On our way north this spring want to stop in at Bryce NP again as well as Kodachrome SP. We have driven Highway 12, so not worried about that.
Want to spend more time heading north on Highway 12 through the Escalante area. I know that there are at least two Utah state parks along that route. Any comments, pro or con, about either one? Anyother suggestions for stops along that route before getting to Highway 24 and Bicknell? We prefer and enjoy national and state park campgrounds the most and don't mind dry camping.
Also, has anyone visited the Paunsagaunt Wildlife Museum on Highway 89? Is it worth a stop? Room to park a 33' Class A with tow car?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Ron & Carolyn
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We have stayed at the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park campground. Very quite located next to the Wide Hollow Reservoir. Nice restrooms with hot showers. A good day trip is to take the Pine Creek/Posey Lake Road to the Hells Backbone Road and then on to Boulder. Return to Escalante via Hwy 12. These are well maintained dirt/gravel roads but may have issues after a rain. Ask ranger about road conditions before trip.
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Here is part of a trip report I posted about 3 years ago. We always look forward to Hwy 12.
Powell's explorations were more than adventures. They provided valuable information about unmapped regions. Powell Point was used as a landmark survey point by the Powell Expedition. Powell Point dominates the landscape, rising 10,188 feet above sea level
View from the Hole -in-the-Rock Road looking at the Kaiparowits Plateau. We are in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Late light on the windblown sand.
In the fall of 1879, the Mormon San Juan Expedition used this route from south-central Utah to their proposed colony in the far southeastern corner of the state. The undertaking proved extraordinarily difficult when they came to the Colorado River. They came to the 1200-foot (400 m) sandstone cliffs that surround Glen Canyon, they needed a way to cross to the eastern rim. They found (and named) Hole-in-the-Rock, a narrow, steep, and rocky crevice.
We camped here at about 10 miles down the road.
Back on HWY 12. When you reach the Boynton Overlook be certain to stop for this view. Entering the Escalante River Canyon you will descend to the Escalante River Bridge near its confluence with Calf Creek. The Escalante carves its way east to the Colorado River through the last region of the Untied States to be mapped.
Looking down on Calf Creek Canyon from HWY 12 Hogsback section. The Hogsback gets its descriptive name from the narrow section of Scenic Byway 12 that winds along the ridge between Calf Creek and Boulder Creek.
Boulder. The first white settlement began in 1889, with Boulder incorporated as a town in 1958. Boulder claims to be the last community in the continental United States to receive its mail by mule train. Completion of a year-round road in 1939 opened Boulder to car traffic from the south/west.
Highway 12 ends at Torrey. We took 24 to Capitol Reef visitor Center.
Old trees.
Scenic Park Road. Capitol Reef is named because of the resemblance of the many whitish Navajo sandstone domes to the US Capitol building; the 'Reef' refers to the high uplifted ridge running north-south along the fold which presented a considerable barrier to early settlers. We took the hike into Capitol Gorge. Margot and I took the trail, which is about a mile each way.
Early settlers used the gorge. There is a signature on the rock inscribed by Cass Hite in 1888. Cass Hite was a miner who explored southern Utah he started a ferry service at Dandy Crossing and a new town called Hite City. Cass built a ranch where a creek upstream of Dandy Crossing flows into the Colorado River. It is all under Lake Powell now.
We left Capitol Gorge, retuning to the Scenic Road.
Clattertruck
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You could spend a life time (have a friend who has over 30 years doing so) exploring that area. For us, seven to ten days at a time dosn't come close to scratching the surface of what there is to see. So my advice is to not get too greedy and try to see it all (because you won't). Just enjoy the experience of one of the most special places in the SW.
The answer to your question mostly sort of depends on what you like to do and where you like to camp.
When possible, we prefer dry camping well away from others (boondocking?) and backcountry (no trail) hiking so our preference is to to just go down Hole-In-The-Rock (or many other) roads and find a likely place to camp from which to explore.
If you like the ammenties of a campground, then you are spot on in regards to Kodachrome SP. A very beautiful place and from there, it's easy enough to go off on many great adventures with your toad (besides great hikes right at the park). Another campground in the area is Calf Creek. Well worth visiting (or better yet, backcountry hike in over the slick rock), but not sure if your rig will fit in there??? No big deal though as you can easly do a day trip there from Kodahrome (or where ever you may stay).
Other CG's back on the Burr Trail, but doubt you will want to get that far away.
I suggest you stop at the inneragency vistor center in Escalante and they will help you decide based on your rig, interests, and avaliable time.
Wish we could get there again this spring, but it looks like we will be heading a bit further afield (ugh- Pheonix, New Mexico, Colorado?)this year, so we will be enjoying something ourselves.
As noted, there are several good boondocking locations along the Hole In The Rock road. Calf Creek Falls CG has only one or two sites that would fit your rig, and you might want to explore with the toad before driving the big rig in. Get there early for good selection. Plenty of good spots at Capitol Reef. I don't know what you mean by "spring", but by mid to late May, Singletree NF CG north of Boulder is a nice place to camp high enough to get out of the heat. No hookups, but flush toilets and a dump station. There are a couple of other, less developed NF CG's along UT 12 in the same area.
Clattertruck wrote: Here is part of a trip report I posted about 3 years ago. We always look forward to Hwy 12.
Powell's explorations were more than adventures. They provided valuable information about unmapped regions. Powell Point was used as a landmark survey point by the Powell Expedition. Powell Point dominates the landscape, rising 10,188 feet above sea level
Great pics, Clattertruck.
Here's my recently posted trip report on Highway 12:
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