Leisurely Drive Through the Indian Creek Valley.

Scenic Highway 211 is the access road to Canyonlands National Park - The Needles District.  Those in a rush to see the park, and only that, miss out on the breathtaking landscape along the roadway.  I wonder sometimes, do they purposely put on blinders; is the idea of not sticking to a strict travel schedule that frightening???

To those of you who wander the roads looking for everything and anything; you'll appreciate the photos I'll share in this posting.  To those who raced to the National Park, now you can see some sites you missed out on; and have a great excuse to come back.

Driving forward on a roadway, don't you ever wonder what it looks like behind you?  We often like to stop, get out, turn around and see; depending on the lighting, it won't be the same in the morning as it is in the evening.

Those are the La Sal Mountains north of Monticello, Utah with Lisbon Valley in the foreground.  Can you really say this sight doesn't take your breathe away?  Imagine if you were personally standing there and taking it all in!?!


The sun was beginning to travel westward by the time we drove past Newspaper Rock and stopped at the trailhead for Shay Canyon (1.8 miles west of Newspaper Rock).  Definitely on our to-do list to take that hike, even if just to the opening of the canyon, and getting up close and personal to that jug handle arch.  Warm weather had come, snow melting, and water flowing through the Indian Creek (see video).

Trail downward.

Pretty soon the narrow walls of the Newspaper Rock area open up into a grand vista of the #1 crack climbing walls in the world; beyond you can begin to see Bridger Jack Mesa and the North and South Six Shooters.

The Dugout Ranch (owned by the Redd Family) is along Highway 211; if you drive the road to Beef Basin/Elk Mountain, you can truly see the vastness of this ranch.  There are petroglyphs and ruins located on the ranch, and I hope to get an invite to visit out there one of these days...yes Redd family, that is a huge hint!!!


Now did we go into the park, why yes we did!  We spent three hours hiking around and enjoying the solitude; the Needles District is never as packed as the parks located up in the Moab area.  This, of course, will be a separate write up on this travel blog, so hope you have patience.  We left the park as sunset was approaching, so now you get to see many of the same places I've just shown you, but in that different lighting I mentioned.

Now a real treat, a herd of horses heading on home for the evening; definitely one of those sights that promotes the spirit of the Old West.

Well I've either brought back some fond memories for you; or you're kicking yourselves in the butt for not taking the time to slow down and look around.  Remember, life is short, so don't go through it with your senses closed down and in a rush to get nowhere.

Mary Cokenour

Harts Point Road is 15 Miles of Awesome!

So many people do it, drive up the paved mountain road, up and over the Abajo Mountains, down Harts Draw Road and onto Route 211.  They either head back to Highway 191, or towards Newspaper Rock and Canyonlands National Park - Needles District.  Seems the sign saying, "Indian Creek Recreation Area" is bypassed; recreation?  Why in the world would anyone be interested in recreation?  'cuse me while I roll my eyes for a bit.


Ok, now that my eyes are back in focus, I can continue.  Indian Creek Recreation Area is more than a primitive camping area; there are 4 wheel drive trails, ATV trails, campsites, breath taking scenery.  Harts Point Road (San Juan County Road 137) is 15 miles itself, with trails leading off all along the way; it ends at a sandy and slickrock area which has three ATV trails just at this point.  The road itself is red dirt mixed with sand; now and then slickrock will stretch across a section; dry washes are easy to drive through.  4 wheel drive is a must!

Harts Point Road mainly runs parallel with Highway 191 and Route 211; also with the road that runs past Photograph Gap and up to Canyon Rims Recreation Area.  Elevation does ascend the further you head inward, so you end up getting outstanding views of Dry Valley, Harts Point, Donnelly Canyon and the Indian Creek Valley.

Dry Valley

Harts Point, one of the interesting formations within.

Moon over another section of Harts Point.

We passed by two old corrals with windmills; and a grey hill here and there, with obvious track marks.

Glimpses of canyons off Route 211 are seen when the land flattens out, and there is low lying shrub growth.  Donnelly Canyon was one, and we were basically riding eye level with rock walls that loom up when you're driving along Route 211 way down below.

