SIGHTSEEING IN SOUTHERN UTAH

In Blanding UT we met Mike and Barbara with whom Jo’s other sister Arla Olson was traveling in their 5th wheel trailer, for sightseeing there instead of Grand Canyon, closed because of the US government shutdown.

On Oct. 3 we set out for Natural Bridges National Monument west of Blanding. We took a short side trip with a walk to these cliff dwellings. Many canyons in the area have similar cliff dwellings occupied in the era of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings in CO.

 

These signs greeted us on our way to Natural Bridges National Monument.

So we turned south to drive down the Moqui Dugout road. The road literally was dug out of the side of cliffs for use by large trucks carrying uranium ore to the refinery at Mexican Hat in the valley below. While the unpaved road was wide, we still were surprised to see a Coca Cola semi truck coming down the road.

Here are two levels of the Dugway road.  A red vehicle is on the upper level.

We continued south to Gouldings Lodge in the Monument Valley area and visited its gift ship. There was a large inventory of fine Navajo rugs for sale. Across the highway was the entrance to the Monument Valley Park of the Navajo Nation leading to a large hotel. For the price of admission one may drive their own vehicle into the heart of the valley on the road in the background behind Jo and sister Arla. We did not have time to make the drive, but at least I learned that one may drive the road without a guide. Next time!

.

Heading north again, we took a side trip to look at the spectacular Goosenecks of the San Juan River.

 

 

Next on our itinerary was Valley of the Gods with geological features similar to those of Monument Valley.

On Oct. 4 we drove the Elk Ridge loop northwest of Blanding. Elk Ridge is on the horizon, with Bears Ears at the far left.

 

This is the best fall color we saw on the whole trip.

At the Causeway on the way to Elk Ridge we were treated to this great view of  a nearby mountain, probably La Sal.

While on the nostalgia run south on Elk Ridge we spotted these two mule deer. Later from the same road we saw two nice bucks, but they were photo shy!