Valley of the Gods

After driving up to Muley Point, we headed down to the Valley of the Gods loop road.  This 17 mile unpaved road between UT-261 and US-163 passes through one of the most scenic areas in southeast Utah.

The Valley of the Gods Road wanders through an area south of Cedar Mesa where a series of canyons have eroded away most of the rock layers underlying the mesa, leaving behind some spectacular formations.

The Valley of the Gods B&B is close to the west end of the loop road.

One name for this formation is Balanced Rock.

Seen from another side, Balanced Rock is also called Lady in the Bathtub.

Some of the boulders look they could slide off at any time.

Does anyone else see Winnie the Pooh with his hand in the honey jar?

Setting Hen Butte

Castle Butte

An amazing landscape

The view about 2 miles north of the town of Mexican Hat

The town was named for this nearby rock formation.

Moki Dugway and Muley Point

Another trip we took from Goulding's RV park was to Muley Point on the southern edge of Cedar Mesa, via the Moki Dugway.

At the beginning of the drive, we passed some classic Monument Valley formations.

The southern edge of Cedar Mesa in the distance

Approaching Cedar Mesa on Utah State Route 261,

Muley Point is on the far left.

To get to the top of Cedar Mesa, UT-261 climbs up the Moki Dugway. The Moki Dugway is a steep, switch-backed, unpaved road that was carved into the face of the cliff.

Looking down from near the top of the Moki Dugway

Highway UT-261 and the Valley of the Gods road far below

The sign at the top appears to have become a favorite for visitors adding stickers.

Near the top of the Moki Dugway, an unpaved road leaves UT-261 and leads 5 miles southwest to Muley Point.

Looking towards Monument Valley from Muley Point

Looking down into the Goosenecks of the San Juan River

Looking to the northwest along the San Juan River drainage

Scenery of the mesa top at Muley Point

An extremely scenic boondocking site!

Goulding Arch

We spent a few days near the end of March at Goulding's RV park in Monument Valley, Utah.  One day during that visit, we took a short hike to visit Goulding Arch near the campground.

Looking towards Monument Valley from the beginning of the trail

Looking back to Goulding's RV park in its spectacular setting

The arch is not visible from the campground and comes into view during the hike.

Looking out from beneath the arch

Central Arizona - March 2020

While staying near Cottonwood, Arizona, we took a drive through the red rock country surrounding Sedona.  The remnants of a recent snowfall still were visible at higher elevations.  Here are a few images from that drive.

Sabino Canyon

Although we had been aware for several years of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, we finally got a chance to visit last Saturday.

We were treated with a very nice sunset the evening before.

While many people hike on the many trails in Sabino Canyon, another way to see the canyon is on their new electric trams.  You can ride the tram, get off at one of the tram stops and get back on another tram sometime later.

The canyon is an amazing place of rugged canyon walls and cacti.

There is also a stream running along the canyon bottom.

The Cottonwood Trees were just leafing out.

There was enough moisture for this Ocotillo to put out leaves.  It will shed its leaves in drier conditions to minimize water loss.

We also saw a number of different wildflowers.