Autumn in the Abajo Mountains.

In October 2015, Roy and I took three trips up through the Abajo Mountains/Manti-LaSal Forest to look at the fall colors.  It was a chance for us to take the dogs up to Johnson Creek and picnic, while they played in the water.  It also gave us the chance to finally find out where the road goes, and what there was to see, from the split at South Cottonwood Road.  It was a good thing we didn't keep putting this off, as it snowed the first week of November and the mountains are now donning a cloak of white.

The first trip up was spur of the moment, so we simply drove the paved road up to the ten mile point where Foy Lake can be accessed; went round the curve to continue down Harts Draw Road to Route 211.  Nothing time consuming, just a pleasant drive for the late afternoon; the trees were getting deep into their fall colors of yellow, orange, red; intermingling with evergreens and tall, white Colorado Aspens.

View of Indian Creek Valley from Harts Draw Road

The second time up, we took Johnson Creek Road (FR 079); the turn off for this is about 5 miles up on the paved road; look for the sign that says "Blanding, Indian Creek, Nizhoni".  This is a beautiful drive through forest, around mountains, stupendous vistas of valleys which will either bring you down to the town of Blanding, or you could take FR 095 through Dry Wash and The Causeway.

Twin Peaks Panorama

One Mile North of Robertson Pasture.

Johnson Creek

Colorado Aspens

We did continue on into Blanding to top off the gas tank; at first we were going to return home via Route 191, but the day was still young, so we decided to head on down to State Highway 95 and South Cottonwood Road.  It was a sunny, clear day, so why not find out where that other road went to from the split.  South Cottonwood Road (CR 228) is 6.3 miles from the junction of SH 95/Route 191; this is where you'll find the remains of the Cottonwood Millsite, but we drove on past that to the 7.7 mile mark.  At the split, left becomes FR 092 which will take you, eventually, to FR 088, the backway to Elk Ridge and Big Notch (northward), or Arch Canyon and Bears Ears (southward).  However, we intended on going right this time which took us through Ute Tribal Land (stay on the roadway!), and at 8.2 miles we were welcomed with a sign, "Entering the Manti-LaSal Forest"; South Cottonwood Road was now FR 106.

Sites Along South Cottonwood Road/FR 106



The Beehives

It wouldn't be until mile mark 17.1 that we would reach FR 095 which we could follow along The Causeway and Dry Wash, and, you guessed it...FR 079 and down into Blanding.

FR 106 connects onto FR 095, and the Chippean Ridge is visible as you climb up and around; take the right onto FR 095 to head towards Blanding.









Going through the forest, grey formations began to appear and suddenly there they were around another corner...the Chippean Rocks.

A stop at Maverick Point Overlook is always worth the time; the information board gives the story of the landscape, with a map of the sites in the distance.

The Causeway, on both sides, gives awesome vistas; the sun was beginning its descent, so the landscape was still beautiful, just not as lit up as usual.



This is on the opposite side of the road; used a panorama technique to cause this straight stretch of road to fold in on itself.

Oh, the third time up; well we were up at The Causeway when we noticed that Jenna had lost her collar.  There was no way to retrace our steps, since sunset would be upon us soon; so we went back, the next day, along Johnson Creek Road (FR 079), and found it at the creek area where we picnicked.  Thankfully it was on the grassy area and had not fallen into the creek itself, or somewhere in the underbrush.  Note to selves: after Jenna goes romping, check she has her collar before leaving!

Mary Cokenour

The Manti La-Sal National Forest Adventure - Part Three.

FR 079 aka Johnson Creek Road is approximately five miles from the Monticello Welcome Center, just past the Dalton Springs campground. It is a well maintained graded gravel and dirt trail that leads from Abajo Drive (Monticello) to North Blue Mountain Road (Blanding); 4 wheel drive vehicles are preferable, but a car can make the drive, just more slowly.  While I can tell you which peak is Abajo Peak (radio towers on top) or Horsehead Peak (trees form a horse's head), I'm totally lost as to which other mountain is which; they basically all look the same to me.  Once again geolocation, hiking, and mountain climbing sites on the internet offer me lots of information on GPS coordinates or longitude/latitude points; no photos, not a single one, not even of the popular Abajo and Horsehead Peaks.  Anyway, it is a spectacular drive full of scenic viewpoints and it is highly recommended  for seeing what it's all about in this section of the Abajo Mountains and Manti La-Sal National Forest.

