Road Trip 2006 - A Tour Of The Southwest

[roadtripper]

I'm about two months behind with this, but here's a trip report (with tons of pictures!) from a cross-country road trip I experienced in May with six friends:

Road Trip 2006

Enjoy!

- Greg

 

[marty]

Greg - what an amazing trip. This is so well put together! I am especially psyched to see this, as I am heading out to the Southwest in October.

Thanks for sharing!!

Regards,
Marty

 

[bunchberry]

I only had time to skim...I'll sit down and read the fill report later today, but wanted to say right now that your photos are amazing!! Since I've never been to the southwest myself, now I can picture the sights you told me about on the Kinsmans hike...and I see that I'll have to add many of those places to my lifelong to-visit list (the list that has no end...)!! thanks for sharing what looks to be an absolutely awesome report on your travels!

-katie

 

[Toe Cozy]

Fantastic photos, report and travel tips! Great stuff. I'm heading to Havasu in Sept. so your report and info about the hike are really helpful! Sounds like a wonderful roadtrip. Inspiring.

 

[Bob]

definitely the best trip report I've ever seen...especially the 'tips' section. Wow- 6 people in one car, are you still friends? Any 'hat knockin' ?

 

[roadtripper]

Wow- 6 people in one car, are you still friends? Any 'hat knockin' ?

Yep, we are still all friends. Two people got a little cranky towards the end, but we all got along surprising well considering how cramped we were in that truck.

The road trip we took in 2004....well....that's another story

 

[DougPaul]

Sounds like a nice trip...

BTW Muley Point is worth a visit--some very nice views from there. And if you drive down Moki Dugway, make sure your brakes are in good shape....

Natural Bridges and Valley of the Gods are close by and also worth a visit.

Another good spot is Needles Overlook (BLM), just N of the Needles district. A 300 degree view from a point sticking out from the top of a mesa. Knocked my socks off...

Doug

 

[askus3]

I read your tour and we paralleled each other for the stretch from Moab to Bryce. I am glad you got away from the crowds at Little Wildhorse - curious if there was any puddles you had to ford in there. Also, I disagree, I would explore Goblin Valley in the cool of the morning for about an hour and then move on to the slots (canyons that is) as at least there is shade in the slot canyons.

It seemed like you zoomed though to Bryce from there as there was no mention of Capital Reef or Escalante Canyon. We at least made a 1/2 day hike in Capitol Reef and did the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls. I see that you mentioned Calf Creek as a next time hike.

Anyway it is interesting reading. For my trip with a different format here are the links:

Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Goblin Valley & Little Wild Horse Canyon
Capitol Reef National Park - Album 4
Bryce Canyon National Park-Album 5

Hope you enjoy or anyone else that is interested in another way to spend 5 days in the desert southwest. I also recommend that the beginning of October seems much more pleasant and less crowded.

By the Way: I have never got around to making photo albums of my Zion, Grand Canyon, Navajo Country trip. Sometime along with my White mountain Trips XII-I. Working backwards ever so slowly.

 

[pudgy_groundhog]

Fantastic report and pictures! I didn't have time to read everything in detail (will go back to do that), but skimmed through most of it. We were in the Southwest at the same time and also visited Havasu -- my take is quite a bit different than yours. I don't know if I would ever return. It was beautiful, but I was so disappointed by all the people, trash, disrespect of the land, etc. If we were ever to go back, we would stay in the lodge. The swimming holes couldn't be beat though.

And I have to say -- holy crap, you stopped at carhenge!! I grew up about 70 miles or so from there.

I see you mentioned going back to do the Subway in Zion. That's a definite. We did the Subway (along with Mystery, Keyhole, and Pine Creek) and it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Glad you had a great trip and thanks for sharing the pictures/report!