Shay Ridge Trail - Here's a Tease.

Shay Ridge, Shay Mountain and Shay Canyon; a trilogy that will soon be completed by Roy and myself.  When it comes to the 4 Corners region, I still have a five page to-do list of sites to visit and things to accomplish.  Just as I cross off one at the top, another three get added to the last page; so is it any wonder I have to live to age 100 to possibly get it all done!?!

The trailhead for Shay Ridge can be accessed at Foy Lake; it begins as FR 104 to 6.2 miles which can be traveled via 4 wheel drive, ATV, mountain bike and hiking.  There are designated camping areas; we found a real beauty at 2.8 miles with stone barbecue and a creek.  At the end of 6.2 miles, the trail (changes number to 162) becomes narrow; nothing larger than an ATV can continue on.  There is a wooden fence there with an opening just large enough for an ATV, but an SUV can't get through.  There's also an informational sign there that lists rules for traveling the next section of this trail.

Along the 6.2 miles, the landscape is quite stunning; within the forest the Ponderosa Pine trees are amazing!  I have to admit that I actually put my arms around one and Roy took a photo.  It was really the only way the size of the trees could be seen without being up close and personal.

This blog post will basically be a tease; it was the first time we went onto the trail, but a sudden thunderstorm moved in quickly.  We hightailed it out and back to Monticello, making it home just as the rain began to pour down.  When we went up a couple of weeks later, the mud slides were apparent; this is an event we certainly did NOT want to be part of.  Oh, we did get to Foy Lake just in time to see a cattle drive; recorded it and the YouTube link will be listed below.

So, enjoy the tease...

Trail is loose dirt, sand and small rocks, but graded for easier travel.

Campground and Creek at 2.8 miles 

Prickly Pear Cactus

 The Cattle Drive at Foy Lake

Cattle Drive Video

There will be more to read about on this adventure, so keep a look out; better yet, subscribe to the feed and become a follower!!!

Mary Cokenour

Bored? Not in San Juan County, or You're Not Really Trying.

Sometimes I have to wonder why; why some people come to our neck of the woods, or desert? They don't want to hike; climb; visit ruins or rock art sites; no fishing or camping for them; ATVs, mountain or dirt bikes out of the question. Truthfully, I believe they threw a dart at the map of the United States and San Juan County, Utah is where it landed.

If you're a devout reader of this travel blog, and why shouldn't you be, I've already written many an enticing article on San Juan County's treasures.  Bored?  Lets go up the mountain road once again, down to Route 211 and have an enjoyable cruise of the area.  Oh yes, I took my dog Jenna with me, and she so loved running through the forest and over the slick rock!

We did a bit of backtracking in the Abajo Mountains on this trip; we got to Monticello Lake (7 miles up), took the side road to Spring Creek Road (CR 103) and that short road (CR 163) to get shots of the Indian Creek Valley in the distance.



Abajo Mountains under storm clouds.

Instead of going back to Monticello Lake, we went back to the CR 163/CR 103 junction and took the fork all the way to the right; this brought us to the 9 mile mark on the mountain road.  One more mile was the turn onto Harts Draw Road, or the short trek to Foy Lake.  There's no written law that you have to stay on the paved road up and over the mountains; well, only the fear of adventure in your own mind.


Foy Lake is the smallest of the three lakes, but it has amazing trails that lead off from it.  Shay Ridge, Aspen Flats, Red Ledges and Robertson Pasture are trails that can be accessed via the road to Foy Lake.  Each trail is just as perfect as the next for hiking, horseback riding, mountain bikes, motorcycling, and ATVs.   Make sure to have plenty of water, healthy snacks and operating cellphones (even though the service is spotty); pick up maps at the Monticello Welcome Center to get more incites to the trails. Camping is allowed up at Foy Lake, but get there early as sites are very limited.

Back to that curve that begins down the mountain road, aka Harts Draw Road, and there are various pull-in points to take further photos of the Indian Creek Valley. 

So, what's so special about the Indian Creek Valley?  Drive Route 211 and answer your own question; if you cannot be awed by its wonders and beauty, then nothing can impress you about nature.  Might as well take that dart you threw at the map and poke your own eyes out.


