There is a moment on every trip for me where I say, "this is stunning!" I usually say it with a big smile on my face while taking a picture. My most recent trip to Canyonlands was no different!
Louise dropping into the depths and beauty of a place known as Canyonlands.
I have had a few people question me on, "What is the best place in Utah?" Obviously a tough and personal preference type of answer...However, my spring break was here; and I decided to give Canyonlands National Park a visit. The plan was to bike the White Rim Trail for 4 days with some family friends and then head south and visit the Needles District for some wonderful hiking. Yes, I have been fortunate enough to visit Canyonlands many times before. However, biking the White Rim was going to be new and taking my family over Elephant Hill into the Needles was going to be new for them. The Best in Utah? You be the judge, but Canyonlands is a strong contender Onto it...
Our friends, the Larsons, joined us. We started off on the Mineral Bottom road. This high desert road provided a nice 12-mile warmup for everyone. Lilly, my daughter, was enjoying the new bike we had just purchased her. Front shock, check...Gears, check...Hand brakes, check...She was enjoying the moment at hand.
The Larsons didn't really know what to expect, but I told them that the road drops off down to the river. The views were just glorious! The weather perfect. The biking surreal. It was turning out to be a good day! A great day...
This same road was washed out a few years ago. Closed for months...On this day, it was biking bliss. Louise leading the charge downhill. See them? Little Ants enjoying the down.
As we approached the turnoff for the White Rim, we asked Lilly if she was tired. "No, not yet." 14 miles thus far and she was still ready to go. We switched drivers and the two dads took off leading the kids into Canyonlands Proper.
Simply an unbelievable evening of riding. No wind, cool temps, and the views all around. We pulled into our campsite at Hardscrabble Hill. On the banks of the Green...
The following morning the kids were already bugging us to go climb the rocks. So, off we went...Canyon country is made for wandering. This kids found hoodos, arches, and rocks...Lots of them. I snapped a pic before heading back to camp for a coffee refill.
Louise getting the bags stowed. Shameless plug for Patagonia
Hardscrabble hill didn't slow the riders down too much. James and I drove the vehicles up...The views were all around. James is driving a 2006 GX470. I am driving a 99 TLC.
The White Rim Trail was created by Uranium Miners looking for the next big dig back in the 50s. However, people have been in the area for 100s of years. The Anasazi built dwellings and a fort in the area. Ranchers and farmers tried to make ago of it on the large, flat river bottoms. I had heard about an old homestead and wanted to see if I could find it. We scanned the map and followed the contours. We were looking for a hidden alcove. Today, the lovely, not, Tamarisk trees are all over the river bottoms; making it difficult to search and explore. However, we found it...
The trunk was used to carry supplies back from the sleepy town of Moab. It has been the slammed by flood waters and scorching sun; but it's still here.
Our bikes took us along the Green River. Simply...Stunning country...We setup camp around 5. I waited for the sun to go down a little before I said, "who wants to hike to that high point?" The adults looked at me in a strange fashion. "Are you serious?" Miles and miles of biking and no one was up for a hike. I don't blame them...
What to do? I asked the kids and all of them said, "Yes!"
It was a glorious sunset stroll.
More to come...
Louise dropping into the depths and beauty of a place known as Canyonlands.
I have had a few people question me on, "What is the best place in Utah?" Obviously a tough and personal preference type of answer...However, my spring break was here; and I decided to give Canyonlands National Park a visit. The plan was to bike the White Rim Trail for 4 days with some family friends and then head south and visit the Needles District for some wonderful hiking. Yes, I have been fortunate enough to visit Canyonlands many times before. However, biking the White Rim was going to be new and taking my family over Elephant Hill into the Needles was going to be new for them. The Best in Utah? You be the judge, but Canyonlands is a strong contender Onto it...
Our friends, the Larsons, joined us. We started off on the Mineral Bottom road. This high desert road provided a nice 12-mile warmup for everyone. Lilly, my daughter, was enjoying the new bike we had just purchased her. Front shock, check...Gears, check...Hand brakes, check...She was enjoying the moment at hand.
The Larsons didn't really know what to expect, but I told them that the road drops off down to the river. The views were just glorious! The weather perfect. The biking surreal. It was turning out to be a good day! A great day...
This same road was washed out a few years ago. Closed for months...On this day, it was biking bliss. Louise leading the charge downhill. See them? Little Ants enjoying the down.
As we approached the turnoff for the White Rim, we asked Lilly if she was tired. "No, not yet." 14 miles thus far and she was still ready to go. We switched drivers and the two dads took off leading the kids into Canyonlands Proper.
Simply an unbelievable evening of riding. No wind, cool temps, and the views all around. We pulled into our campsite at Hardscrabble Hill. On the banks of the Green...
The following morning the kids were already bugging us to go climb the rocks. So, off we went...Canyon country is made for wandering. This kids found hoodos, arches, and rocks...Lots of them. I snapped a pic before heading back to camp for a coffee refill.
Louise getting the bags stowed. Shameless plug for Patagonia
Hardscrabble hill didn't slow the riders down too much. James and I drove the vehicles up...The views were all around. James is driving a 2006 GX470. I am driving a 99 TLC.
The White Rim Trail was created by Uranium Miners looking for the next big dig back in the 50s. However, people have been in the area for 100s of years. The Anasazi built dwellings and a fort in the area. Ranchers and farmers tried to make ago of it on the large, flat river bottoms. I had heard about an old homestead and wanted to see if I could find it. We scanned the map and followed the contours. We were looking for a hidden alcove. Today, the lovely, not, Tamarisk trees are all over the river bottoms; making it difficult to search and explore. However, we found it...
The trunk was used to carry supplies back from the sleepy town of Moab. It has been the slammed by flood waters and scorching sun; but it's still here.
Our bikes took us along the Green River. Simply...Stunning country...We setup camp around 5. I waited for the sun to go down a little before I said, "who wants to hike to that high point?" The adults looked at me in a strange fashion. "Are you serious?" Miles and miles of biking and no one was up for a hike. I don't blame them...
What to do? I asked the kids and all of them said, "Yes!"
It was a glorious sunset stroll.
More to come...
Last edited: