My big West trip

[rfarren]

I fly into SLC on the 18th of March, and I fly back the 31st of March from Denver, 11 days, 10 days of skiing. Originally, I had planned on stopping in Aspen after SLC and making my way over to my friend in Frisco by the 24th or the 25th, but his condo has a blackout date from the 27th till the 4th :evil: . This means I'm going straight from SLC to Frisco on the 22nd. Instead of hitting up Aspen we're going to Steamboat on the night of the 26th (my friend has 1/2 price tix). The condo situation put a slight strain on a trip that I had originally planned on being out west about 3 or 4 days longer but nonetheless I think it should be fun.

My father is coming out with me to SLC, but he leaves monday morning 7:00. I plan on skiing that morning, and then driving to Frisco that night. I googled it and it should be about a 7 hour drive. My father suggested that I go to Arches National Park and drive through southern Utah during the day. He said it's the most beautiful part of the entire USA, and worth losing a day of skiing.

 

[rsmith]

Sounds like a great trip.

Your dad is right about Southern Utah... If you go to Moab DON'T miss Dead Horse Point State Park. It's a short drive and most people don't know it's there. The views are absolutely amazing - IMHO more impressive than the Grand Canyon. If you can pull it off and if the conditions aren't too muddy hit the Slickrock trail on a mountain bike (you can rent a bike and rack in town). There's a short loop there that doesn't take long and gives you a great taste of slickrock riding. Doing both the above while seeing Arches is probably impossible to do in a day, but might be doable if you wake up early enough. But, hitting Dead Horse Point in the evening on your way out of town will make for an unforgettable sunset and is well worth the effort.

Unless you're willing to take another day off of skiing you won't be able to see the rest of Southern Utah (Bryce, Zion's, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Powell) - it's all well worth another trip (and several weeks instead of a few days).

Have fun!

 

[Skrad]

Quick thoughts:

Dead Horse has limited hiking/ Arches has lots of short an interesting hikes. Arches makes a better day of it.

I agree that you need a separate trip to see southern Utah.

A quick fix without going out of your way is a drive up to the plateau in the Colorado National Monument near Fruita (also a Mt Bike destination). This comes about 4 hours into your drive/ takes about an hour/ gives you a taste of red rock.

 

[rfarren]

I've also thought that instead of driving all the way to Frisco on the 22nd it might be better to stop in Grand junction and then ski Powderhorn or Sunlight mountain before heading into Frisco the next afternoon.

 

[rfarren]

I have one question for the natives:
Is Utah state road 191 from Spanish Fork to route 70 open over the winter? If not what is the best way to head over to Arches and that part of the state during late March?

 

[Marc_C]

I have one question for the natives:
Is Utah state road 191 from Spanish Fork to route 70 open over the winter? If not what is the best way to head over to Arches and that part of the state during late March?

It's open year round and is the best way to get from SLC to Moab. However....
It goes to a little over 7K' crossing Soldier Summit, so can be incredibly nasty if the weather is bad. That whole combination of Rt 6/191* is one of the deadliest highways in Utah, with numerous head-on collisions each year, at all times of the year. Stay sharp and stay frosty.

*: It's US 6 from Spanish Fork through Spanish Fork Canyon - UT SR 191 joins US 6 just north of Price as you're headed down Price Canyon. Check your gas as you exit I-15. After you enter Spanish Fork Canyon, there is only one gas station (which may or may not be in operation) until Price. After Price the next gas/services are in Green River.

 

[rfarren]

I have one question for the natives:
Is Utah state road 191 from Spanish Fork to route 70 open over the winter? If not what is the best way to head over to Arches and that part of the state during late March?

It's open year round and is the best way to get from SLC to Moab. However....
It goes to a little over 7K' crossing Soldier Summit, so can be incredibly nasty if the weather is bad. That whole combination of Rt 6/191* is one of the deadliest highways in Utah, with numerous head-on collisions each year, at all times of the year. Stay sharp and stay frosty.

*: It's US 6 from Spanish Fork through Spanish Fork Canyon - UT SR 191 joins US 6 just north of Price as you're headed down Price Canyon. Check your gas as you exit I-15. After you enter Spanish Fork Canyon, there is only one gas station (which may or may not be in operation) until Price. After Price the next gas/services are in Green River.

Do you think it would be worth sticking to the interstates if the weather is not so great? I'm not planning on renting a 4x4 for that segment of the trip. Furthermore, is Arches even open in late march? I'm not sure if it is even worth it, I mean I'll only be spending an afternoon there anyways. My father said the drive itself is incredibly scenic.

 

[Admin]

You've gotten some good advice here. I agree with your father.

Agree that Arches has lots o'short hikes to get off the road, but Dead Horse Point will take you 15 minutes each way from Moab to stand on the rim and take in the view for whatever time you want to spend doing so. As a result, it's not a big deal to do both.

One thing I don't like about DHP, though, is the fact that it's a developed state park at the overlook. Ditto for Arches. I'm one of those guys who doesn't want to see anyone else or anything manmade while I'm standing in a place like that. For solitude, I'd make a detour to the Wedge Overlook at the San Rafael Gorge, a.k.a. the Little Grand Canyon. It's almost between (i.e., just southwest of) Rte. 6 between Price and Green River. To get there you head south toward Castle Dale on UT-10, then head about 20 miles east on dirt road.

You branch off the road south onto a short spur 4 or 5 miles long that dead-ends at this view:

You'll probably be the only one standing there. From the Wedge Overlook you can take a short hike along the rim, or simply continue on your way.

One good part about this detour is that you don't have to double back, you can continue southeast down through Buckhorn Wash past an amazing ancient pictograph panel...

...across the San Rafael Bridge...

