Z to A the Utah Way

On the road in the middle of UTAH

I had ten days off for Spring Break and I was not going to stay in California. Where could I go? My friend lived in Colorado and it was still snowboarding season. I had never been to the Grand Canyon or Sedona. That was it- I was going on a road trip.

The Grotto, Zion N.P.

The first stop was Bullhead City, Arizona to touch base with friends and family. My plan was to drive through Las Vegas and visit Zion National Park.  It cost $25 to enter the park. The pass lasts a week. 

The Sentinel, Zion N.P. 

Deer and rabbits run freely while hikers and campers set-up camp for dinner. The temperature was cool in the canyon at about 50 degrees.

Zion means "promise land" which signifies the refuge it offers in the surrounding desert.  Navajo Sandstone lined Zion Park Boulevard, resembling the "Cars" movie landscape.

Cool little building near Cedar City, UT

I exited Zion and headed into the entrance of Dixie National Park where I pulled off into the field to catch some sleep. Alone in my car, I bundled up in the back seat with a sleeping bag and two blankets.  For some it sounds like a scary Blair Witch situation but I felt fine.

I awoke at three AM ready to hit the road. I pulled over to make some breakfast and tea with my portable stove. Somewhere off Highway 70 I stop at a gas station for fuel and a place to wash up. Feeling refreshed I head towards Arches National Park.

Somewhere of Highway 70 

Deer in Zion N.P. 

100 million years of erosion carves at the beauty out of the ground at Arches National Park. Located in Moab, Utah all to see is sky and dynamic landforms. The park lies atop an underground salt bed that is responsible for the arches, balanced rocks, and monoliths. For $10 per automobile, the adventure was on. 

Landscape Arch was the first sight, thin ribbon of rock stretched to form one of the longest arches in the world.  Further up ahead was a primitive trail, which leads you up through "Devils Garden." Juniper tree branches help me find balance on the steep trail.

Landscape Arch

Primitive Trail 

Balanced Rock and I 

Balanced Rock is 128 feet tall with a 55 feet boulder sitting on top of mudstone perch. The boulder weighs 3,500 tons and looks like some type of artificial contraption.  Miniature size replicas surround the original like some cult.

Skyline Arch

Courthouse Towers

On the way out of the park I pass the courthouse towers. I pause at the Park Avenue Viewpoint, where a visual story is represented through the condition of the Entrada Sandstone. Thee rock layers exist:

Park Avenue Viewpoint

1. Moab Tounge, which is at the top of the rocky skyscrapers.

2. Slick Rock member, middle layer is a fine-grained, cliff forming sandstone that is prone to arch formation.

3. Dewey Bridge Member, oldest layer has a muddy looking, reddish brown appearance. It is the lumpy remains of a tidal flat landscape and is weaker than the layers above.

Enough with the geo-talk, it was time to head northeast to the Colorado border. Before connecting with my couchsurfing host, I stop to relax in the hot springs at Glenwood Springs. I stumbled upon this gem after seeing a review in the Los Angeles Times newspaper. It showed a steamy pool below the backdrop of snowy mountains. Well folks I got the picture and it was so beautiful!