Off-Roading with Roy

Sand Creek RV Park
Torrey, UT
July 4, 2019

Joe and I met Roy three years ago.  He is also a member of Moab Friends For Wheelin' and from time to time comes down from Salt Lake City (his home) for a week-end of camping and trails in Moab.  He and his wife Ramona and puppy Lily also spend time in Torrey.  He loves this area and is full of information and enthusiasm.  He reached out to Joe and I and generously offered to show us some of the spectacularly beautiful places here.  Roy is an avid hiker as well as off-road enthusiast...most of the time combining the two for a full day of outdoor fun.  Because Roy still works, his time is limited to long week-end getaways.    Roy is also a great photographer. He hooked up with us here in Torrey and took us out for two awesome outings:

Hell's Hole :

Hell's Hole is a route in the Fish Lake National Forest.  It is a relatively short in and out trail.  We didn't get the mileage, but we left at 6:00 pm and were home by 8:30.  

 Joe and I both noticed the beautiful, tall, healthy pine trees...a nice reminder of Georgia.  I love the stark contrast of the red and green.




Our first stop was at a spot Roy and Ramona have named Champagne Garden.  

 We drove between a small stand of aspens...

 crossed a little stream...

















and along colorful rock formations...

right past Hell's Hole...

to a beautiful canyon with a water pour-off.  The city of Torrey gets its water supply from here.  If there is excess water, it pours off into the creek at the bottom of a deep canyon.

But nope, that was not the end of the trail.  Just look what was next !

And yes, I was right behind Roy !

Our Fourth of July fireworks on the way out!

Upper Muley Twist Canyon :

Todays adventure with Roy had us heading east on Hwy 24
to Notom Road.  Notom Rd. starts out as a paved road...














and changes to a dirt road.  Roy knew all the places to pull-out for photos.  My camera phone doesn't do this ridge justice...the colors were amazing !

Looking straight ahead...

looking left...

and looking right.

In one section, these mounds (Roy told us the name of them, but we forgot...insert disgusted with myself emoji face) had me clicking away.

 I was surprised and happy to see fields of Utah daisies...

The historic Burr Trail is an unpaved trail that runs through Capital Reef. 










It is a 65 mile route that was pioneered in the 1880s by stockmen moving cattle to seasonal grazing lands. 

We joined the Burr Trail at the switchbacks...I love switchbacks !

The following switchback photos were taken on the way down.

We stayed on Burr Trail for a few miles, then made a right hand turn to Upper Muley Twist Canyon. 

 Roy pointed out two arches.  This one we drove under...

and this one we walked under.

Do you see the arch?

It was a double arch !

It was a great July Fourth holiday and we are so happy to have spent it with a dear friend.  Thank you so much Roy for sharing some of our beautiful country that you get to call home.  We are already looking forward to our next visit and more exploring.  

I'll close with a few more pictures...

This is Roy taking a photo of the penstemon.  I would still be there if I had done that !

 So until next time, 

Thanks again Roy.  Looking forward to next time !

HAPPY TRAILS !

The Early Morning Glow...Grand Wash Trail

Sand Creek RV Park
Torrey, UT
July 3, 2019

This morning we were not up and going as early as we like and didn't reach Grand Wash Trailhead until 9:00...that is way late for us.

The trailhead is about 3.5 miles past the Visitor Center on Scenic Drive. 

Scenic Drive didn't get it's name by accident so we had a quick stop to make !











 After we passed the Gifford farm, the curvy paved road narrows.

We made a left hand turn onto a Grand Wash Road.  It is a well maintained dirt/gravel road that ends at the trailhead.

 Grand Wash Trail is a 4.4 (total) in-out hike that follows a flat wash with humongous cliff walls.  It isn't a slot canyon, but in several places the walls close in to make the path narrow.  Much to my delight we arrived in time to catch the morning glow.  

When we finished our hike, we continued on Scenic Drive.  The pave road ends about 20 miles from the Visitor Center  and turns into a gravel washboard dirt road named Capital Gorge Road.  Capital Gorge Rd. is only about 1.5 miles.



We were specifically looking for the Golden Throne.  We saw a sign, but couldn't see what we thought was a golden throne.  It wasn't until we were on the return trip that we saw a man standing beside the road taking a picture.  It was the Golden Throne.  Yep, that is it...dead center in the photo below.  There is a hike to the throne, but we will save it for next time...its a pretty steady climb !  The rock formation is made of a gold colored Navajo sandstone.  This is especially cool because normally the sandstone is white or red.  

Golden Throne stands 7,042 feet and shines a deep yellow in the sun.  

Today was a beautiful second day in Capital Reef.  We are enjoying our time here and have lots more planned...stay tuned.

I'll close with a few more pictures from the morning...

So until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !