Day 16 - Bluff to Moab, Utah
Highways today were north on US 191. We stopped in Blanding to visit the Dinosaur Museum and Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum. At Church Rock, we headed west on State 211 to the Needles Visitor Center then back to US 191. We then turned west on County 133 to Needles Overlook and back to US 191 finally arriving in Moab. Google Map
Dinosaur Museum - Blanding
Blanding forms the extreme southern tip of what is called the "Dinosaur Diamond," a hotbed of prehistoric dinosaur activity and fossil finds. The other points are Price, Moab and Vernal, Utah, and Fruita, Colorado.
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| Dinosaur Museum (Wikipedia) |
The museum contains fossils found nearby in the Four Corners region and from around the world. The displays include a mummified Edmontosaurus. This 40-foot-long, duck-billed dinosaur was discovered in Wyoming in 1891. The cast here in Blanding is one of only two in the entire world.
Edge of the Cedars State Park - Blanding
Edge of the Cedars State Park archaeological site and museum is located at the site of an ancient village which includes dwelling units and a kiva. The kiva and some other structures have been restored and can be viewed behind the museum. The Museum houses the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery and relics in southeastern Utah.
Cedar Mesa Pottery - Blanding
Inspired by the Edge of the Cedars visit, we headed to the Cedar Mesa Pottery to buy some souvenirs. We've seen the pottery everywhere we go but Cedar Mesa Pottery has it all in one place. So many different designs to choose from. I bought the Desert Mountain Ornament and Karen bought the Desert Rainbow Ornament.
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| Desert Rainbow Ornament |
"Don't be fooled by pottery that looks Native American. Cedar Mesa Pottery is different. It IS Native American Pottery. Each piece is handcrafted using modern techniques and signed by Navajo pottery artists. In addition, each piece comes with the exclusive Cedar Mesa Pottery Certificate of Authenticity or story card."
Hunts Trading Post - Blanding
We've always just passed through Blanding. Today we took the time to stop at Hunts for coffee. Hailed as the best place for Espresso for miles around, we figured it was time to put them to the test. They didn't disappoint and of course we had to shop while we waited for our "cuppa". Karen, always a sucker for turquoise, left with the necklace and matching bracelet.
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| Verdure Ghost Town |
Verdure Ghost Town Site - Hwy 191 Utah
The oldest Mormon settlement in the Blue Mountain Region was first known as South Montezuma. Later the name was changed to Verdure after the lush green growth along the stream bed.
Verdure was settled by men of the Blue Mountain Mission March 11, 1887. They first set up camp at Verdure to prepare for a permanent settlement at Monticello, six miles to the north. Verdure - Historical Marker Database
Monticello Utah Temple
In October 1997, church president Gordon B. Hinckley announced the building of smaller Latter-day Saint temples throughout the world. The first of these smaller temples was to be built in Monticello, Utah. The Monticello Utah Temple was dedicated on July 26, 1998.
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| Monticello Utah Temple(Wikipedia) |
The Monticello Utah Temple serves nearly 13,000 church members in Blanding, Moab, and Monticello, Utah areas and members from Durango, Colorado and Grand Junction, Colorado.
Church Rock - Hwy 191 Utah
The three-tiered sandstone rock is one of several in the area (Sugarloaf and Turtle Rock among others). The sandstone formation was owned by a local rancher, Claud Young of Monticello.
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| Church Rock (2008) |
There is the 16 by 24 foot opening chiseled into the rock. The opening was dynamited and cut out of the stone during the late 1940s to store salt licks and feed for the cattle. The rock is still owned by the Young family.
Canyonlands National Park
State Route 211 Utah - Indian Creek Scenic Byway
State Route 211 Utah - Indian Creek Scenic Byway
State Route 211 is a 17 mile access road to Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument and the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. In 1968, the Utah State Road Commission came to an agreement with the National Park Service and San Juan County to improve the then unpaved access road to the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.
The entire length of the highway has been designated Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway. The Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway takes you to Newspaper Rock Recreation Site, passes through spectacular Indian Creek Canyon, by the Dugout Ranch and ends at The Needles section of Canyonlands National Park. Indian Creek Scenic Byway
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| Newspaper Rock (2008) |
Newspaper Rock Historical Monument - Indian Creek State Park
Newspaper Rock, a State Historical Monument, records around 2,000 years of civilization in the area. It is easily accessible, standing alongside Route 211.
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| Newspaper Rock (2008) |
Etched into the sandstone rock are symbols that represent the Anasazi, Fremont, Navajo and Anglo cultures.
The symbols are typical of those found on many sites throughout the United States, but their true meaning is still not understood. It is thought that they may record events of the time hence the name, 'Newspaper Rock'.
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| Sixshooter Peaks (Wikipedia) |
Sixshooter Peaks
The Sixshooter Peaks, named because of their resemblance to a pair of revolvers pointing skyward are two iconic sandstone summits located in Bears Ears National Monument.
