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Although fairly close to Montrose, these areas are a little outside of a comfortable day ride from Montrose.
If you have a spare week to 'explore', either before, or after NASSIR II, I highly recommend any, or better yet, all of these areas in Southern Utah.
There's a very good reason why Southern Utah has so many greatNational Parks and if you follow the links below, you'll get a bit of a virtual tour of a couple of these national parks, that I visited in April 2007
CanyonlandsNational Park and area:
Canyonlands is divided into 3 'sections'. The easiest one to access is The Needles District, which is a 1 1/2 hour ride along good pavement, on SR 211, which runs west off of US 191, between La Sal Junction and Monticello. the road itself is a nice ride
This park is very dry and has lots of neat rock formations, known as Needles. There is one 'front country' campground, which has potable water(a rare commodity in these parts) When travelling in southern Utah, make sure you have ample water!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611792775641/
En route to the Needles, you will pass by a National Historical site, called Newspaper Rock
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611843722478/
A short 15 minute ride north of SR 211, heading off to your left(west) is the paved road that leads to the The Needles Overlook, which is a small'parkette' with good viewsof a 'mini Grand Canyon' as you can see where the Colorado and the Green Rivers meet, over 1,000' below, in the Needles district of Canyonlands.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611843027452/
A little further north is the regional 'hub of activity', Moab. Moab caters to whatever outdoor pursuit you fancy, having many localoutfitters. Moab is located just south of Arches NP, and the area around there is quite scenic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611780104644/
Zion National Park and area :
Lots to see and do here! Located in the south west part of the state, Zion is Utah's busiest National Park. It has 2 campgrounds and most the time, you can't even drive into the park, due to congestion, but September should see the crowds ease up substantially. To make getting around in the park easier, they provide free shuttle buses from the Visitors Centre, with connecting buses into Springdale, which is right on Zion's doorstep.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763344760/
There are a couple of easy and not so easy hikes that you can do while visiting here.
One easy one, the Canyon Overlook Trail, islocated immediately to the east of the easternentrance of the mile long Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611758101970/
One a little bitharder/longer, but easier to get to, due to the shuttle buses and located right in Zion Canyon, is the Emerald Pools Trail.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611704359157/
For a challenging trail (5 hours return), that offers outstanding views(and thrills :cooldevil:} Angels Landing is a must for those of you who don't suffer from vertigo or are afraid of some 'exposure'. I guarantee the effort will be well worth it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611308498191/
Another interesting park nearby is Snow Canyon State Park, which is located just minutes N/W of nearby St George
This is a quiet, colourful,little park, close to St. George, which has all the amenities. It offers a chance to do some exploring and some light 'scrambling' on a giant monolith of white slickrock.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611798668071/
Bryce Canyon National Park and area :
Here is another great National Park. Best if you can view it early in the morning as the red hues will be highlighted and very warm. It also has 2 campgrounds but due to the high elevation, you may want to look around for awarmer camping area, if tenting. There is a great restaurant(and lodge) just as you turn off the main highway(US 12 - more on that road later!) and drive towards the park, called Ruby's Inn
There are some hiking trails in the park. I'd advise to drive to the very end of the park 1st and then work your way back towards the entrance, stopping at each viewpoint to get your fill of hoodoos and natural arches/bridges. Quite the spectacular bit of scenery.
Just to the west of Bryce, is another great area, which provides camping and hiking, along with a few tunnels that you drive through, called Red Canyon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763670694/
Heading north from Bryce, along SR 12(more on this great little stretch of highway later!), we soon come to ....
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and area :
When I 1st pulled into Escalante , at noon, I thought it was a ghost town. Nobody on the streets(later April) and I was hungry, looking for a restaurant. I drove past one, but it looked close. I pulled over and parked and walked back and found that indeed it was open. It had all kinds of old western mementos hanging off the wall, had seen better daysand was operated by a couple of gals that delivered their home cookedmealsto other businesses on the main drag! Food was good.
After lunch I continued north and saw a few roads that ran off into the 'back country' that I desperately wanted to explore, but they were all gravel roads.
I continued on out of town, heading north, following this scenic littlebyway, - SR 12 Shortly after leaving Escalante, you crest a small hill , followed by aright hand sweeper and the world seemed to fall away at your feet! :coollep: There was a pull off on the left and there were quite a few cars pulled over and everyone was taking in the incredible change of scenery, with views stretching north for 150 miles!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763832976/
Driving this little byway was a real hoot, with great scenery at every bend. Lots of nooks n crannies to look at/explore and plenty of pull offs. You have to struggle to keep your eyes on the road, and you have to, as the road is so windy and scenic. There is one section in particular that the road goes along a ridge and drops off steeply on either shoulder. This section is called the Hogback. Man, I want to do that road again. !!!
There are a few campgrounds along this stretch of interesting pavement, which is located between Escalante and Boulder UT
Just thought you might find this informative to help make up your mind as to what there is to see/do in Southern Utah - Land of Wonder and Contrasts :waving:
Dusty
Although fairly close to Montrose, these areas are a little outside of a comfortable day ride from Montrose.
