An All American Road to Moab, Utah

 Mob, Utah

We pulled out of Cannonville bright and early Saturday morning...destination Moab, Utah.

 

 We chose to travel on Scenic Byway 12.

Scenic Byway 12 was named Utah's first "All American Road".  It is a total of 124 miles that connects Red Canyon to Capital Reef National Park.

 If you are ever in this part of Utah, this byway is a must do.







The Aspens are so pretty...the leaves just beginning to open. They are native to cold regions with cool summers.




Aspen wood is white and soft, and has low flammability. Also, I found it interesting that they do not thrive in shade.



The byway offers an isolated landscape...don't expect to find diesel here. You will travel through canyons, plateaus, and valleys ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation.

                                                

 The last part of the byway for us, was through Capital Reef NP. 

                     

 So here we are...settled in at Portal RV Campground and Resort. It's a beautiful place. Our pull-in site faces a small Koi pond with very pretty landscaping.


Today was spent buying groceries and going to Moab's downtown visitor's center as well as a stop at the visitor's center at Arches NP. Thank goodness for the senior pass!

 There is a nice variety of flowers and grasses all around the pond and the sites.

I have to say, I missed so much of nature's beauty in my younger days.

 I guess I am trying to make up for lost time!

 I am just so in awe of everything around me...

 I took so many pictures of the dragonfly...I so wanted to get it in flight. His wings spread out so big with beautiful stripes.

 

 We are looking forward to lots of hikes and off road rides.

 Hope you had a wonderful Sunday and next week will be loads of fun.

 Thanks for stopping by...

Y'all come back!

                                             

Kodachrome Basin State Park and Grosvenor Arch

Cannonville, Utah
             

Kodachrome Basin State Park is located just south of Cannonville off Scenic Byway 12, an All American Road.




The first of our two hikes for the day was Shakespeare Arch-Sentinel Trail.



This trail is a 1.7 mile loop that gives access to the only large natural arch within the park.


This first part of the trail, about a half mile, to reach the arch was relatively easy.

But, after the arch, the trail changes...it's a little more difficult.


The trail narrows and climbs offering magnificent views of the Grand Staircase-Escalnate National Monument which surrounds the park.






  





At an elevation of 5,800 feet, the lands of Kodachrome Basin are classified semi-dessert. Plants must adapt to drought and extreme temperatures. 


Medium sized trees include pinion pine and Utah junipers.





We found the dead trunks and roots of many trees. The wood is very twisted and gnarled. We could even hear it crackling as the wind blew...

 Flowering plants and grasses thrive. The yucca plants were full of buds.

The common raven is just one of several species of birds found here.




       
                       








Once we rounded the tip of the plateau, the hike down was a lot easier.






We saw beautiful banks filled with grasses and plants on our left and the basin on our right.



     

                                    


               

Our second hike, Panorama Trail, was a three mile loop.

 
 

 




This trail offers views to several sedimentary pipes.

There are over 70 spires in the park ranging from 6 to 170 feet in height.
 

 

                     

                                                                                        

This trail also offers some interesting geological features such as caves.



The color and contrast here prompted the National Geographic Society, with consent from Kodak Film Corp., to name the park Kodachrome in 1949.

I had mentioned in an earlier post that we took a Jeep ride and explored in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

About 15 miles down the Scenic Backway 400 is the Grosvenor Arch. As you can see, we were not the only travelers taking advantage of the beautiful day. 

 Grosvenor Arch is a unique sandstone double arch. It is named to honor Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (1875-1966) who was a president of the National Geographic Society. The area is handicapped friendly, has a restroom and a picnic area.

Today is packing up day...tomorrow we will head for new adventures!

We have certainly had a great time here and hope to return.

 Thanks for joining in on our journey.

 

Hope you have a nice week-end!

Y'all come back!