Utah

With the snow that was expected in the Rockies I decided to head south a bit into Utah with the benefit that there are several National Parks that I could explore along the way.  My first night was spent in the Walmart parking lot just north of Salt Lake City.  I was only a couple hundred miles south and a huge temperature difference.

I did spend a little time on the Great Salt Lake but I could not find much access.  In hind site next trip I should go out to Antelope Island which is a State Park and probably the best place to explore.  I did go down to the State Park Marina and get a couple pictures.

 

After leaving the Great Salt Lake I drove an hour or so to Yuba State Park only to find that I was the only person in the park.  I picked out my site which overlooked the lake and enjoyed the remainder of the day by sitting in the sunshine.

 

The next morning I drove a couple hours to Bryce Canyons National Park but to get there you have to drive through Red Rock Canyon… Awesome.

Arriving at Bryce Canyon I was able to get a campsite even though there was a sign saying the campground was full.  Actually there were a lot of sites available.  I decided that I would pay for two nights here.  For the remainder of today I would car tour the park.  Tomorrow drive down to Zion National Park and then the following day I did a hike down into the canyon.

 

Bryce Canyon looking at the amphitheater from Bryce Point

Down in the canyon looking up at Queen Victoria

The trail through the canyon in spots is cut through the rock.

I entered Zion NP from the East entrance and after going through the fee booth the first sight will be the Checkerboard Mesa.

Weeping Rock

Temple of the Sinawava.

From here you can hike up the canyon, it is a wet hike.

Leaving Bryce Canyon takes me along highway 12 through the Grand Staircase - Escalante.  This is an awesome drive, at times you are driving along the highway and on either side it drops off hundreds of feet and no guard rails!

In the village of Bolder, UT you only have a choice of a couple restaurants.  I picked this one because it had outside seating but the personalities of the staff really made it a great place.

A little side trip up the mountain just outside of Boulder, UT took me to this spot.

Couple pictures from Capitol Reef National Park.  These pictures were taken outside the normal tourist area, that is unless the tourist has a high clearance 4x4.

 Quartz Mountain

Next stop in Utah is Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.  These two parks are close together too so I took a site at Canyonlands for a couple days.  

 

Looking down over a cliff to my road to the bottom of the canyon in Canyonlands NP.  Another one of those 4x4 roads.

Notice the undercut...

This arch is one that is visible from the road going through the park.  It is also visible from the other side in the campground.

This arch is only visible to those that are willing to get out and walk a few miles back.  Awesome hike!  I sat under the arch and ate my lunch before heading back.