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

Hole In The Rock Road

 On April 8th, we drove down the historic Hole In The Rock Road in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.  Besides great scenery, there were a couple of specific places we wanted to visit.

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument visitor's center in Escalante, Utah.

Our first stop was an area of wonderful rock formations called Devil's Garden.

We came across this medium sized lizard.

This tree looked mostly dead, but still had some green leaves.

Further down the road was this large rock amphitheater called "Dance Hall Rock".  This location was used by the early Mormon settlers as a venue for social gatherings.

 

 

This shallow depression in the floor of the amphitheater appears to collect just enough moisture to allow a few plants to survive.

Bryce Canyon National Park - 2021

 After getting our second dose of the COVID vaccine, we started traveling again.  We spent a few days in Tropic, Utah, to revisit a couple of scenic drives in that area.

On April 7th, we drove to the end of the Bryce Canyon National Park road at Rainbow Point.  Below are some images from that drive.

Natural Bridge

(technically an arch)

The town of Tropic far below