Route 261's Final Adventure - Goosenecks State Park.

How you get to Goosenecks State Park is basically up to whether you did the Valley of the Gods tour which brought you out to Route 163; or if you stayed on Route 261, passed by the Valley and ended up at UT 316.  If you're on Route 163, make a right turn towards Mexican Hat, another right onto Route 261 and then the left onto UT 316; if you're on Route 261, just make that right turn.  The road is short and you'll arrive at a gravel parking lot; walk straight toward the fenced in overlook and get ready for your jaw to drop.

Over 300 million years, between upheavals in the earth, the wind, rain and the flow of the San Juan River, the Goosenecks formed; it is a drop of 1000 feet down below.  Walking along the ledge, it just keeps getting more and more amazing to view; be careful, there is no other fencing and that first step off the edge.......

The Goosenecks

If you've visited Dead Horse Point State Park, you would have seen the single Gooseneck that had been formed by the Colorado River.  Goosenecks State Park has double goosenecks and you can follow the flow of the San Juan River; in sunlight, the stone walls seem to shimmer. 

Camping is allowed in the area, but it is primitive and you'll need to bring your own supplies; the nearest town to shop in would be Mexican Hat.  There is also a trail northwest of the Park called the "Honaker Trail" named after Henry Honaker who supervised its construction.  Built in the 1890s, it was a supply route for gold prospectors, but the "gold rush" in the area didn't last very long.  The dirt trail is 2.5 miles of switchbacks taking you from the canyon rim to the San Juan River below; 4 wheel drive vehicles can make the trek, but it is more hiker friendly than vehicle friendly.




As you leave Goosenecks State Park, a formation will loom up in the distant right; this is the back end of Alhambra Rock.  As you continue onto Route 163, past Mexican Hat and towards Monument Valley, you'll get a better viewing of Alhambra Rock; there is a pull in area if you wish to take photos.

Alhambra Rock - Route 163 view

There is another amazing site as you approach the junction of routes 261 and 163; the stone walls ahead have a design woven through them. The Navajo call it "Mountain That is Coiled"; the design is used by weavers and called "Navajo Blanket".  It represents the giant bullsnake that lives inside; bad luck comes to those who trespass or do not treat the hills with proper respect.

I would be remiss by not posting this photo of my hubby, Roy; as you can see, the Goosenecks are an excellent background for photos; plus I love showing off my hubby.

While the information about Goosenecks State Park is short, it is a sweet place to visit.  There are picnic tables, so think about bringing a meal and gaze out at this wondrous geologic marvel.

Mary Cokenour

The Ghostly Mustangs of Dead Horse Point.

White Horse Figure in Outline
 

The legend of Dead Horse Point originates in the 1800s when cowboys would round up the wild mustangs that roamed around the mesa.  They would corral them down at "The Neck", pick out the best of the herd and let the others go free.  However, for whatever reason, one day the mustangs not chosen were left in the corral and forgotten about.  They died of thirst with the Colorado River in full sight, 2000 feet below them.  We don't truly know how the cowboys felt about what they had done; we can only hope their humanity kicked in with feelings of regret and remorse. It is said that at night, campers can hear the mournful cries of the horses being carried on the wind through the canyons.  From the viewpoint, looking below, the form of a white horse can be seen; a ghost to remind us of the wild horses who tragically passed away.




The Gooseneck
 

From Moab, along Route 191, the entrance to Dead Horse Point State Park, and Canyonlands - Island in the Sky, is about 10 miles to Route 313; another 18 miles to the State Park itself.  After parking and checking in at the Visitor's Center, the Overlook is along a paved, upward incline, walkway.  The walled viewing center is shaded for the most part, but you want to get close enough to the wall to be able to see as far as the eye can see.  Straight ahead is the most photographed site of the park, "The Gooseneck" aka "The Neck". As with the Grand Canyon, the ever moving Colorado River carved out this formation; in fact, Dead Horse Point is also known as Utah's "Little Grand Canyon".  It was here that the actual Grand Canyon scene from the movie, "Thelma and Louise", was filmed. 



The Overlook is surrounded by sandstone; juniper trees, shaped by the wind, grow strong between the stones.








 


To the East is Cane Creek Anticline and the Solar Potash Collection Ponds.






Down below is Shafer Basin and Shafer Trail (originally used to bring cattle down to the water), while looking southward is Pyramid Butte and Pyramid Canyon; further on, Islands in the Sky can be spied.

 

Westward is a desert tower known as "Big Chief" keeping a watchful eye over his canyon.

 

Big Chief
 

Looking to the North, Merrimac and Monitor Buttes can be seen; they can be reached via trails from Mill Canyon Road.

 

Merrimac Butte (on left), Monitor Butte (on right)
 

 

Merrimac and Montior Buttes
 

 

Besides the Overlooks, there are many trails that can be hiked, and while camping sites are available, better make reservations or you'll be out of luck staying overnight at the park.  Invest in ATV or 4 wheel drive maps for traveling over the Basin; it doesn't hurt to carry a map of the hiking trails either.  Want more?  You can always get back on Route 313 and see what surprises Islands in the Sky has in store.  Enjoy it all !!!

Mary Cokenour