Westwater to Cisco Meanderings: Badlands and a River

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
Spent Dec. 2, 2013 on a day trip exploring backroads and 4x4 trails between Westwater, UT and the vibrant metropolis of Cisco,UT. Approaching storm clouds, a cold wind, and a shades-of-grey bleak day among the boulder strewn badlands and along the ever flowing Colorado River as it emerges from the rapids of deep Westwater Canyon to flow placidly by the Cisco Boat Launch. Maybe the highlight of the day was finding a lovely red Paintbrush still in bloom. Either that December blooming Paintbrush is insane or is the most eager-beaver optimist of the plant world. The bit of stark redness was very welcome on the grey day. Did not see much wildlife: one Golden Eagle and one Red Tailed Hawk both perched on poles scanning for prey. Looked over and photographed a rugged old days-gone-by drilling truck in a bare field among the decaying remains of Cisco. Once a watering stop for the railways with water pumped out of the Colorado River several miles away plus a stop along old Hy 50. What little was left in Cisco died as it was passed by to the north by I-70. Here's some grey day pictures from the day in the stark badlands and river views. Click on the pictures for enlargement.
 

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roverrocks

Expedition Leader
Westwater to Cisco Cont.

More grey day desert pictures.
 

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roverrocks

Expedition Leader
Westwater to Cisco Cont.

More grey day pictures.
 

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roverrocks

Expedition Leader
Westwater to Cisco Cont.

Last of the early winter Utah desert/river pictures.
 

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roverrocks

Expedition Leader
Cisco, Utah and Westwater, Utah each report 3 inches of new snow overnight so I wish I was out in the above pictured boulder badlands and mesas viewing the change in scenery. Montrose where I live now has 6" on my truck and still snowing heavily. Yippee!!!
 

UK4X4

Expedition Leader
powderhorn up the road from you is reporting 9" -we get in sunday for three weeks of snowboarding !..

Still grey and overcast from the webcam
 

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
powderhorn up the road from you is reporting 9" -we get in sunday for three weeks of snowboarding !..

Still grey and overcast from the webcam
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should be the best early snow in years up there and elsewhere in Colorado.
 

STREGA

Explorer
I passed through Cisco on Dec. 2nd on my way home from the Grand Canyon. It was a grey day and I did not see much wildlife either, usually see a prong horn or 2 around Cisco. My cousin was the postmaster (possibly the last one) of Cisco many years ago.
 

roverrocks

Expedition Leader
I passed through Cisco on Dec. 2nd on my way home from the Grand Canyon. It was a grey day and I did not see much wildlife either, usually see a prong horn or 2 around Cisco. My cousin was the postmaster (possibly the last one) of Cisco many years ago.
I was surprised I did not see a pronghorn that day as well. Very little bird activity along the river also. I'll bet your cousin has some fascinating stories about life in and around old Cisco. Times gone by and ways of life gone by.
 

STREGA

Explorer
I was surprised I did not see a pronghorn that day as well. Very little bird activity along the river also. I'll bet your cousin has some fascinating stories about life in and around old Cisco. Times gone by and ways of life gone by.

I did see a couple of eagles and about a dozen turkeys just north of Dewey Bridge. My cousin passed away a couple years ago and I never talked to her much about her time she lived there unfortunately.
 

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