...and along another 25 miles or so of dirt road to reach I-70 west of Green River.

It's a well graded road that any 2WD car can negotiate, and it passes some stunning scenery.

It's a desolate road, where these are likely the only locals you'll come across.

Standard advice applies:
1. Don't do the drive in times of rainy weather, as some of the washes may be impassable.
2. Carry emergency provisions as there's no cell service back there. Should you run into a problem, someone will eventually come along but it may be a while before that happens.

Ping me nearer to your trip if this is an area you'd like to explore and I can give specific directions.

 

[flyover]

the most beautiful part of the entire USA . . .

Of course, there is no such thing.

I'm one of those guys who doesn't want to see anyone else or anything manmade while I'm standing in a place like that.

Me too, and IMHO, it is usually worth the extra effort to seek out such places. Often they are closer to the beaten path than you might think.

 

[Marc_C]

Do you think it would be worth sticking to the interstates if the weather is not so great? I'm not planning on renting a 4x4 for that segment of the trip. Furthermore, is Arches even open in late march? I'm not sure if it is even worth it, I mean I'll only be spending an afternoon there anyways. My father said the drive itself is incredibly scenic.

No. There are other, lower elevation alternatives that are far better than the interstates. Staying exclusively on interstates for SLC to Moab adds several hours and well over a hundred miles.

All the national parks in UT are open 365 days per year (although the visitor centers are closed on a handful of the major holidays).
And yes, that area of the country is spectacular if you've never been there, even without visiting the NPs.

 

[Admin]

And yes, that area of the country is spectacular if you've never been there, even without visiting the NPs.

As shown by the above photos, all of which were shot on BLM land and are nowhere near any of the National or State Parks.

 

[rfarren]

If I have the added bonus of not needing e to go out of the way, I think the drive suggested by the Admin seems like a good bet. I'm very excited about this trip, but am a bit bummed that it's shorter than I would've like it to be. Otherwise, I could have really explored that area. Thanks for all the great suggestions. hopefully I see you guys while I'm out there.

 

[ChrisC]

The reason why I vote Democratic.... I have different views than the one below by the Adminstrator of this site.

I'm one of those guys who doesn't want to see anyone else or anything manmade while I'm standing

I like people. I like them talking, interacting.

Alternative: Alaska - with Sarah Palin (unless she likes her recent payckecks and relocates to DC). SLC has too many people.

 

[longshanks]

The reason why I vote Democratic.... I have different views than the one below by the Adminstrator of this site.

I'm one of those guys who doesn't want to see anyone else or anything manmade while I'm standing

I like people. I like them talking, interacting.

Alternative: Alaska - with Sarah Palin (unless she likes her recent payckecks and relocates to DC). SLC has too many people.

Sarah Palin is so Hot...that is until she tries to speak her Mind...then it's like a Silent Movie or a Book without Words.
But, I'd take one for the Team and give her a go, it'd be a fair fight...

I am a amazed to read that she has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Idaho...the alumni must be so proud...

Among other stupefyingly ridiculous utterances, we are asked to believe that Governor Sarah Palin said the following during an interview with the Anchorage Daily News two years ago: "God made dinosaurs 4,000 years ago as ultimately flawed creatures, lizards of Satan really, so when they died and became petroleum products we, made in his perfect image, could use them in our pickup trucks, snow machines and fishing boats"

 

[Tony Crocker]

The reason why I vote Democratic.... I have different views than the one below by the Administrator of this site.

It is well known that admin and ChrisC are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. But what has admin's taste in scenic views to do with this? I'm completely at a loss. Particularly since it is the environmental left that is more inclined to lock up scenic areas as wilderness so that they are only accessible to the more physically fit.

I think admin's concerns are exaggerated. Even in famous places like Yosemite and Yellowstone you can get away from people in an easy one hour hike from the roads if you want. I'd be surprised if this is not true in the Utah parks either.

 

[rfarren]

So, my trip is fast approaching but I'm a little bummed. I figured I would be able hit up at least some good weather, i.e. powder, but it looks like during vacay there is going to be an obnoxious high pressure system. Certainly, while I'm in Utah (the 18th till the 21st) there won't be any fresh snow. Based on the gfs, and long range models it seems unlikely that I'll get snow while I'm out in CO too. Bummer, but I like blue skies and warm weather as well.

 

[Admin]

To quote an overused expression around here, "It's all good."

 

[rfarren]

To quote an overused expression around here, "It's all good."

Well I got some 4 out of 5 days of powder while in Whistler earlier this year. I hit the trees of stratton with 2 feet of dense, so I've gotten 5 days of powder this year. Yet, I figured since I was going to be out there for such a long time I would get some powder. So, I'm a bit bummed, especially since Nikki just bought me Mantras for this trip.

 

[Admin]

To quote an overused expression around here, "It's all good."

Well I got some 4 out of 5 days of powder while in Whistler earlier this year. I hit the trees of stratton with 2 feet of dense, so I've gotten 5 days of powder this year. Yet, I figured since I was going to be out there for such a long time I would get some powder. So, I'm a bit bummed, especially since Nikki just bought me Mantras for this trip.

Good skis.

Hey, anything can and often will happen. You're looking at the forecast a ridiculously long way out. Sometimes storms are predicted, and they bust like this week's did. Sometimes something materializes out of the blue and dumps a foot or two of lake effect. Anything's possible.

 

[rfarren]

Hey, anything can and often will happen. You're looking at the forecast a ridiculously long way out. Sometimes storms are predicted, and they bust like this week's did. Sometimes something materializes out of the blue and dumps a foot or two of lake effect. Anything's possible.

I know it's early yet. I know I could get some well worthwhile corn, and if I'm really desperate for fresh I can alway shell out for cat skiing.