National Moument.  However we came down with a common illness to travelers in this part of the country, RROD.  Also known as... Red Rock Over Dose! 

The weather was also turning bad.  3 storms from the Pacific were heading toward western Utah.  

It was time to abandon our red rock perch before it turned into red rock mud!

Coming next, Running from the Storm(s).

Arches Nat'l Park

May 7, 2019

After Canyonlands the previous day, we headed to Arches.  Just the drive in is pretty spectacular...

Our first hike was a short little jaunt to Skyline Arch.

May 8, 2019

Today we started on a short little walk that turned into a decent hike. 

Broken Arch

We continued on the trail through Broken Arch toward Tapestry Arch, then to Devils Garden campground before returning through a slot in the rocks.

May 9, 2019

The trail guide recommends hiking the Park Avenue trail in the morning. We started about 11:30 and it seamed perfect.  Also, we started at the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint, the end of Park Ave., and hiking the up hill leg first to the trail head.

Then we hiked down hill going back!

Looking east.

Looking west.

Approaching Courthouse Towers Viewpoint.

May 10, 2019

North and South Windows.

A different perspective on the North and South Windows.

Arches in training.

May 11, 2019

Our last full day we got an early start to get a parking place at the Devils Garden trail head, a very popular trail.  The goal was to see Landscape Arch, it seems to defy the laws of physics.  I wanted to be sure to see it this trip as it may not be here the next time we visit.

Ute Rock art near the start of the Delicate Arch trail.

On our way out of the park, we stopped where most visitors stop first, Balanced Rock. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Moab area looking at petroglyphs.

Coming next, Capitol Reef Nat'l Park