North Sixshooter Peak rises to an elevation of 6,379 feet and South Sixshooter Peak rises to 6,154 feet, with approximately 1.5 mile separation between the two. These buttes tower nearly 1,400 feet above the surrounding terrain, and are historic landmarks visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.
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| Needles District (Wikipedia) |
Needles District
The Needles forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful red and white banded rock pinnacles of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area.
Various other naturally sculpted rock formations are also within this district, including grabens, potholes, and arches. Most of the arches in the Needles district lie in backcountry canyons, requiring long hikes or four-wheel drive trips to reach them.
We drove to the end of the Needles Park Road approximately 6 miles from the Visitors Center, turning around at the Big Spring Canyon Overlook. From the overlook, unique rock spires and multi-colored sandstone benches line the bend in the canyon. The presence of the spring allows trees and plants to flourish in the spring and summer months.
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| Needles Overlook (2008) |
Needles Overlook - County Road 133
Further north on Hwy 191 we turned west onto the Needles Overlook Road No. 133. The Overlook is part of the Canyon Rims Special Recreation Management Area managed by the BLM.
We travelled to the Overlook in 2008. The half hour drive is really worth it. At least this time, we knew what we were looking at. The Overlook is 1600 feet above the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and the 1600 feet goes straight down! Karen can stand at the edge. I can't.
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| Utah Juniper (2008) |
Utah Juniper
It was along this stretch of road in 2008 where we saw an abundance of Utah Junipers and were fascinated with their "gnarly" trunks. We thought they looked dead but they are very much alive.
The Native Americans used the bark for a variety of purposes, including beds and food. They used the gum to make a protective covering over wounds. A tea made from the leaves was given to calm contractions after giving birth.
Wilson Arch - Hwy 191
Wilson Arch was named after Joe Wilson, a local pioneer who had a cabin nearby in Dry Valley. This formation is known as Entrada Sandstone. Over time superficial cracks, joints, and folds of these layers were saturated with water.
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| Wilson Arch (2008) |
Ice formed in the fissures, melted under extreme desert heat, and winds cleaned out the loose particles. A series of free-standing fins remained. Wind and water attacked these fins until, in some, cementing material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Wilson Arch - Historical Marker Database
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| Hole N" the Rock (2008) |
Hole N" The Rock - Hwy 191
This location has been a travelers' resting place for two centuries. Beginning in 1829, horse teams on the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe and California stopped here for the abundant spring water and shade.
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| Hole N" the Rock (2008) |
After the settlement of Mormon Pioneers, stage coaches traveling between Moab and Monticello stayed here overnight. Early in the 20th century, the Christensen family of Monticello homesteaded 80 acres here.
They blasted out a small cave in the rock where cowboys camped as they drove their stock toward the Colorado River. In 1945, brothers Leo and Albert Christensen expanded the cave and opened "American's most unique dining room." Hole N” The Rock - Historical Marker Database
Moab, Utah History
Moab, with a population of 5,366 in 2020, is the largest city and county seat of Grand County, Utah. Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
During the period between 1829 and the early 1850s, the area around what is now Moab served as the Colorado River crossing along the Old Spanish Trail. Latter-day Saint settlers attempted to establish a trading fort at the river crossing called the Elk Mountain Mission in April 1855. After repeated Indian attacks, the trading was abandoned. A new group of settlers from Rich County established a permanent settlement in 1878 under the direction of Brigham Young. Moab was incorporated as a town on December 20, 1902.
Moab, Utah
We arrived in Moab early evening. After registering at the hotel, we went to Canyonlands By Night to book our Sunset Cruise for tomorrow and then headed downtown for supper at the food truck park. The Park offers a variety of cuisines to satisfy anyone. Moab Food Truck Park
We went for an ice cream cone, gassed the car and toured around town before heading back to the hotel for the night. We were in bed early as we want to be up and moving in the morning. Tomorrow we drive the famed "Shaffer Trail" in Canyonlands National Park.
 Post Note - Day Sixteen:
As we start to travel north toward home, in reality we have already ushered in 2022. Our 2020-21-22 Trail of the Ancients is nearly over but Covid rages on.
Now in it's fourth wave, the Delta and Omicron variants are running rampant around the world. A vaccine was developed early in 2021 and in April we received our first dose, June a second, and now in December a booster. When I posted the "information about Covid" at the beginning of our journey, there were 130 million cases and 2.8 million deaths worldwide. Now, in January, 2022 after two years into the Pandemic, there are 343 million cases and 5.57 million deaths worldwide. The United States has 65.4 million cases and 850,000 deaths. There is no end in site.
We are now in an area that we have travelled so many times, we don't even need a map. It feels good to be able to see in our minds the area and attractions. I'll continue to dig deep to find things we have not already done.
We've skirted around Canyonlands National Park many times. This time we are actually going into the Park from the Moab side which will be a new experience for us.
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