On the map, FR 079 is highlighted in bright red; while it is only a little over 30 miles to complete the route, expect to be up there for about an hour to 1 and /2 hours for a good viewing.

The photos I'll be posting are a combination from two trips up there, one in June and the other in September; you'll get a good idea of the summer and fall up in the forest.  Now our first trip up in June, we had only just gone about a half mile down the trail when we were surprised with such an endearing (no pun intended) sight...a fawn grazing on the side of the road.  As we drove by, very slowly, it leaped up into the forest and standing just beyond was its mama; we made sure to say hello in soft voices and to thank her for letting us see her baby.









A good amount of the trail is lined with Aspen trees; the sunlight streaking through the forest gives a grand light show.  At one point, a fallen tree created an archway for us to drive through.

Elderberry

The are many twists and turns, an occasional hairpin turn, on this road; at some corners, nature has created a lovely garden to admire.  Actually, all along the trail are a variety of flowers and bushes; and maybe the occasional bunny will come into view.




Richardson's Geranium

Iris



Chokecherry

Now lets climb higher into these mountains; grand pastures climb upwards towards the peaks while mule deer graze in the open.  As much as we wanted to park and climb upwards ourselves, there was just no room and blocking the road didn't seem a good option.  Actually, both times we did not see another vehicle until we came close to the end of the trail, near Nizhoni Campground.  Let me tell you though, when you're standing at the very bottom, looking up, you can experience vertigo.

In September there was a good amount of cloud traveling through the mountains, just in case you're wondering about some of the photos; they were so close that we could drive right through them at points.  When you get to North Canyon, the road becomes very narrow; if it's wet, take it slow as it will be quite muddy.  Stop, however, and get that grand view of Cooley Pass with Horsehead Peak in the distance.  Oh, that winding road to the right of the North Canyon/Cooley Pass photos; yes, you will be traveling down, down and round, round, and it will be fun, fun.





Summer View

Autumn View

Speaking of the Horsehead, there was a point on the trip that we stopped to look at something and when we looked upward, holy moly, there was the actual horse head up close and personal.





Ready for more spectacular scenic mountain photos?

Looks like terrace gardening, but it's a natural effect.

You'll get a chance to catch your breath and relax that over active heartbeat when you re-enter the canopy of the forest.  As you begin one curve to the left, to the right will be a gigantic field of broken, flat stones; this is actual mountain that has broken apart from the peak and slid down the side.  We walked over it only a little bit as it is quite uncomfortable, and those jagged edges gave us something to think about; mainly, "how stupid are you!?!"

 

 

 

Back to that curve in the road; it will go down slightly before curving to the right; but do not miss that little creek on the left hand side.  That is one of the offshoots from Indian Creek, and the sign for Indian Creek and one of the many trails is just ahead on the trail.  Many of the trails through this section of the forest are ATV friendly only.  Anyway, this is just a lovely spot to take a break in; we have two dogs that love the water, so bring them up here to enjoy a good splash in the creek.  If you cross the creek, there is a clearing ahead and it makes a great spot for a picnic.



You'll see pastures here and there again also; one we passed by had horses resting in them.

Riding upwards again on the trail, there will be an overlook; more of the rubble that you saw near the creek offshoot will be around the pull-in point.  Talk about "on a clear day you can see forever"; in the far distance is Comb Ridge.  This is an absolutely beautiful viewpoint area, so don't miss it!



Comb Ridge at upper portion of photo.

You're going to begin the downward trek out of the mountains now; don't be scared by the steep winding road ahead of you, it's really not that bad.  At one twist of the road, these gorgeous red sandstone hills will be to the left; I'm presuming these are the Red Bluffs, since the location matches the map.

Red Bluffs

The road will level out and be graded gravel for the long stretch to Blanding; you will pass by several pastures as you approach Nizhoni Campground, and see the junction to FR 095 - The Causeway Road. 

Three wondrous trips through the Manti La-Sal National Forest; the question is, "Which one are you going to tackle first?"

Mary Cokenour