Thursday, 18th of April 2013 at 08:55:39 PM

Canyonlands 2013 day 7: Cathedral Valley

Today I lefft the town of Escalante, UT and wanted to relax from the previous Hikes by driving some Backways and challenge the Jeep. First I took the Hells Backbone Road which starts in Escalante and leads to the Dixie Forest Mountains and Posey Lake. It was a unpaved Gravelroad in good condition and not very scenic.Only the Canyon at the Mountain Peak was really impresive. I took some shots and drove the mountain down back to US12 at Boulder, UT.

250 miles of back roads

In Boulder I used the Burr Trail Road to visit the Trailhead to the Strike Valley Overlook. The final 2 miles are only accesible with High Clerance and 4WD and for me it was really a good exercise to drive the rocky road.

4WD road to Strikevalley overlook Trailhead

Strikevalley Overlook

Then I drove down the Burr Trail Switchbacks and took the Notom Bullfrog Rod into northern direction, driving along the Waterpocket fold. It reminded me of a large scale version of the Cockscomb at the Cottonwood Canyon road near Page, Az.

Notom Bullfrog Raod

Finally I drove up to Capitol Reefs Upper Cathedral Valley. Adventurous the drive through the river Ford to reach the Hartnet Road. Then a long drive up the bumpy road to Upper Cathedral Valley where I arrived little bit late for the sunset shots.

Upper Cathedral Valley at sunset

I wanted to camp at the Upper cathedral Valley campground. But it was already full. I was told I could carcamp everywhere in the Park region. Because I wanted to shot sunrise at Temple of the Sun and Moon I continued my drive down to Temple of the sun where I passed the night in the car.