Carbus Travels Journal: August 21, 2015

Sightseeing

Today was a day for touring in the car to go places and see things we could not get to in the carbus.

Before starting we hiked a couple hundred yards behind the campground to see a hidden arch.

North of Monument Valley about 20 miles is the very small town (wide spot) of Mexican Hat.

Any idea where the town name comes from?

Just north of there state highway 261 takes off to the left. At the start of the road there are several large signs basically saying that if you are in anything larger or heavier than a passenger car do not continue. My kind of road Smile .

Shortly we turned on a road to Goosenecks State Park. At the end of a three mile road is a vista point and a small dry camping camp ground – and an entrance hut manned by someone to take your entrance fee. The view overlooks an area where the San Juan River makes a series of hairpin bends as it flows through the plateau. The river is well over 1000’ below the view point.

Out to the main road and left toward the reason for the warning signs.

View to the left as we headed north from Goosenecks road. We were headed to the top of that point.

The road heads straight for a mesa wall that reaches over 1000’ above the level you are driving on. The cliff is continuous for miles with no sign of a way to go around it and certainly no evident way up it. But there is. It is called the Moki Dugway.

At the base of the cliff the road turns into gravel and heads up – and up – and up. Over 1500’ climbed in three miles. Hairpin on hairpin on hairpin. The road clutches the mesa wall so tightly you have no idea it is there when you look up. Surprisingly it is wide enough for two cars comfortably but the hairpins are too steep and sharp for large vehicles. Fun drive and great views.

At the top we took another road (nicely graded dirt) to the end of a plateau to a spot called Muley Point. (Disregard picture label spelling). Again, great views.

Back to the top of Moki Dugway and down this time. At the bottom, instead of returning on the paved road, we turned on a road leading into the “Valley of the Gods’.

This road is scratched in to the surface of the desert. It is not even carved. It follows all the contours of the land including into and out of washes. No culverts to allow water to cross road. Sign at start of road says road impassible in wet weather. Believe it. Road can be done in passenger car – we saw several. Better in high clearance vehicle. More comfortable with four wheel drive. We had fun ride.

Road into Valley of the Gods

Reviews of the drive show many who think it is more spectacular than Monument Valley. I can see their point. Monument Valley landmarks are more massive and are seen from some distance. In Valley of the Gods you drive through monuments on all sides. More personal experience.

Back on the highway we went north to the small town of Bluff.

Was a Mormon expansion community 150+ years ago (ancient peoples before that). Now a quaint small town with interesting buildings, history, and a very nice museum with extensive outdoor displays.

Back south to Monument Valley. Decided to go to the Tribal Park visitor center again to catch the monuments in a little different light. (Admission pass is good for four days Smile )

An observation at this point on the tourist mix we have experienced in this area. The visitor center and tours of Monument Valley is like a playground for The United Nations. We very rarely heard English spoken except during transactions (buying stuff, etc.) Many Europeans in addition to Japanese, (East)Indians, and several other nationalities. A portion of our tour included a family from the Netherlands. These people are touring in a variety of ways. Hotel/motel, car camping, rented motorhomes. Only place we have seen as many CruiseAmerica RVs is in Alaska.