Moab 2021

After the Capitol Reef National Park area, we spent a few days based in Moab, Utah, to re-visit a couple of locations that we had not been to in several years.

The first of these was the La Sal Mountain Loop Road which took us through the foothills of the La Sal Mountains east of Moab.

The beginning of the loop drive took us through Castle Valley.

Climbing out of Castle Valley into the mountain foothills

The view back across Castle Valley and beyond

Another day we spent driving to an area called Mineral Bottom, along the Green River in Utah.  This area is about 24 air miles or 54 river miles above the confluence with the Colorado River.  There is a popular boat ramp area for folks getting onto or off of the Green River.  The dirt road starts along Highway 313 which leads to the Island In The Sky unit of Canyonlands National Park.  After traversing over 15 miles of the plateau, the road drops quickly down into the Green River Valley over the last 2.5 miles.

 

The view from the boat launch parking area

These folks had just been dropped off by an outfitting company.

From the boat launch we continued upriver on a road which became increasingly challenging until we reached Hell Roaring Canyon.

A dirt airstrip just up the road

Scenery along the Green River

Parked at the mouth of Hell Roaring Canyon

After reaching Hell Roaring Canyon, we headed back to the boat launch for lunch before driving back to Moab.

The moon just above the canyon wall

Factory Butte

 Another area we had not driven through in many years was around Factory Butte, northwest of Hanksville, Utah.

Heading onto Factory Butte Road with North Caineville Mesa on the left and Factory Butte on the right

Factory Butte in morning light

North Caineville Mesa

 

 

Factory Butte from changing perspectives

Factory Butte is surrounded by an open OHV area which results in vehicle tracks everywhere.

An exposed coal seam next to the trail

A cluster of isolated boulders near the trail

Scenic geology with rain clouds approaching

A long abandoned home

The rain appeared to be getting closer!

More colorful scenery

The rain finally caught us and quickly turned to hail!

By the time we were headed back to the main highway, a lot of hail had collected.

Burr Trail - 2021

 One of our favorite roads through Capitol Reef National Park is the Burr Trail which starts in the east side of the park along the Notom-Bullfrog Road and ends west of the park in Boulder, Utah.

Along the the Notom-Bullfrog road there are wonderful views of a major geological up-warp called the Waterpocket Fold.

The Burr Trail climbs up this section of the Waterpocket Fold.

The Burr Trail switchbacks from below

Looking down at the switchbacks from above

This rock formation looks like the head of a sleeping dragon to us.

Views along the Burr Trail

The Burr Trail entering Long Canyon

Cathedral Valley - 2021

 Leaving Tropic, Utah, we drove the very scenic highways UT-12 and UT-24 to Sleepy Hollow Campground near Caineville, Utah.  This small campground became our base for exploring this area.

On April 11th, we finally revisited the Cathedral Valley part of Capitol Reef National Park, after having previously visited in 2003.

Driving through a part of the colorful Morrison geologic formation at the beginning of our loop drive.

Highly eroded red and white sandstone cliffs are typical of the Cathedral Valley area.

Temple of the Sun

Temple of the Moon

 

Near Temple of the Sun is an unusual formation called "Glass Mountain".

This is a large mound of inter-grown selenite (gypsum) crystals.

Striking geology in Cathedral Valley

Near this cliff face is a sinkhole where a large underground deposit of gypsum has been dissolved away.

The vertical remains of erosion resistant basaltic lava intrusions

Our lunch spot

The Upper Cathedral Group

View of the Upper Cathedral Valley

We love the character seen in some dead trees.

The Bentonite Hills near the end of our loop drive