Picks, Pans and Other: Between the Grand Canyon and Needles

Page Lake Powell Campground was the kind of place we sometimes have to stop because we want a shower. It was an RV park. It had a shower. It was en route to where we wanted to go (Canyonlands). That’s about it. Sean says: Though they have LOTS of wifi routers stationed all around the compound, they cut out regularly, so you will only download frustration if you try to upload/download anything large.

We wanted a burger. We got a burger. It was ok. The next time we wanted a burger, we made our own. It was much better and cheaper than the one we got here.

Page, AZ is not a cultural mecca. People come here because it’s in the middle of lots of other cool places. Luckily enough tourists (read: Europeans and city dwellers) come here to create a market for espresso and wi-fi, and thus Beans Coffee House. We charged our computers, we updated the blog, we got our caffeine. Yay.

The small, unassuming sign on Highway 191 pointing you toward the dirt road that winds through the Valley of the Gods does not prepare you for what lies ahead. Traveling down this road, I quickly realized that we had been granted the privilege of closely communing with the ancients. Geological greats towered around every turn and exploring slowly and quietly among them, we could feel time on the grand scale, if only for a little while.

We turned up 261 after leaving the Valley of the Gods. En route to 95, this unpaved road carves its way up the side of a mountain and gives a tremendous view across the valley before it descends to the other side of the pass. It was breathtaking.

Devil’s Canyon is within view of the dark evergreen covered mountains of the Manti National Forest and was happily a cool and unpopulated campground, especially given our previous night at the RV park. I don’t think I would recommend a stop here unless it’s on your way, but we had a restful night. Seems like the biggest draw for the other campers here was the plethora of opportunities just down the road for those with 4 wheelers. Sean says: Note the electric outlets in the bathroom if you need to charge up.