Some on roading and some off roading

Currently In: Phoenix, AZ
Next Up: Havasu City, AZ


One of the most popular things to do in Souther Utah is off roading.  There were lots of ATVs at the campgrounds!

So we decided to explore a couple of the off road trail ourselves.  There are lots of difficult trails in Canyonlands NP, but a Park Ranger told us the Shafer Trail is a good one for beginners with a Jeep that has not been modified.

Of course, first we had to drive down into the Shafer Canyon!  We are headed to that road in the top picture.  Not quite as nerve racking as the Alpine Loop, but still had me on the edge of my seat.  We're going to be on that road riding through the canyon in a minute!

The La Sal Mountains were part of the beautiful scenery. 

Check out this switchback!  Yikes!

The scenery was fantastic.

Which way to go?  Follow the sign.  32 miles left!

Ran into some rock on the road.

Um, ok this is all rock.  Gotta go slow.  Real slow.

The sun was starting to set just as we got to the main highway.  Whew!

The La Sal Mountains were right outside our campsite, but in the clouds most of the time.  We drove the La Sal Mountain Loop road so we could see them up close.  Loving the snow at 8,000 feet!

It was still kinda cloudy, but a nice drive after we had been stuck inside all day with the rain.

We saw a touch of Autumn too.  Oh, the Aspens.

Oops - Open Range here.  They lick the salt in the road put down by the snowplows.

At one point the fog was so thick we couldn't see the mountains!

Into view once again.

Near the bottom the snow was gone so the mountains took on a different appearance.

The end of the loop put us back in familiar territory!

On our last full day in Moab we decided to do one more off roading drive recommended by several RV friends.

The landscape on the way to the bridges was quintessential Moab.

I love this one of Arches NP and the mountains in the background.

The Gemini Bridges look like an arch.

But there are actually 2 arches right next to each other!  This open space separates them.

You can actually walk across the bridges.  I am the tiny thing standing on top!

There was a cave right across the way.

 There was some other cool terrain around the Gemini Bridges.

Finally, the last day it Moab, it cleared up so we got a full view of the LSM from our site.  Nice!