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| Tower of Babel, Arches National Park |
Pulling in to the border town of Dove Creek CO., our top priority was showers and internet. Our hotel was budget to say the least, no more!-so so bed, shower, poor lighting and internet connection.
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| Skyline Arch, Arches National Park |
Getting our next leg of the TAT in focus, we said bye to Colorado and hello Utah. Now there was a lot to see in UT. and a lot is not on the TAT. We took spur after spur off the TAT to visit this exciting ancient land. But first we gassed up got coffee, provisions and headed over the border to Utah, Monticello. Here is where we picked up the TAT. We are headed to Moab but first we grabbed the TAT to La Sal National Forest following this route dropped us south of Moab and
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| Balanced Rock, Arches National Park |
Arches National Park. This part Of the TAT was a great prelude to what our adventure was before us. As we passed Summit Point the road turned west past 3 Step Hideaway and over to Three Step Hill we climbed and climbed to the town of La Sal el #7,125 ft. Utah started out pretty spectacular as we climbed and twisted through the mountain trail. We were in the saddle of two mountain peaks to the north Mount Waas EL # 12,306 ft. and south Mount Peale EL# 12,720 ft. Heading west we dropped into a canyon called Sand Flats Recreation Area. In front of us was a spectacular eroded canyon wall of layered red clay, Entrada sandstone, buff-colored Navajo Sandstone and compressed salt. Just north was the once uranium rich, boom town of Moab, CO.
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| Tapestry Arch, Arches National Park |
With both of our heads twisting and turning, we cruised down the main drag in
Moab. This place is all about 4 wheeling on the extensive trail system in the area. We grabbed some ice, gas and some tasteless Mexican food for lunch before we headed 6 miles up to
Arches National Park (not on the
TAT). We entered
Arches National Park late in the day and the park was busy even though the clouds were creeping in and it promised rain. Turn after turn was one spectacular sight after another one, completely amazing in formations and size. Our jaws dropped as we quietly gasped at the beauty and pure majestic landscape before us. Each viewpoint was as intense as the next, we drove slowly in silence and awe.........
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| Rock View from Devil's Garden Campground, Arches National Park |
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| Salt Valley Wash, Arches National Park |
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| Salt Valley, Arches National Park |
The only campground in the park was listed as full, we drove through it just the same. Spotting the camp host wheeling around in his golf cart, we got his attention and waved him down. Knowing that all the sites are full I asked anyway if a tent spot was open for the evening. After a brief pause he told me to park at site #38. Excited we thanked him and pulled forward. Parking was on the campground road while you walked in with your tent....... hmmmm????..
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| #4-H Campsite Devils Garden Campground, Arches National Park |
I must have looked some what disappointed as he turned around and told me that I don't fit so well there, #"4-H is available park there its a much better site," he said. Hell yeah!! this spot was Primo, next to the comfort station (no showers) flat pad for parking and front row center to
Devils Garden Campground. We could not ask for a better spot- he really hooked us up. Campground full!! We stayed two nights, Nice!! Nestled among ancient rock arches the landscape was ever changing as the day grew on!! We took walks among the formations and relaxed with a book and a cold tub of water to soak our tired feet.
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| Coming down rock face, Arches National Park |
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| Rock Crawling, Arches National Park |
The weather was cooperating and we were ready to move on from
Devils Garden Campground. About a mile from camp we spotted
Salt Valley Road. This 27 mile dirt rocky track wound us around the
Salt Valley Wash. Just short of rock crawling, the trail turned from sand to rocky cliffs at each turn. Up and over the winding desert landscape there was no shortage of crusty rock formations (can you say "Rock Sliders!"). Aired down our rig was handling it superbly through
Willow Flats, passed the
Eye of the Whale Arch, then we were dumped back on interstate 191.
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| Rock formation, Arches National Park |
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| Rock Crawling, Arches National Park |
This track was very exciting as we met and kept up with local,seasoned tour guides with lifted 80 series
Toyota's on this wild back country
Moab style track!! We drove back into
Moab for provisions- gas and ice, before heading to
Canyonlands National Park-Island in the Sky via state road #313.
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| Arches National Park |
Next we entered
Cayonlands National Park and our first glimpse of
Shafer Trail Road.See you on the Trail....
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