The Painted Desert Loop: Getting Started

Starting point -Salt Lake City
 





Armed with my National Parks Pass and reservations for lodging, we are heading south on Friday, Feb. 16. Our destination is a loop in Arizona that encircles an area that includes the Navajo and Hopi nations along with many other places important in History. I'm calling this the Painted Desert Loop and if weather permits, we should have some colorful photos to justify the name.


Maps courtesy of d-maps.com

This year I'm fortunate to have Teresa with me. It has been fun planning the trip together and discovering places of interest. As the top map shows, we'll be following routes that represent several historic trails. Not labeled is a section of Route 66 through Arizona. We will visit and share as many of the sights along the way as time and weather allow. I hope you will follow us and enjoy what we are able to share.

   We left SLC in cool gray weather which stayed with us until we emerged into the desert east of Price. The desert was dull brown under a bright blue sky but by the time we reached Sunnyside the Book Cliffs brought color and drama to the scene.
                             
                                                   
Click on image to enlarge.

This section of highway follows a section of the old Outlaw Trail. At the junction of I70, 
 near Green River, Utah, the Outlaw Trail veers off to the west and runs south to Hanksville and Robbers Roost. To the east, US 191 continues south to Moab. This is the route of the Old Spanish Trail which we will follow to Monticello.

                                                                      
The La Sal Mountains near Moab, UT.


                                                                               
Wilson Arch near Moab.

Moab looks like a combination tourist trap and junkyard. New hotels are constantly under construction and even at this time of year, there's a ton of traffic. The attractions are Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. It's also a Mecca for mountain bikers and off-roaders. It holds little attraction for me, but I do love the parks.

Once past Monticello, we continue south toward Blanding, UT, while the Old Spanish Trail heads east toward Durango and Pagosa Springs, CO, before turning south to New Mexico.

Blanding is actually the true beginning of our route around the Painted Desert. It's probably best known for the nearby Bears Ears NM, but it also has a state park called Edge of the Cedars with a museum and a large collection of Anasazi artifacts. There's also a reconstructed ruin and a view of the Bears Ears.

                                                                           


                                                                               
The Bears Ears from Blanding.


                     
An amazing black cloud at Edge of the Cedars

  We arrived at the museum just as it closed, so I'll need to report on that tomorrow. I'll also have a few more photos of Blanding and the Bears Ears area. By afternoon, we should be on our way to Arizona and Canyon De Chelly. Ciao till then!



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