Southeastern Utah, NE Arizona, North New Mexico:
Time: April 10 - 24, 2003
Primary Sights: Arches, Utah - Canyonlands, Utah - Goblin Valley, Utah - Valley of the Gods, Utah - Monument Valley & Canyon DeChelly, Arizona - Bisti Badlands, New Mexico Chaco NHP, New Mexico
Trip Vehicle: 1996 Ford F150 Pickup, license - Missouri ??? ???
Lodging: Tent Camping (first six nights at Dead Horse Point State Park)

Detailed Route:
Kansas City to Grand Junction, Colorado on I-70 = 860 miles
Grand Junction to Utah Hwy 128 on I-70 = 65 miles
I-70 to Moab on Utah Hwy 128 = 45 miles
Moab to Utah Hwy 313 on US-191 = 10 miles
US-191 to Dead Horse SP Campground on Utah 313 and park road = 24 miles
Campground to Canyonlands on Utah 313 = 16 miles
Driving inside Island in the Sky = 60 miles
Canyonlands to Campground = 16 miles
Campground to US-191 on Utah 313 = 24miles
Utah 313 to Moab on US-191 = 10 miles
Kane Creek Scenic Drive = 20 miles
Moab to Utah 279 on US-191 = 4 miles
Potash Scenic Drive = 40 miles
Utah 279 to Utah 128 on US-191 = 2 miles
US-191 to Dewey Bridge on Utah 128 = 30 miles
Dewey Bridge to US-191 on Utah 128 = 30 miles
Side Trips = 20 miles
Moab to Campground = 36 miles
Roundtrip Campground/Arches for 3 days = 180 miles
Arches Drive (3 days) = 200 miles
Campground to Moab = 34 miles
Around Moab = 100 miles
Moab to I-70 on US-191 = 30 miles
US-191 to Thompsons Springs on I-70 = 5 miles
Sego & Sego Canyon on Thompson Canyon Road & back = 20 miles
Thompsons Springs to Green River on I-70 = 30 miles
Rafael Desert Scenic Loop = 100 miles
Green River to Utah 24 on I-70 = 15 miles
I-70 to Temple Mtn. Road on Utah 24 = 24 miles
Utah 24 to Goblin Valley Road on Temple Mtn. Road = 6 miles
Temple Mtn. Road to Goblin Valley = 7 miles
Goblin Valley to LWH Road = 1 mile
Road to Little Wild Horse = 6 miles
Little Wild Horse to Temple Road = 12 miles
Goblin Valley Road to Hondoo Loop on Temple Road = 20 miles
Hondoo Loop Road = 29 miles
Side Trips = 40 miles
Hondoo Loop to Goblin Valley = 32 miles
Goblin Valley to Utah 24 = 13 miles
Temple Road to Hanksville on Utah 24 = 21 miles
Hanksville to Dirty Devil Road on Utah 95 = 16 miles
Utah 95 to Dirty Devil Overlook & Return = 25 miles
Dirty Devil Road to Natural Bridges on Utah 95 = 80 miles
Natural Bridges Scenic Loop = 10 miles
Natural Bridges to Valley of the Gods on Utah 95 = 10 miles
Sightseeing in Valley of the Gods = 61 miles
Valley of the Gods outer loop = 100 miles
Valley of the Gods to Goosenecks SP = 20 miles
Goosenecks to Monument Valley on US-163 = 105 miles
Monument Valley Sightseeing = 75 miles
Monument Valley to Kayenta on US-163 = 25 miles
Kayenta to Mexican Water on US-160 = 42 miles
Mexican Water to Chinle on US-191 = 50 miles
Canyon De Chelly Drive = 102 miles
Chinle to Mexican Water on US-191 = 50 miles
Mexican Water to Teec Nos Pos on US-160 = 35 miles
Teec Nos Pos to Farmington, NM on US-64 = 51 miles
Farmington to Bisti Badlands on Hwy 371 = 45 miles
Bisti Badlands to Farmington on Hwy 371 = 45 miles
Farmington to Bisti Badlands on Hwy 371 = 45 miles
Sightseeing Mileage = 20 miles
Bisti Badlands to Hwy 57 on Hwy 371 = 45 miles
Hwy 371-57 junction to Chaco Culture NHP = 40 miles
Sightseeing = 50 miles
Chalco Culture NHP to Thoreau on Hwys 57 and 371 = 70 miles
Thoreau to Albuquerque on I-40 = 110 miles
Albuquerque to Oklahoma City on I-40 = 543 miles
Oklahoma City to Kansas City on I-35 = 350 miles

Total Estimated Mileage = 4457 miles plus 10% = 4902
Estimated Gas = 327 gallons @ $1.75 = $572

Itinerary:

April 10 (Thursday) - I'll try to nap during the day with Ian and get the truck loaded and ready to go. I'll leave once Ian is picked up and travel along I-70 toward Denver, napping along the way as needed at rest areas.

April 11 (Friday) - The journey to Grand Junction, Colorado from Kansas City is around 860 miles. If all goes well, I should be through Denver by sunup and be at Grand Junction before noon. I'll drive on toward Moab, Utah on hwy 128 and if there before noon will look for photo opportunities. However, my main goal will be to drive to Dead Horse Point State Park, where I have reservations for campsite #17 for six nights and filing my gas tanks in Moab. Check-in time at Dead Horse is 3 PM. I'll set up camp and spend the evening at Dead Horse taking pictures. I plan on going to bed shortly after sunset and get a good night's rest and be up well before sunrise.

