{"id":384,"date":"2009-06-02T21:55:24","date_gmt":"2009-06-03T04:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastgreatroadtrip.net\/?p=384"},"modified":"2009-06-11T11:12:36","modified_gmt":"2009-06-11T18:12:36","slug":"picks-and-pans-from-canyon-de-chelly-to-capitol-reef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lastgreatroadtrip.net\/?p=384","title":{"rendered":"Picks and Pans – From Canyon de Chelly to Capitol Reef"},"content":{"rendered":"

PICKS:<\/strong>
\nMonument Valley<\/a> Drive<\/p>\n

Having just seen Chevy Chase crash the family station wagon with cinematic aplomb into the middle of Monument Valley, I knew we were about to embark on one of the most classic American road trip routes through the southwest.\u00c2\u00a0 Monument Valley, with its geological towers and spires rising dramatically up out of the flat desert landscape, lives up to its reputation. It looks just how you think it should, blue sky, white puffy clouds and all. And a word to the wise: Don’t go down the road to the Navajo Visitor Center. They charge you $5 before you can even get to the parking lot. Lame.<\/div>\n

Valley of the Gods<\/a><\/p>\n

Striking views and it’s right after Monument Valley. We were too road weary to stop, but we’ll get back to it when we loop around on our way to Canyonlands.<\/div>\n

Cottonwoods RV Park<\/a> in Bluff, UT<\/p>\n

After a day filled with hiking to Anasazi ruins, jumping around the rocks of the Canyon de Chelly rim and driving through Monument Valley, we were content with the basics available at the Cottonwoods RV park. There was a shower, a place to refill our water bottles, a parking spot for our van and a picnic table to fix our dinner at….all the necessities. Plus, on our way out of town in the morning we were bid farewell by the magnificent Navajo Twins, a pair of rock formations sitting at the outskirts of Bluff.<\/div>\n

Natural Bridges National Monument<\/a><\/p>\n

Natural Bridges is right off the Bicentennial Highway and has three of the largest natural bridges in the world, with hiking trails down to the base of all three. We hiked part of the way down to Sipapu Bridge, but had to turn back due to a threatening rainstorm. There are some great views of the bridge from the rock outcrop at the bottom of the ladder on the trail, so if you go, be sure to take a water break there. We got to hike the entire way down to Owachomo Bridge. When we reached the bottom, I felt like we were standing in the throne room of an ancient court as I looked back up the natural stone steps rising from under the bridge. The other bridge, Kachina, has petroglyphs and Pueblo ruins along the trail, but we didn’t get a chance to hike down to it; although, it’s probably worth checking out if you have the time.<\/div>\n

Bicentennial Highway<\/a> Drive<\/p>\n

Bicentennial Highway is my nominee for most visually stunning roadway in the U.S. (at least thus far). For three hours, we drove through red rock valleys, over tremendous canyons, past insane rock formations….and the whole time, saw only a handful of other cars. There were places that looked like the Moon, there were places that looked like Mars, and places that looked like nothing I have ever seen before. We are already fantasizing about a future backpacking trip where we will park the van on the side of the road and venture up into Glen Canyon to discover some even more amazing vistas. Sean says: Super Pick! Views rival Monument Valley and you can just pull off anywhere to take pictures, go on a hike, whatever, cause there’s hardly anyone around.<\/div>\n


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