Real Desert, Southern Utah

 

There are places in Southern Utah that are examples of a real desert with rainfall below six inches a year. The Great Salt Lake desert is actually the driest part of the state with some areas that average less than five inches of rainfall every year. But this area near Green River is probably close to that low average. 

Double Arch, Arches National Park, Utah

 

With over a million visitors a year, Arches National Park is one of the most congested National Parks in the United States. One way to avoid the crowds is to visit the park in the "off-season." We were here in November when the temperatures were in the 20s Fahrenheit and the wind was blowing to lower the effects of the cold even more. But, there were no crowds.  

La Sal Mountains from Arches National Park

 

The La Sal Mountains of Southeastern Utah are likely one of the most spectacular vistas in the Canyon Country but also one of the least visited locations. Arches National Park has over a million visitors every year but few people drive to the high mountains nearby. In fact, if you blink at the wrong time, you would miss the two small road signs that indicate the dirt access roads to the mountains. This was a cold and windy day in November for a relatively uncrowded tour of Arches. 

Montezuma Valley, Colorado

 You may want to click on this photo to see it in a larger size. This is a photo of Montezuma Valley, Colorado taken from an overlook in Mesa Verde National Park. Early settlers in the west seemed to name a few things "Montezuma" because this Mexican historical figure was likely the only name they knew even though Montezuma. Here is a short quote about the person who was the origin of the name. 

Montezuma II, also spelled Moctezuma, (born 1466—died c. June 30, 1520, Tenochtitlán, within modern Mexico City), ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. See https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montezuma-II

 

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

 

We have visited Mesa Verde National Park several times. This was a whirlwind camping trip where we drove down from Provo, Utah and on the same day toured Cliff Palace. It was a beautiful day and the afternoon light on the overhanging cliffs. Here is a quote from the National Park Service about Cliff Palace.

Recent studies reveal that Cliff Palace contained 150 rooms and 23 kivas and had a population of approximately 100 people. Out of the nearly 600 cliff dwellings concentrated within the boundaries of the park, 75% contain only 1-5 rooms each, and many are single room storage units. If you visit Cliff Palace, you will enter an exceptionally large dwelling which may have had special significance to the original occupants. It is thought that Cliff Palace was a social, administrative site with high ceremonial usage.

 When you are there, you are reminded that you are at about 7000 feet above sea level and temperatures in late October are variable and colder than you might expect. 

Monument Valley, Utah and Arizona

 

Ever since John Ford made the Movie Stagecoach in 1939, this small area of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah has been one of the most photographed sites in the United States and has appeared in dozens of movies. What is usually overlooked is that the valley is home to several families on the Navajo Nation and is actually Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park part of the Navajo Nation National Parks System. This is Sentinel Mesa at the entrance to the Tribal Park.  

Goose Necks of the San Juan

 Technically, this is only one of the four goose necks, but it gives you an idea of how large this is. The San Juan River eventually runs into the Colorado River. The area is now a Utah State Park. We have been here long enough ago to have driven on a dirt road out into the wilderness to the overlook, but now there is an RV and tent campground, and you pay to look at the view. We made a short visit on a much longer trip. 

Rock Canyon in the Fall

 

If Rock Canyon was situated in any other state, it would be a national park or at least a wilderness protected area but it is literally in our backyard. We had a walk up the canyon to see the Fall leaves and were treated with the early morning sun on the high cliffs also.