Corona Arch Trail

Moab, UT
5-27

Corona Arch Trail is located 9.9 miles downstream on Utah 279 (Potash Rd.) from the junction with Hwy 191. The trail ascends a short, steep slope to the railroad track.

We could see where the rocks were blasted for the tracks...after crossing the tracks we walked through a gate. The gate protects the desert big-horned sheep lambing grounds.

 

The trail followed the rim of Bootlegger Canyon. I was a little disappointed we didn't see any big-horned sheep.

 The trail changes from sand and rocks to slickrock.. As we got closer to Corona Arch, there were a couple of safety cables along some steep portions...

...as well as a series of steps cut into the slickrock and a short ladder to climb.

High up in the Navajo Sandstone cliff is Bowtie Arch. This arch is a good example of a pothole arch. Water eroded a large pothole or water tank atop the cliff. The result is a hole that enlarges due to rainstorm runoff and creates the arch.

 

 

Just passed Bowtie Arch, the trail follows the slickrock slope to Corona Arch. From a distance, the arch doesn't look very big...it has a  140-foot by 105-foot opening. 

This is one of the best lunch spots we have ever had!

There were lots of wildflowers and flowering shrubs along the trail.

Thrifty Goldenweed

Utah Daisy

This is the fruit from the narrow leaf yucca. I read  that the fleshy fruit is sweet...we will just take googles word for it!

What a great way to spend Memorial Day...

We have 3 new members this week...thanks for joining our adventure!

 

 

Y'all come back!

Potash Road to Canyonlands NP

Moab,  UT


 Last Sunday (5-26) Joe and I decided to take a "Sunday drive".  We just decided to go...without a plan or destination. We headed north on Hwy 191 and made a left turn on Potash Road, Hwy 279.
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Colorado River

 The drive along paved Hwy 279 follows the Colorado River. It is quite scenic.


Rock climbers



Petroglyphs along the road

After about 17 miles, the pavement ends. We passed a potash plant on the left. We didn't think much about the plant until we saw the evaporating pools...they are so blue! And look so out of place.






The trail is a well-maintained road for stock, high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles.








 And at times the trail runs close to cliff edges along shelf roads.



Somewhere along the way, the road changed names...Potash Road runs into Shafer Trail (San Juan County Road 142).
 

 This is Dead Horse State Park in the background...









...and Thelma and Louise Point in the foreground.

The final scene of the movie Thelma and Louise was filmed here.

To us, this was just a beautiful view of the Colorado River and the canyon walls.

This is the back entrance to Canyonlands NP on Shafer Trail.

 We took a side trip to Musselman Arch on a stretch of the White Rim Trail.



The views were beautiful...











...the trail is narrow...




...as you wind along the edge of canyons in the shadows of high cliffs.
                                                               

 Musselman Arch is approximately 8 feet wide and 100 feet long. I would never do it, but you can walk across the arch. It is a 60 foot drop to the canyon floor.

Musselman Arch

Back on Shafer Trail...

...up, and up and up we went. This part of the trail is called the Shafer Switchbacks.








I enjoyed the non-stop breathtaking views...






...although, I have to confess I should have been watching for on coming vehicles.


The switchbacks take you up (or down depending on where you choose to begin) about 1,000 feet.

Once we reached the top, we turned left and visited the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. Then headed home.

It was an amazing Sunday drive....

...with amazing views!

Y'all come back!