The weather has been beautiful, perfect for a road trip north through the Navaho Reservation and up to Moab before turning east to head over the mountains to Colorado. North of Flagstaff, just after the road turns toward Tuba City, it passes these layered hills. Like a many flavored layer cake!
North of Kayenta, the road passes through Monument Valley, which straddles the Arizona/Utah state line. It's magnificent from every direction but this view from the north looking south is my favorite.
As the road nears the town of Mexican Hat, Utah, there are warning signs for miles about an upcoming sharp right turn.
Oh, and there is a steep hill right before the turn too!
See? If you don't make the turn, there will be trouble! A river on one side and a solid rock wall on the other!
This is the bridge over the San Juan River.
The mountains on the east side of Mexican Hat are quite interesting geologically. To me it looks like the "bottom fell out" at the end of the ridges. You can see how they just slump off suddenly.
Rather than trying to make the entire drive to Colorado in one day, I decided to break it up a bit this trip and that gave me time to take a side trip to Arches National Park. My first stop was to see Delicate Arch, the arch depicted on Utah license plates. It looks small in this picture (because I'm a mile away from it!) but is really about 45 feet across the base of the opening.
Next I stopped to take a short walk to Sand Dune Arch. To reach this spot, you walk in deep fine sand between the tall narrow fins of rock.
It's a secret arch, hidden within the rock fins!
Nearby is Broken Arch. The colors of the landscape here are gorgeous.
Down the road a bit is Skyline Arch. Lots of old twisted junipers here that I loved.
The landscape in Arches glows in the setting sun. The snow capped peaks in the distance are the La Sal Mountains. A perfect view to end a lovely day!
2010-04-15
On the Road Again!
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8 comments:
Wow what amazing photo's.We have a beautiful country here in New Zealand, but you sure have some spectacular scenery.
Thankyou for sharing.
Thank you so much for taking me along for the ride. What spectacular scenery. Here in Norfolk in the UK. the landscape is very flat (not a hill, let alone a mountain in sight) everywhere is very green though, and we have wide open skies, which I love. Thanks again. Beautiful pics
Very beautiful photos, thanks!Where I live, there are no mountains.
HAve a safe FUN trip home to Colorado
Your pictures and descriptions are beautiful! I really like the last one of the sunset, with all the different climates and contrasts, it's amazing! A trip I need to make one day. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, what lovely pictures! I live here in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah but have never been to Arches National Park. Now it's on my Must See list. Thank you for sharing those pictures! Hugs, Cathy
What beautiful country and what great pictures you take. I have never been through that area and am sorry we have missed it.
Hugs
FredaB
So beautiful pictures! A lot of space and air - I love them all!
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