Colorado National Monument - Rim Rock Drive

  

We have been home since Sunday afternoon.  Camper Van emptied, Marcia got the laundry done (I do laundry on the road, she does it at Condo), and Camper Van is in the RV Storage next door with Cameras active, auto generator setup (although with all this sunshine, it won't be needed until later in the Winter), and when it cools down, I will give it a good cleaning inside and out.

But back 10 days ago we were in Fruita Colorado, and while waiting for Marcia's prescription to be ready, we took the Colorado National Monument - Rim Rock Drive.  I had known about this scenic drive for many decades, but never took the time to drive it.  With a free Sunday, awaiting her pills from Walgreens on Monday, off we went.  Not only did we drive it from Fruita to Grand Junction, we then turned around (after locating Walgreens) and drove it back to Fruita.

 Both of the above pictures look down on Fruita...Grand Junction would be to the far right.

    

Established as Colorado National Monument in 1911, there have been some efforts to turn it into a National Park.   Wikipedia says it best:  "Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite–gneiss–schist rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorado Plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau."

The views along the road and the numerous pullouts is amazing.  There are many hiking trails, but with the summer heat, we did not see people taking hikes.

There are three tunnels on Rim Rock Road.  If you are in a high vehicle, the center provides 16' of clearance...but the sides only provide 10' 6".  There is a campground with 79 sites, with water and bathrooms available.  Cost is $22, or $11 with the National Park Senior Pass.

 

 We were lucky enough to see two Bighorn Sheep.

Rim Rock Road is about 30 miles in length.  Figure it will take you 90 minutes to drive the route.  It took us half that long when we did our return trip.  Cost is $25, or if you have a senior pass, it is free.

Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway

 

As I write this blog entry, it is Wednesday evening, we are in Alma, Arkansas, just outside of Fort Smith, and plan to meet up with Marcia's cousin Jim tomorrow for breakfast...he lives in Fort Smith.  After that, we are headed to Pine Bluff to visit one of my fellow Library workers, and then on to Florida.

This entry, however, deals with the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, a route we took earlier in the week while still in Moab.   The Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway is a 44.5 mile route which follows the Colorado River along a canyon.  We entered the Byway just north of Moab as it starts where Highway 191 crosses the Colorado River.  Most people don't take the time to travel the Byway...what a mistake that is.  It ends at the Ghost Town of Cisco, close to I-70.  We made the mistake to follow our GPS to the east at Cisco, which takes you on a very rough 8 miles until it reaches I-70.  Taking a left headed west takes you 2 miles on a smooth road, and easy access to I-70.  Either way, once on I-70 it is only an hours ride to Grand Junction, or 20 minute ride back to Highway 191.

There's about a dozen BLM Campgrounds along the Byway, most of them along the first five miles.  There's no water, no electricity, some have outhouses, and there is little to no Cell Service along the entire route.

      

 

 

The hardest thing about the drive is keeping your eye on the roadway...it is truly a stunning view.

 

 There are many areas along the river that rafters/boaters float west along the current.

 

      

 

The canyon widens and narrows back up.  At its widest point, I did get a little cell phone service, but it was spotty (both Verizon and T-Mobile)  The only way I would camp in the area is if I had a Starlink connection!

 

Eventually you cross the Colorado, and a few miles down the road the colorado turns to the southeast, and the road turns to the northeast.  The last couple of miles is just Utah desert, and then you come to the Ghost Town of Cisco...where there is one "store" (if you can call it that) which is open that sells beer and soft drinks...not sure what else, we did not stop.

 

We turned to the east and found a nice Rest Area/Welcome Center in Fruita.  Marcia had a prescription which needed filling, and although we ordered it Thursday morning, it was not ready until Monday.  So we found another scenic route to take while in Fruita...one that I had my eye one since the 1980's....  That will be our next posting.

 

 

Arches National Park...Part Two

 

(Click Here for part one) People come from all over the world to see the Arches in Arches NP.  If you want to see a good bunch of Arches, all within fairly easy walking distance, then go to the Windows area of the park.  There are five named arches: North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and the two arches that make up Double Arch all in this concentrated area.  I have, in my lifetime, walked to at least four of them (where I actually stood under the arch), but when it is closing in on a hundred degrees, and as I close in on 70 years old, I saw no need to visit them that close again.

Tell me that this guy, standing guard along the road to the Windows area, doesn't look like it came out of a Sci-Fi movie...

 

Next is the most famous arch, Delicate Arch.  You can see it on many of the Utah license plates.  I walked the football field length to the lower observation area to get this shot.  There is an upper observation area, which is about 4 more football field lengths, and 100 feet in elevation...have been there before, and frankly, the view from the lower area is just about as good, perhaps better, due to the angle.

There is a way to walk all the way up to Delicate Arch.  It is a three mile round trip, considered moderate to strenuous, with about 500 feet in elevation.  This white line shows only a portion of the trail, and if you look close, you can see people on the trail...and yes, I have made this hike twice in my lifetime, and the third time I made it about 2/3rds of the way...but the heat (95+) and my body (can you say 'fat') would not make it the rest of the way.  Stephanie and Ryan (my youngest two) made it there along with their mother.  The first time was when I was in college...Michael (oldest) and Stephanie were toddlers...Ryan was not around yet.  It was probably late February or early March, there were only a handful along the trail.  When I got there, it was one of those moments when you say, "How did something this large end up way up here..."

There are over 2,000 documented arches in Arches NP, most of them so small you have a hard time calling them all an "Arch".  Above is Skyline Arch, on the northern side of the park near what they call the Devil's Garden area, pictured below.

        

Marcia has visited Arches about five times now...only getting out on her second visit to ride her GoGo along a couple of trails.  She LOVES the park because you can see so much right from the front seat of the vehicle...in this case, our Camper Van.  So "IF" you are less mobile, this is the park for you to visit.  And although the temps were in the 90's, high 90's around 4 pm, you can still enjoy the park from the comfort of your vehicle.  Be sure to bring lots of liquids (not speaking about alcohol which is not good for you in the heat), and bring some food since there are no concessions except, perhaps, at the visitor center at the entrance to the park.  However, Moab, which use to be this little town, is now a thriving city with lots of eateries, stores, and lots of fun things like a Zip Line, kayaks rentals, lots of guides who will show you around the National Parks by helicopter, horse or mules, and especially by 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Next up on the Blog, Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway U-128

 

Arches National Park...Part One

 

As you enter the park and start the assent up the winding road, the wall that runs along the drivers side is majestic.  Few, if any, National Park has such a bold opening statement as this drive does.  It truly sets the tone for your visit.  

   

I think some of these pillars of stone look like old fashion chess pieces, gathered together.  Well, enough of my talking...I am going to let the pictures talk...

 

There are many areas in South Utah that have these fine wavy layers of sedimentary rock.

 

      

Lots and lots of rock formations.  Some look like pillars, some seem to have faces, all are unique.

    

 

   

  

 

This is Balancing Rock, which is at the entrance to "The Windows", a large collection of Arches, many of which are very large.

 

 

 

Before the "Windows Area", you pass by the Garden of Eden.  And what do you see on those rocks???

 

Yep, a host of Rock Climbers.  We have seen Rock Climbers in Arches before, but not in this area.  They always draw a crowd, many of whom start climbing smaller rocks...must have been a good twenty that joined in on the climbing in the 15 minutes we were there.

 

Tomorrow I will post the rest of our visit to Arches...along with a scenic drive that starts right there in Moab.