Moreno Valley to Staircase-EscalanteLink
We left our home on May 31,2008, getting a late afternoon Saturday start. We planned on stopping (arriving very late) in St.George to visit our friends and as usual they always have new sights for us to see.
After breakfest (Sunday) we were off on our St.George tour, from a roadside turn outone can see the oldest church in St.George and the greater Dixie.
Our friends, Mel and Paula, took us to Tuacahn a liberal art school locateed in Snow canyon with a impressive outdoor stage
After a full day it was getting time for dinner and by a clear landslide victory the Roadside steakhouse won out. Roadside steak house didn't disappoint with fine tasting steaks that were served.
Like Saturday night we did driveway camping and woke up to a beautiful Monday morning. We said our good-byes after coffee and headed out of town for Zion NP. Video link
I-15 north thru St.George has some road construction being done, but nothing that slowed us down.
Reaching Hwy 9 we headed east going thru the towns of Hurricane, LaVerkin, Rockville, and Springdale before reaching Zion.
Photo below is near LaVerkin overlook.
From here the town of Virgin could be seen
The Virgin River ran close to Hwy 9 in Rockville,the water looked so good I want to wade in it.
In Springdale we spotted our first deer of this trip. Deer Video
Arriving at the main entrance to Zion NP.
At the entrance kiosk the ranger on duty measured the width of mmy camper from jack to jack, 94 inches is max width, I was under by 2 inches so no tunnel fee. From here we stopped by the visitor center, looked around, bought a map of Zion.
I spied a squirrel hiding in the near by bushes, people walking all around not spotting him. I had read that Zion was a busy place and it lived up to that, people abound everywhere. Next stop was the tunnel, we were told that there was road work at the tunnel entrance. Zion Tunnel Video
Traffic was one way all day due to the road work, it would have defiantly been a tight fit if two way traffic was running. After getting thru Zion NP we drove to Hwy 89 to Hwy 12 with a few photo taking stops. With our end of the day in mind at Escalante NM for disperse camping and not knowing where to find a spot for the night we of course stopped at the Escalante Visitor Center. After inquiring about camping areas, one of the ranger suggested for us to go out on Spencer Flat Rd. a few miles down the road.
Ride the Lizard
We were able to find Spencer Flat Rd. turn off after passing it up. It's unmarked from Hwy 12 and in the bend of the road. Once found and traveling in about 3 miles from Hwy 12, I spied a chuck of land next to a cliff , that were we stopped for the night. Broke out the grill,the chicken didn't take long to bar-be-que.
A view that no amount of money can buy.
Philphs Arch in the distant.
End of a perfect day, bar-be-que chicken and my favorite adult drink..jack n coke
Part 2...Escalante to Arch View Rv park in moab coming soon...
Alex and Julie
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Hey Alex! Great write-up and pics! I don't know how I managed to miss this thread, but seeing that Part II has now been posted made me want to search for Part 1 (until I saw your handy link). I am going to go back to Part 2 now.
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