Dolores Canyon Overlook via Dove Creek.

Just as you're about to leave the little town of Dove Creek, Colorado (heading eastward), and you see Adobe Milling at the top of the short incline; a road leads off to the left of a shabby looking building.  This unmaintained road leads to the Dolores River Overlook, or the Dolores Canyon Overlook...this tale is of the latter.  It was a late Sunday morning, Roy and I were simply driving around to see what we've missed on minor roads; we are a curious pair in more ways than some.


This road led us through farmland, ranch land, abandoned building here and there; every once in great while a sign indicated we were still going in the correct direction.  We were on a leisurely drive, so didn't even bother to take down notes; this was one of those "we don't care where we end up" kind of adventures.  At the intersection of RD H6/ RD H12, we took H6 and a short distance along was a split; a sign indicated the Dolores Canyon Overlook was the left hand path.  It wasn't long before we came to a parking area where there is a picnic area and restrooms.

The trail to the overlook is mostly natural terrain, but you can see where the park service helped to create the path also; at the end is a small rock wall.  Being the 1st of November, it was a cold, yet clear and sunny day; the landscapes before us were absolutely beautiful.  It was also elk and deer hunting season, so the echoing of gun fire could be heard throughout the canyon.  There is no hunting allowed along this trail to the overlook, but there are trails for ATV riding on each side of the 4 wheel drive, main path.

The Dolores River can be seen winding its way through the canyon.  We never got back to the actual overlook road near Dove Creek, but got to see the river anyway.

From the overlook, the entire town of Dove Creek can be seen.  By the way, a wind farm is being currently constructed in Monticello, Utah (approx. 20 minutes west of Dove Creek, CO); complainers say the windmills (which I believe are fascinating to look at) can be seen all the way from Dove Creek.  Nope!  Actually, they're not really visible until you reach Eastland, the halfway point between Dove Creek and Monticello.

We headed back to RD H6/ RD H12 intersection, went onto H12 and ended back on Route 491; still wanting to drive, we headed eastward towards Yellow Jacket.  Why Yellow Jacket?  It's actually because we had seen a sign on Road G that said, "Yellow Jacket Road", so figured we check it out.  It didn't work out the way we planned though.  So, what's Yellow Jacket like?  You blink, you miss it...there is the Post Office/General Store, several residential homes and then open land as far as the eye can see.  We drove along roads that were in terrible condition, probably due to the rain and snow the area had recently experienced.  I was smart to bring the Colorado DeLorme with us, just in case, so was able to navigate to the road that went to Hovenweep National Monument.  I looked up that "Yellow Jacket Road" and  discovered it went to Yellow Jacket Canyon, not the tiny, tiny town of Yellow Jacket itself.  All just part of adventuring, living and learning.

Eventually we came to a gravel road that looked very, very familiar and I told Roy to turn onto it.  "Are you sure?", he asked; "Yes, have I ever steered you wrong? ...and don't answer that!"  It wasn't long before we came to a crossroads which indicated where various towns were...Blanding, Bluff, Aneth.  I knew exactly where we were and told Roy to continue onto the gravel road to the right; he just stared at me, but did make the turn.  A half hour later, Montezuma Canyon Road (CR 146) came into view, and I just gave Roy that "I told you so." look.

CR 146 was in terrible condition the first 15 miles going northward; like I mentioned before, the recent rain and snow had definitely done a huge number on this road.  Many a time we had to cross over a once dry area where each side of the road had eroded terribly.  Once dry washes now had water within them, not enough to play U-boat commander, but enough to kick up water and mud up to the windows.

Bradford Canyon Ruins

Cow standing on a steep hill; wish I had such great footing.

Home in time for a well deserved dinner, then a movie before heading off to much deserved sleep.  Adventuring is so much fun, you really should try it.

Mary Cokenour

A Few San Juan County Good Things.

There are so many places in San Juan County that I love...love going to.  Then there are the moments, the precious moments when I come upon a sight so wondrous; I'm stopped in my tracks.  Now I write about all Four Corners of the area; Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.  I've been accused of NOT putting the area in a "positive perspective".  Really now?

Well then, let my accusers look at these new photos, and explain to me....what negativity do you see?

Let's start with where I live, Monticello, Utah; one of the selling spots, for golfers, is the Hideout Golf Course which is rated one of the best courses in Utah.  I don't golf; I don't see the sense of chasing a little ball around a park...my dogs on the other hand love this type of activity.  That's not a negative statement, that's a statement of fact that everyone is entitled to enjoy an activity, or not.  Anyway, there is a walking path around the area, and sometimes they do a "find the hidden pottery" treasure hunt during the warmer months.  In the winter, they allow folks to snowshoe and cross country ski over the course.



Hideout Golf Course

Then there is Horsehead Peak; during the warmer months it might be hard to see the outline of the horse head; glare from the sun is mostly the cause.  At one time the National Forest Service allowed people to go up and trim the tree line to help keep the shape from diminishing; it's natural by the way, but that's been stopped.  When snow comes down though, you can't help but see it.  In the warmer months, take Johnson Creek Road (FR 079) from North Creek Road (Monticello), all the way through to Blanding; you'll pass right underneath the horse head itself.






Desert Horned Lizard

This year, I was lucky enough to finally see and hold a Desert Horned Lizard, aka Horny Toad.  With the encroachment of development in the area, they are becoming scarce, and that is a true shame on humanity.  Nature is still being taken for granted, but hopefully, with my writings and photos, folks can understand the value.



Horses; intelligent, majestic, a true friend when treated well; San Juan County has some of the most beautiful examples of this great creature.  I get a kick watching them play, especially when the foals are bouncing around.

 

 

North of Blanding, Utah is Recapture Reservoir; manmade and used for boating, camping, hiking; and fishing, but with all the pollution from dumping...I wouldn't eat those fish.  There you go, a negative comment...you've caught me stating a fact that some people do not value this resource.  However, it is a beautiful area; the Abajo Mountains covered with snow, the sky a crystal, clear blue.  Even in the summer, there is a soft breeze that comes through to help cool visitors down.

 

 

Now I adore these little guys, the Praying Mantis; I often find them in my yard.  I pick them up when I can and deposit them into my herbal garden.  I've created little hidey holes where they can stay safe from cats wandering around.  I really hope the females will lay their eggs, and I'll have loads of new buddies to keep my gardens free of nasty pests.

 

I've already figured this out, but my friends in the area tell it to me also; those that bad mouth me and my writings; they're jealous, plain and simple.  They read about the adventures I have with my husband, Roy; they look at the photos and proclaim, "It's not fair!!!  I should be doing all this, and enjoying it all; why her!?!"

 

...and I can explain that too, cause these people never leave the bubbles they've surrounded themselves with.  Again, plain and simple.

 

Have a great adventure whenever you can; don't let time and the world slip past you.

 

Mary Cokenour

 

 



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