For the past few years i've been wanting to make a trip to SE Utah to visit the amazing areas it has to offer. After a few speed bumps we finally made it into the area. With limited amount of time our plan was to visit Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks, Moki-Dugway and parts of Monument Valley and Comb Ridge. And of course as with any other trip, nothing ever goes exactly to plan and that's all part of the adventure!
To break the drive out in half we chose to spend the first night in Sedona Arizona. Sedona is beautiful and if you've never been i highly recommend it. The pink rock buttes and mountains are stunning and there's so much to do in and out of town that i bet you could easily spend a week here by itself.
Just pulling into the main part of town you can't miss the beauty.
Our original plan was to head up Schneibly Hill Road and camp on top of a cliff overlooking Sedona Valley. Well we arrived later than expected, near dark, in fog and rain. So we chose to find whatever was quick and easy. I always say, it just means we have to come back and check out what we missed right?
We stumbled upon two available campsites in Manzanita Campground just north of town in Oak Creek Canyon. I know, not very rugged or remote, but it worked. We tightly squeezed in our trailer and Lindas land yatch and wouldn't you know it. It started snowing. This was the beginning of our cold weather trip we were expecting.
Dixie and Yosh huddled next to the fire to keep warm.
The next morning we woke up to frozen water, frost and ice on our hoods. We packed up, de-iced and headed on our way. Next stop was to top off fuel in Flagstaff and then off to Utah.
You never know when you might have to swerve to avoid free range Donkeys.
Crossing the Tanner bridge in Cameron AZ. It's a national historic site. Basically a crossing from cliff to cliff.
Quick potty breaks are the name of the game with Pets. You can see the terrain changing behind me. We were headed for beautiful land.
Interesting looking scenery along the way near Tuba City.
We noticed this weird looking roller coaster type thing in the distance.
Apparently its an electric loading line for the Black Mesa Mine/Peabody Coal company.
It went up over the foothills on the other side of the valley too. Very interesting.
A cold lunch stop deep in the heart of Navajo Nation. I think we were near Shonto AZ.
Pep took the break as a chance to make Snow Dog Angels in the snow.
Back on the road, we finally were noticing changes in the terrain. This butte outcropping we could see for miles. We stopped for a photo and were very excited to see what was around each corner. At this point we were only miles from Monument Valley and knew this was only the tip of the iceberg.
Dixie was ready.
It was starting....
Preparing for major scenic overload...
We'd arrived at Monument Valley. (Navajo: Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, meaning valley of the rocks)
We were now in Utah as well. Linda mentioned, Kayenta AZ must have the most spectacular entrances to the state.
The photos don't do any justice to the area. It's truly breath taking.
Some movies have even been filmed here, anyone remember Forest Gump when he stops running and heads back home?
Monument Valley is a wonderful place worth visiting, but we were headed for Valley of the Gods. VOTG is a less touristy area and you can camp back country off highway. So we pressed on and left Monument Valley in the mirror without hesitation, besides on the way back we'll see it again.
We proceeded onward towards Mexican Hat, UT. Population 88.
After crossing the San Juan River we could see the actual "Mexican Hat" Rock in the distance.
We headed over to it and our jaws dropped. It's funny, you don't realize how big it is until you get right on up to it.
The size of the rock is huge. It's 60 feet wide and 12 feet thick. Just balancing ever so perfectly. Insane!
After gawking at the Mexican hat rock for a bit, we headed for camp. Tonight's camp would be at the Goosenecks. We only had a short drive left for the day.
Arriving at Goosenecks, this is what we pulled up too. It boggled our minds. Our camp was 15 feet from the edge. Truly epic.
Dixie and i just enjoying the world.
You can see on the GPS why they call it the "Goosenecks"
With arriving late in the day and it being very cold out, Yosh took the chance to wash up before dinner. Nice having hot water on demand with our heat exchanger.
We started the fire early and for good reason. This was going to be the coldest night of the trip. Below zero. I think it got down to -5 this night. Having warm clothing, proper sleeping bags and plenty of hot cocoa is a must.
Boston Terriers get cold easy. They also get warm easy. They're not really good all around climate type dogs so you need to make sure you tend to their needs. Hence the silly clothing..
Morning sunlight came with open arms and Dixie was ready to explore.
Sipping a cup of coffee on the edge of camp. It didn't suck to wake up to this. Let me tell you.
Linda and Pepper enjoying the view. I think we could all just sit here for eternity, it was that epic.
And of course, what comes with cold temps but more frozen water. I totally forgot to yank the shower pump out of the water can. So, i had to defrost it to get it out. And that was after i got the propane tank unfrozen. Good times!
Somewhere along the morning another dog showed up and Linda became the dog whisperer.
We took a short walk and shot a photo of camp from the distance. In this shot it's the top right. Just gives you the perspective of how large the Goosenecks are.
Here's Yosh in the shot for another size perspective.