...and then comes the first sighting of one of the Sixshooters.  

Background - Bridger Jack Mesa.

Before you know it, the landscape opens up again, Bridger Jack Mesa and the South Sixshooter are just visible.  A sandy descent brings you to ledges and then it fully opens up before you...Bridger Jack Mesa below, you're eye level with the South Sixshooter; the whole experience is breathtaking!!!

It's difficult to get over the completely serene feeling of standing on a ledge, eye to eye with the South Sixshooter; a desert tower that looms over those driving along Route 211 way down below.  Starting up the sandy land, that's when it happens....it's quick and sudden; you're totally caught off guard.  A swarm of kamikaze blood sucking fighter pilots attack!  Gnats!!!  Gnats out here are as large as flies; they are relentless and vicious; no amount of bug spray or lotion deters them from their main goal...sucking your life's blood.  Clutching both cameras in one hand, I swatted this way and that.  Alas, I was bitten mercilessly; finally obtaining safety within our vehicle and slathering on anti-itch cream.  Traveling, hiking and climbing around the Four Corners area, you learn quickly what items should be in the first aid box.


At mile mark 15, the dirt road ends at a rocky, sandy campground area; there are three ATV trails around.  It is a beautifully peaceful place to rest up at.

View from the camping area at mile mark 15.

Plantlife time!  The prickly pear cacti were in bloom; here are a couple of photos of a yellow blooming one.

After we returned to Monticello, we shared a meal at Shake Shack; fresh cut fries, a double stack patty melt, and above the rim shakes (mint for me, pineapple/coconut for Roy).  A perfect ending to a perfect adventure.

Mary Cokenour

Random Roaming Along Scenic Byway 211.

Taking the road up through the Abajo Mountains is a simple given when you want to get away from the realities of the world for a little while.  Oh, all the problems and issues will still be waiting for you; but with a clear mind, maybe they won't seem as impossible as before.

A second area that can have the same effect is the Scenic Byway 211 that takes you to Canyonlands National Park - Needles District.  You don't have to go into the park to get your mind set back; why do you think it's called "scenic byway"?

500 feet before the parking area for Newspaper Rock is a small pull-in area; across from it is a trail heading?  Well, according to my DeLorme Utah map, it would have eventually connected up with the trail through Shay Canyon and onto Shay Ridge; we weren't going that far today.  We'd had a lot of rain, so the Indian Creek was flowing wonderfully; our dog, Jenna, loved playing in the rushing water.

Trailhead Across from Pull-In.



Roy and Jenna relaxing by a huge cottonwood tree.

Going towards Needles, it's always a thrill to be coming round the bend and the entire valley opens up.  The classic scene is Bridger Jack Mesa and the Six Shooters; they are always a breath taking scene.

We found the trailheads to Lavender and Davis Canyons, but we only went as far as the split.  All the rain we'd been having was causing flash flooding, and the trails were a total mess.  Good thing we didn't try them out at all; the next week I met a man who told me he and his son had gone out to Lavender Canyon.  A flash flood had hit and the road was underwater; they were stuck out there for four days!!!  They were smart enough to have plenty of food and water with them, but cell service in these parts is hit or miss.  Only the week before, a photographer had gone out to Davis Canyon, gotten stuck out there, tried to dig out his vehicle and died of a heart attack.  He had not told anyone where exactly he was going; this is why you don't go out alone, nor tell anyone where you are going!!!

An interesting site you might see along the roadways is a colorful grass-like plant. I've seen sunny yellow, bright green, deep red and purple; as pretty as this plant is though, it is a weed and can be dangerous to canines.  The seeds of Foxtail Grass are extremely tough and cannot be broken down by the body; ingestion can be fatal to dogs; embedding into the skin can lead to severe infections.  For more information, go to WebMD and their section on pets (website: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/foxtail-grass-and-your-dog ).





As always, this jaunt along Route 211 included a picnic; sitting along the Indian Creek under the cottonwood trees could not have been more lovely.  With any trip into San Juan County's beautiful areas, have plenty of gas, healthy snacks, water and don't forget the picnic!

Mary Cokenour