2013 November 1

Big day today. Went to Natural Bridges National Monument. There were three bridges formed of stone by the Colorado River. They were quite spectacular. There were hiking trails that would take you closer to the bridges. We walked about half way on one of the trails. The trail was not paved.  We were winded due to the exertion and the altitude. Views were still fantastic.

Next on to Goosenecks State Park. The Goosenecks is one of the most striking and impressive examples of an entrenched river meander on the North American continent. The San Juan River twists and turns through the meander, flowing a distance of over six miles while advancing only one and one-half miles west toward Lake Powell. What we saw took over 300 million years of geologic activity. Incredible!

Next we took a very scenic drive on Highway 261. There is a three mile section that is known as the Moki Dugway. It winds its way 1200 feet from the valley to the Cedar Mesa. Slopes as steep as 11 degrees. There are a number of switchbacks. Duane loved driving this! From the top you can see much of the Four Corners region of the southwest - Sleeping Ute Mountain in Colorado; Shiprock near Shiprock, New Mexico; the Carrizo Mountains on the New Mexico and Arizona border; and  Monument Valley that crosses the Utah and Arizona border.

We had plans to see part of Canyonlands National Park but were too late in the day, so finished
driving to our "home" for the night in Green River, Utah.