A classic stopping point is Newspaper Rock where centuries of Native American art was left for future generations to read.  Ignore the 20th-21st century initials and dates left by people who obviously have no respect for any area they visit.

No matter how many times I have driven the roads in this area, I always manage to find something new.  Well, it might have been there all along, but for me, it's a new site.  This set of pinnacles reminds me of the "Three Sisters" down in Monument Valley, or the "Three Gossips" at Arches National Park.

This little jaunt only took two hours to complete; back to Monticello and a well deserved lunch for Jenna and myself.  Poor girl, she didn't even eat; simply jumped up on the bed and went straight into a sound sleep.

Bored?  Really?  Out in San Juan County's wonderlands?  Sucks to be you!!!


Mary Cokenour

Happy Fourth Anniversary of Living in Monticello, Utah!!!

Four years ago, May 18, 2009, my husband and I moved into our current home located in Monticello, Utah (founded in 1888).  Originally we had planned on moving to Moab, Utah, but while housing prices plummeted in Pennsylvania, they remained quite high in Moab.  After revisiting the area in 2008, we settled on a second choice in case Moab stayed out of our reach; the small city of Monticello.  Now after living in large populated areas in New York and Pennsylvania, Monticello seemed far out of the definition of city with a population still under 2000.  Nevertheless, we purchased a home that had been severely neglected; put tons of love, and cash, into its revitalization; and here we still remain.  There is so much more we would love to do with the rebuilding of the home, but until we hit the big lottery jackpot...

Traveling South from Moab, Utah on Route 191 you begin to see the outskirts of Monticello.  The speed limit throughout town is 30, and you better abide by it.  Center and Main Streets are the crossroads for Routes 191 (leading to Blanding, Bluff and eventually, Monument Valley) and 491 (leading to Colorado).  The town is under-established business wise with the majority being hotels and motels.  Most residents, whether they admit to it or not, do much of their shopping in Cortez, Colorado (only one hour away on Route 491) which has two major supermarket chains and a WalMart.  For tourists, there is The Hideaway Golf Course for those interested in golfing, but the largest attraction is Canyonlands National Park which features The Needles, and many other breath taking formations, arches and Indian ruins. 

 

The Abajo Mountains
 

Monticello is 7100 miles above sea level and sits beneath the watchful eye of the Abajo Mountains.  It is normally 20 degrees cooler than Moab which is wonderful during the summer months; winter is a whole other story though.  A paved road leads up to and throughout; eventually leading out to Route 211 to Canyonlands or back to Route 191.

The scenery up in the Abajos is so beautiful; mountains, forest, brushland (aka prairie, range), desert, grassland work in perfect harmony.  There are trails to be hiked, rocks to be climbed, places to picnic and you are surrounded by, not just sheer natural beauty, but absolute quiet.  You can hear your own heart beat while breathing in the crisp, clean air.

Loyd's Lake

Foy Lake

 







   There are three lakes in the Abajos; Loyd's Lake, Monticello Lake and Foy Lake; along with many camping areas around the  lakes, or nearby.


Monticello Lake
 

Sunrise
 

Sunset

What has taken my breath away, simply astounded me even to this day is the sky.  The most perfect blue sky I have ever seen; not that pollution filled sickly bluish-green, but BLUE!!!  The clouds are brightly white and so puffy.  The stars at night are as bright as diamonds; when the moon is full it's as if you could actually put your hand up and touch it.

Night
 

Monticello, Utah is not a perfect town; yes, it needs to come into the 21st century by providing more business, not just for its residents (which means employment too), but to attract more tourists and their dollars.  Instead of many places closing down for the winter, they could remain open if winter sports areas were established in the mountains.  Monticello needs to grow and I am not the only resident who feels this way; but we all agree that it cannot expand too rapidly or largely.  Keep the quaint town feel, but make sure all those storefronts are open for business!

As to residing in Monticello, I certainly encourage anyone who wants to live in a beautifully scenic environment to purchase a home here.  The big city?  Visit if you need to, but don't live there if you want to remain sane and healthy.  Sometimes someone will ask me if I ever intend on going back to the East Coast...OH HELL NO!!!

Mary Cokenour