A close up with the long lens. We were literally feet from the edge.
Dixie out roaming.
There wasn't a bad view no matter where you looked.
Linda called these "Toes in the sand", where as i thought of them as the Star Trek hand sign.
In the bottom of this photo, it appears someone else camping way in the distance.
We decided we needed to pack up and leave this wonderful place to head out to Valley of the Gods, our original destination. It was hard to leave let me tell you. I could yet again stay here for another week and just stare at it's beauty.
The information kiosk at the entrance. Notice the extreme cold at the bottom. I guess that's why we had the place to ourselves eh?
Yosh signing the guest book.
Dixie apparently wanted to walk the rest of the way...
This was the beginning of the rest of the trip. Mile Zero.
We headed into Mexican Hat to top off fuel and grab a bit more firewood. I also, checked out the Swinging Steak. This was something i was looking forward too. What they do is prepare your steak on a swinging grate over coals. Unfortunately to my surprise it was closed for the season. I guess it makes sense, nobody wants to sit in 17 degrees to watch their steak cook on one side and freeze on the other.
I still prayed to see if it would open. No such luck. It was a sad 5 minutes.
Then i realized we were heading up the Moki Dugway next. I was happy again.
The Moki Dugway is a set of switchbacks that climb 2,000 feet in 3 miles. They were built for Uranium trucks back in the 1950's. The view is second to none.
We headed up with trailer in tow.
The views are amazing. You feel like your on top of the world. In this shot you can barely make out the Landcruiser and Adventure trailer, they look like a dot.
In the above photo you can also see the Valley of the Gods Rd heading across the valley. That's where we were headed next.
At the top we started running into some white stuff.
The top.
Posing for a couple photos on Cedar Mesa. Spectacular!
Even Pep got in the mix..
Incredible.
We made our way back down the dugway so we could head over to the Valley of the Gods. The trail started at the base of the mesa. Again, the truck and trailer seem so insignificant and small in this shot.
Can you spy the full size Tundra long bed in this shot?
Dixie trying to figure out why we are going down what we just climbed up.
Linda's truck on the next switch back up, notice no guard rails. Not a place you want to be text messaging your buddies we're your at.
A bit of ice trying to make its way down.
You feel like your on top of the world looking over the Valley of the Gods. Views for miles. New Mexico and Colorado in the furthest distance.
Heading off highway and began our overland route through the valley.
We had made it to the Valley of the Gods. It was stunning.
The photos really speak for themselves.
The lady in the bath tub. (Getting attacked by a fighter jet apparently)
After traveling through half of the 16 mile route we stopped at camp for the night.
Linda and Pep went for a walk.
We started in on the fire early as the rest of the nights even though it was supposed to be the warmest night of the trip. I think 15 or so.
Yosh was happy with the spot, somehow you could just tell.
Keeping my kiddo warm.
Pep snoozed next to the fire while keeping an ear open for any surrounding wildlife.
After chips and salsa, english cheddar and crackers we started in on dinner. Talk about a feast. On the menu was a 9 pound Honey Baked ham. Yes, it was our version of a "Thanksgiving turkey" so to speak that lasted the whole trip.
Thinking back, now I think that's why Yosh was so happy.
Crisping it up over the fire is really mount watering. Worked out well. We served it with some hot soup. Kept us nice and warm. I have no clue why there's a hot dog in the shot with the ham. I guess Yosh wanted even more pork product.
The next morning we woke up and packed up camp. We finished up the rest of the scenic Valley of the Gods loop.
After hitting the highway again we proceeded east to see if i we could find the indian cliff dwellings in Comb wash. However, i forgot my GPS coord and guidebook so i was going off my memory.
The comb wash area was very silty and had a ton of that Utah clay.
Because we were pressed for time this day on getting back home i had to cut loose early. Later to find out i was only one canyon over from where the indian sites were. That's ok though, because we have another thing to come back for.
We headed back towards Mexican Hat and topped off our fuel tanks. We were trying to think where to camp the last night on the way home wanting to cut down some of the long drive down. Everywhere we would head would be higher elevation and cold. I made a phone call to my aunt and uncle in Prescott Valley and they were excited to see us.
Twisting Yosh's arm for a warm shower, a prepared dinner and a nice warm bed indoors we headed for north Prescott Valley. We don't always have to rough it, she knows this.
An amazing sunset near WIlliams AZ on the way into Prescott area.
The next morning we awoke to snow on the ground. It was beautiful.
It didn't last long and started to melt. After an amazing waffle breakfast made by my aunt, we headed southwest and for home. It was another great trip and i'd say one of the top 3 we've ever completed. The amazing thing is that we only scratched a small surface of Utah. In fact we have hundreds more photos that i could never have time to post on this report. I know we'll be back again and again. We have so much more to see.
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays everyone from Dave, Yosh and Dixie. Here's to many more Adventures in 2011!
Photos for this trip report by Linda Jones and © Adventureduo.