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May 2011 Road Trip

VLA / Pie Town: [Day 1] [Day 2]
Grand Canyon N.P. (South Rim): [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
Grand Canyon N.P. (North Rim): [Day 6] [Day 7]
Zion N.P.: [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
Great Basin N.P.: [Day 11] [Day 12]
Zion N.P. (II): [Day 13] Bryce Canyon N.P.: [Day 14]
Arches N.P.: [Day 15] [Day 16] [Day 17]
Canyonlands N.P., Monument Valley, Mesa Verde N.P.: [Day 18] [Day 19]
Great Sand Dunes N.P.: [Day 20] [Day 21/22]


Day 15 (May 24): Arches National Park

Day's Summary: SUMMARY


Bryce Canyon Inn (Tropic, UT)

Showing the accommodations. The pizza place was essentially attached to the rooms after walking through a hallway and a breezeway.


Bryce Canyon Inn (Tropic, UT)

Another view of the motel from the outside. The main check-in location was on the other side of the pizza place and post office, and the pizza place was basically at the end of the hall and you turned right, I believe.


Post Office In Tropic, UT

In between the check-in location (and cabins) for Bryce Canyon Inn and the room that I stayed in & pizza place. Cabins at around 0:05 or so, pizza place/room buildings at 0:15 or so. Very convenient if you want pizza. It was good, too.


Utah SR-12 Near Tropic, UT

From Tropic, I'm headed briefly to Capitol Reef National Park and then towards Arches National Park. Destination at the end of the day is Moab, UT.


Utah SR-12 Near Henrieville, UT

This video starts as I'm leaving the outskirts of Cannonville, UT. At 0:36, I'm passed by a RAV4 that is pretty much the same vehicle that I'm driving! I enter Henrieville around 1:11 or so.

I discuss speed traps relating to these small towns along state routes. The speed is 60 or so and then suddenly it drops when you're going through a town. Then, you're caught by a local cop.


Utah SR-12 In Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

National park worthy? It's the biggest of all national monuments.

The monument contains three parts: the Grand Staircase (top [young rock] to bottom [old rock]: Pink Cliffs, Grey Cliffs, White Cliffs, Vermilion Cliffs, and Chocolate Cliffs), Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons of Escalante.


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Beautiful 8 seconds. I think the batteries ran out.


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Initially I zoom in on the Pink Cliffs of the Grand Staircase. This area was apparently the "last blank spot" on the United States map, explored by the one-armed John Wesley Powell in 1871. I believe the rest of the video shows part of the Kaiparowits Plateau.


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The last three videos including this one were taken at the same pulloff. I give a little perspective on the pulloff as I walk back to the RAV4.


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

East of Escalante, UT, headed towards Boulder and Capitol Reef National Park.


Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

More video east of Escalante, headed towards Boulder and Capitol Reef National Park.


Wildcat Visitor Center along Utah SR-12

On the way to Torrey and Capitol Reef National Park.

Approximate location: 38.109722, -111.334444


Capitol Reef National Park

The obligatory sign shot! That proves I was there!


Capitol Reef National Park

Panorama Point in Capitol Reef National Park. Very windy. Sign at 1:14 claims the "Clearest Air in America." 145 miles. Interesting.


Capitol Reef National Park: Near Capitol Gorge

Similar in content to the next two videos, I give a layout near the Capitol Gorge area. Ephraim Tower is in view.


Capitol Reef National Park: Near Capitol Gorge

Near Pleasant Creek Road and Capitol Gorge. Clearest air in America? I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.


Capitol Reef National Park: Near Capitol Gorge

As far as my trip into Capitol Reef, this is as far south as I went. Further would have taken me along the dirt road into Capitol Gorge, and with a rental vehicle I wasn't about to risk it. In this video, I give a "lay of the land" and use the monopod for some fun self-filming. I feel like a movie star!


Capitol Reef National Park: Grand Wash

Lots of sagebrush.


Capitol Reef National Park: North Part Of Scenic Drive

Eight minutes worth of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive. Construction caused the speed limit to be lowered to 15 miles per hour.

Notable times:
Campground from 1:45 to 2:30.
Gifford Farmhouse at 2:50.
Fremont River at 3:15.
Johnson Orchard/Ripple Rock Nature Center at 4:00.
Park Ranger vehicle at 5:00.
Mott Orchard at 6:30.
Visitor's Center at 7:40.


Utah SR-24 North To I-70 From Hanksville, UT

Straight shot, flat road. 36 miles to I-70 on Utah State Route 24. Near mile marker 126. Approaching Moab from the north.

I comment on Grand Staircase-Escalante and how scenic it was, as well as the accommodations in Milford, UT and the road (Utah SR-21)to Baker, NV.


Riverside Oasis (Moab, UT)

Cozy accommodations in Moab right by the Colorado River.


Riverside Oasis (Moab, UT)

The sign at about 0:28 says "Danger | No vehicles on berm" Darn straight. I don't want to drive my rental vehicle into the Colorado River.

This place was a bit expensive, but fantastic setting and accommodations. On road trips involving national parks, it's usually the location that matters most to me.