April 12 (Saturday) - Every day will, of course, depend upon the weather and other variable circumstances and this itinerary may change. However, my plans are to follow this schedule as closely as possible. My plans for this day are to explore the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands National Park. I hope to be at Mesa Arch for sunrise photos. Mesa will be followed by the Grand View Point and White Rim Overlook trails during the morning. Will probably visit the Visitor Center next, during mid-day, and then take the Upheaval Dome and Whale Rock trails (in that order) during the afternoon. I'll be at Green River Overlook for evening and sunset photography. If I find I'm running short on time I'll skip the Upheaval Dome trail.

April 13 (Sunday) - This morning I'll begin with the Kane Creek Scenic Drive followed by Potash Road (Utah 279). Will use mid day or early afternoon to replenish supplies as needed and try to find somewhere to take showers. Late afternoon and evening will be spent along Utah 128. If time permits, I'll hike part or all of Negro Bill Canyon.

April 14 (Monday) - With the weekend over, I'll concentrate on Arches National Park. Three full days at Arches are planned and I will be in the park each of these three days from before sunup until after sundown. On this day I plan to concentrate on the Devils Garden area throughout the morning and be at Delicate Arch for sunset. I'll hike the entire Devil's Garden trail system and both of the Delicate Arch trails. Mid day will find me around Broken and Sand Dune Arch and the Fiery Furnace area.

April 15 (Tuesday) - The second day at Arches will find me on the road to The Windows Section, with the Windows area being concentrated on both early morning and late evening, including sunrise and sunset. During mid day I may drive the Salt Valley Road, as well as visiting the areas between the Visitor Center and Balanced Rock. With a near full moon I may be out late looking for opportunities to include the moon in photos.

April 16 (Wednesday) - This is my last planned day at Arches and may be anywhere in the park as seems appropriate. Late afternoon and evening, including sunset, will probably find me in the Devils Garden. I may try Delicate Arch for sunrise and early morning photos. Early morning may also find me on the Park Avenue trail. Remember that tonight is a full moon.

April 17 (Thursday) - Break camp. I'll spend early morning around Sego, a ghost town north of Thompsons Springs. Head to Green River no later than 10:30 AM where I have a reservation for a motel. Check in and then take the 100-mile Rafael Desert Scenic Loop drive for the rest of the day. Return to the motel, take a shower, a good meal and hopefully get a good night's rest.

April 18 (Friday) - I'll travel by way of I-70 and Utah highway 24 to Goblin Valley State Park. Until around 10 AM I'll explore in and around Goblin Valley. During mid day I'll be hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon. Late afternoon and evening I'll be driving along the Hondoo Loop and side roads as I explore this section of the San Rafael Swell. If I haven't camped somewhere in the Swell, I'll be camping somewhere around Burr Point (Dirty Devil Overlook). Besides the natural scenery, I'll also be looking for old mines and buildings to photograph in the area.

April 19 (Saturday) - Will break camp and head south on Utah 95. First stop will be the Dirty Devil Canyon Overlook road between milepost 15 and 16 going east. Maybe spend a couple of hours in this area before returning to highway 95 and heading on down to Natural Bridges National Monument. Will be there at bad time of day for lighting so not likely to spend much time there before heading into the Valley of the Gods, where I'll spend the rest of the day and camp. Will try to camp in an area that may provide good sunset and sunrise photos.

April 20 (Sunday) - I will spend the day in and around Valley of the Gods, including Goosenecks State Park, Muley Point Overlook, Mokee Dugway (highway 261), and maybe Cigarette Springs Road #239. This latter road is just north of milepost 19 on Utah 261. Turn east, keep left at the unmarked fork, sign the register and pay the $2 fee at the kiosk. Drive about 2 miles further east to a point 3.4 miles from Utah 261, turn left onto a short, unmarked road. Drive north a couple of hundred feet and park off the turn-around road. Take the trail to the northeast into Road Canyon. Once in the canyon turn right and look for Anasazi Ruins. The first will be about a .6 miles, with four others further on. Mid-morning is best time to be here. If in doubt I'll leave markers to find my way back out. If I have time in late morning or very early afternoon, I may visit the Mule Canyon ruins off Utah 95. During the afternoon, I may go into Monument Valley and see if a campsite is available and maybe even grab a late tour.

April 21 (Monday) - I'll be at the Monument Valley Visitor Center by sunrise. Will then spend the day along the short loop drive. If possible, I'll get a campsite here, if not already done. Won't have the time or money for guides, so will only spend one full day here. The only chance of taking a guide would be if one were available for unique late evening and sunset photos. Otherwise I'll just travel the loop road three or four times to catch the valley in various lighting situations. If I don't have a campsite, I may drive toward Canyon De Chelly and find a place to camp or just sleep in the truck.

April 22 (Tuesday) - Drive to Canyon De Chelly by way of US 160 and US 191. Spend the morning on Canyon De Chelly's rim roads and then head to Farmington, New Mexico via US 191, US 160 and US 64. I have a motel reservation there. I must be there by 4 PM. I will be taking sunset photos in the Bisti Badlands on NM Hwy 371 after I check in.

April 23 (Wednesday) - I'll spend the morning at Bisiti and visit Chaco Culture National Historic Park in the afternoon and evening, and hopefully camp at Chaco.

April 24 (Thursday) - Head for home, either through Santa Fe/Taos or by way of the Interstate system.

Photo Trips