If you have a spare week to 'explore', either before, or after NASSIR II, I highly recommend any, or better yet, all of these areas in Southern Utah.
There's a very good reason why Southern Utah has so many greatNational Parks and if you follow the links below, you'll get a bit of a virtual tour of a couple of these national parks, that I visited in April 2007
CanyonlandsNational Park and area:
Canyonlands is divided into 3 'sections'. The easiest one to access is The Needles District, which is a 1 1/2 hour ride along good pavement, on SR 211, which runs west off of US 191, between La Sal Junction and Monticello. the road itself is a nice ride
This park is very dry and has lots of neat rock formations, known as Needles. There is one 'front country' campground, which has potable water(a rare commodity in these parts) When travelling in southern Utah, make sure you have ample water!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611792775641/
En route to the Needles, you will pass by a National Historical site, called Newspaper Rock
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611843722478/
A short 15 minute ride north of SR 211, heading off to your left(west) is the paved road that leads to the The Needles Overlook, which is a small'parkette' with good viewsof a 'mini Grand Canyon' as you can see where the Colorado and the Green Rivers meet, over 1,000' below, in the Needles district of Canyonlands.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611843027452/
A little further north is the regional 'hub of activity', Moab. Moab caters to whatever outdoor pursuit you fancy, having many localoutfitters. Moab is located just south of Arches NP, and the area around there is quite scenic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611780104644/
Zion National Park and area :
Lots to see and do here! Located in the south west part of the state, Zion is Utah's busiest National Park. It has 2 campgrounds and most the time, you can't even drive into the park, due to congestion, but September should see the crowds ease up substantially. To make getting around in the park easier, they provide free shuttle buses from the Visitors Centre, with connecting buses into Springdale, which is right on Zion's doorstep.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763344760/
There are a couple of easy and not so easy hikes that you can do while visiting here.
One easy one, the Canyon Overlook Trail, islocated immediately to the east of the easternentrance of the mile long Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611758101970/
One a little bitharder/longer, but easier to get to, due to the shuttle buses and located right in Zion Canyon, is the Emerald Pools Trail.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611704359157/
For a challenging trail (5 hours return), that offers outstanding views(and thrills :cooldevil:} Angels Landing is a must for those of you who don't suffer from vertigo or are afraid of some 'exposure'. I guarantee the effort will be well worth it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611308498191/
Another interesting park nearby is Snow Canyon State Park, which is located just minutes N/W of nearby St George
This is a quiet, colourful,little park, close to St. George, which has all the amenities. It offers a chance to do some exploring and some light 'scrambling' on a giant monolith of white slickrock.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611798668071/
Bryce Canyon National Park and area :
Here is another great National Park. Best if you can view it early in the morning as the red hues will be highlighted and very warm. It also has 2 campgrounds but due to the high elevation, you may want to look around for awarmer camping area, if tenting. There is a great restaurant(and lodge) just as you turn off the main highway(US 12 - more on that road later!) and drive towards the park, called Ruby's Inn
There are some hiking trails in the park. I'd advise to drive to the very end of the park 1st and then work your way back towards the entrance, stopping at each viewpoint to get your fill of hoodoos and natural arches/bridges. Quite the spectacular bit of scenery.
Just to the west of Bryce, is another great area, which provides camping and hiking, along with a few tunnels that you drive through, called Red Canyon.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763670694/
Heading north from Bryce, along SR 12(more on this great little stretch of highway later!), we soon come to ....
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and area :
When I 1st pulled into Escalante , at noon, I thought it was a ghost town. Nobody on the streets(later April) and I was hungry, looking for a restaurant. I drove past one, but it looked close. I pulled over and parked and walked back and found that indeed it was open. It had all kinds of old western mementos hanging off the wall, had seen better daysand was operated by a couple of gals that delivered their home cookedmealsto other businesses on the main drag! Food was good.
After lunch I continued north and saw a few roads that ran off into the 'back country' that I desperately wanted to explore, but they were all gravel roads.
I continued on out of town, heading north, following this scenic littlebyway, - SR 12 Shortly after leaving Escalante, you crest a small hill , followed by aright hand sweeper and the world seemed to fall away at your feet! :coollep: There was a pull off on the left and there were quite a few cars pulled over and everyone was taking in the incredible change of scenery, with views stretching north for 150 miles!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dusty-boots/sets/72157611763832976/
Driving this little byway was a real hoot, with great scenery at every bend. Lots of nooks n crannies to look at/explore and plenty of pull offs. You have to struggle to keep your eyes on the road, and you have to, as the road is so windy and scenic. There is one section in particular that the road goes along a ridge and drops off steeply on either shoulder. This section is called the Hogback. Man, I want to do that road again. !!!
There are a few campgrounds along this stretch of interesting pavement, which is located between Escalante and Boulder UT
Just thought you might find this informative to help make up your mind as to what there is to see/do in Southern Utah - Land of Wonder and Contrasts :waving:
Dusty
