Month: January 2021

The trip is from Lewis & Clark Monument, Illinois, to Kickapoo State Park, Illinois, by way of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

I-70 Through Utah

Early the next morning we continued east on I-70. The scenery just never let up on this trip.

We stopped at 5 different vistas along the way. Although back on the Interstate, we were in no hurry. Native Americans were set up selling their wares at several of the stops.

The most impressive sight was Spotted Wolf Pass. It was an engineering masterpiece cutting through these mountains.

Even after Spotted Wolf Pass, the sights kept coming.

No, that speed limit sign was not on the Interstate. In most of Utah it was 70 MPH.

Early that afternoon we drove out of Utah back into Colorado.

Next Location – Colorado River State Park, Colorado

The trip is from Lewis & Clark Monument, Illinois, to Kickapoo State Park, Illinois, by way of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah 2

When I got back to the motor home from my hike in the snow we drove on through the rest of the park, stopping at 3 more vistas.

At the highest point on the road we were at 10,460 feet. The highest peak in the park was Brian Head, at 11,300 feet.

In these photos we are looking back at the visitor center.

This is the site of a pioneer ranch. Imagine living up here. So remote and windy and isolated and cold and snow-bound. Little wonder the settlement didn’t last.

We came down from the park on a much steeper grade than going up on the other side. It was a 15% grade. We drove past a ski resort.

Reaching the bottom, we got back on I-15 and continued north. Reaching the western terminus of I-70, we hopped on and headed east. We came down out of the mountains. The stretches of I-15 and I-70 we had been on were a beautiful drive. But now we were coming back down to reality. We stopped at Joseph, at the foot of the mountains, and found a private campground.

We saw ATV’s all over in Utah. Many, like this one, didn’t bother with the lanes that run alongside the roads, they drive right on the road.

Next Location – I-70 Through Utah

The trip is from Lewis & Clark Monument, Illinois, to Kickapoo State Park, Illinois, by way of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Early that morning we drove up into Cedar Breaks NM. These mountains are the highest elevations in Utah.

We were soon up in the snow.

We stopped at the visitor center, but it was closed.

There was a reason the visitor center was put here. The view.

I hiked a mile-long trail along the mountain rim. It was right on the edge, steeply up and down, and half-covered in deep snow and the other half in deep mud from the snow melt. Very challenging.

In the upper left of this photo you can see two people ahead of me on the trail.

I continued on the trail.

In this photo you can barely make out an overlook on the trail.

There was snow along the trail.

In some places there was a lot of snow to tramp through. I still enjoy playing in the snow, but I was cautious as this sloppy snow-covered trail was on the edge of a serious drop-off.

In these photos you can see the trail snaking out to the overlook.

There were some interesting trees along the way.

I finally made it to the overlook. There was a couple I traded photos with.

Great views from the overlook.

Then it was time to hike back.

Next Location – Cedar Breaks National Monument 2

The trip is from Lewis & Clark Monument, Illinois, to Kickapoo State Park, Illinois, by way of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Pipe Spring National Monument, Utah

The next morning we drove northwest from Jacob Lake on Hwy. 89A. At Fredonia, we turned west on Rte. 389. We stopped to see Pipe Spring National Monument. This is the site of a Mormon pioneer ranch.

After finishing there, we continued northwest on Rte. 389 to the Utah border, where the route number changed to Rte.59. We continued northwest on this road to Hurricane.

Here we got on I-15. This was the first interstate we had driven on in 3 weeks. We headed north. It was a steady unrelenting ascent from the desert floor up into the mountains. Yet another scenic drive. We had intended to see the Kolob Valley in the northwestern part of Zion National Park, but it was closed. We had spent 4 days in Zion just the year before, so we skipped the valley this time around to see this more remote section of the park, but it was closed. So we drove on to Cedar City where we found a private campground.

Next Location – Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah