Spring 2025 Trip Wrapup

We enjoyed a 27-day April trip, which was planned to hit great temperatures across several states. The goal was for lows in the 30s or 40s and highs in the 60s or 70s. After a couple of long travel days and avoiding a late winter storm in the panhandle of Texas, we started the exploration at the Bisti Badlands. See this blog for more details of that area.

One of the Wings in Bisti. See the blog for more info.

 After that we made our way to Shiprock, then the Canyon de Chelly. We were at Canyon de Chelly in 2022 and a flash flood hit while we were in the canyon on a tour. Here's a blog from that trip. We had clear weather this time and completed the canyon tour. 

Elena at Spider Rock

Paul at Canyon de Chelly

Note the ancient structures in the cliff

Next, we headed toward Page and picked a new slot canyon to tour - actually a pair this time. We visited Rattlesnake Canyon and Owl Canyon. Rattlesnake is named for the shape, not for potential reptiles that lurk in the slot. Owl Canyon hosts nesting Great Horned Owls.

Rattlesnake canyon

Elena emerges from the earth

At the end of Owl Canyon

Paul & Elena at the end of Owl Canyon

Between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT we visited the old Paria town site and took a tour of White Pocket. Here's a blog with details and photos from both areas. 

The bentonite hills near Paria, UT

Paul Hanging on at White Pocket

We headed up to Bryce Canyon NP next - and I do mean up. The campground is at about 8,000 foot elevation. On our way, we took a quick stroll through the Belly of the Dragon just north of Kanab.

Belly of the Dragon

Paul & Bebop at Bryce Canyon

Tunnel to views

Elena down in the hoodoos

Colorful Bryce Canyon

We initially planned 2 nights at Bryce, but there was a winter storm approaching with freezing precipitation and temperatures in the teens. We enjoyed a mild day of hiking, then headed down 2,200 feet to Escalante where the temperature would be milder. Escalante dropped to around freezing, and we had some light snow and graupel, which quickly melted. 

In Escalante we rented a Jeep so I could get us close to a shorter trail to a most unusual feature, the Cosmic Volcano (also known as the Cosmic Ashtray). This unusual feature has been sculpted out of the side of a mountain with wind and sand. It's over 300' across. The wind was blowing about 40mph when we hiked up to it - and the temperature was in the 40s as well.

Paul at the Cosmic Volcano

The full Cosmic Volcano

We also visited Devil's Garden and some local Dinosaur tracks while we were down the Hole in the Rock Road.

Paul & Bebop on a big stick under a large arch

Bebop examines a delicate arch

Bebop in Devil's Garden

Devil's Garden

Bebop near a 3 toed dinosaur track

We drove across the Devil's Backbone and over the edge of Boulder Mountain toward our next destination - Capitol Reef National Park. There was still a fair amount of snow on Boulder Mountain. In Capitol Reef, we hiked along Sulfur Creek to a small waterfall and enjoyed the scenic drive along the uplift.

Capitol Reef NP

Bebop at Capitol Reef NP

Paul & Elena at Capitol Reef NP

Elena at Capitol Reef NP

The next stop was Goblin Valley State Park. We hiked among the formations and also visited the Wild Horse Window Cave - a cave with a skylight.

Goblin Valley

One of many formations in Goblin Valley

Bebop looking for Goblins

Goblin Valley

Wild Horse Window Cave

Cave with a skylight

The skylight

Paul in the sunbeam

We next headed to Arches National Park, which was quite busy as usual. We hit a few of the highlights, culminating with a hike to Delicate Arch.

Paul & Elena at Delicate Arch

Landscape Arch

Paul is being watched by the rocks

Paul & Elena at Turret Arch

We camped for two nights at Dead Horse State Park. We hiked in Dead Horse and the adjacent Canyonlands NP Island in the Sky section.

Elena with the La Sal Mountains in the back

Elena taking in the scenery

Bebop overlooking the Colorado River

Above the sculpted floor below

An artistic tree

Paul & Elena at Mesa Arch

Elena at Upheaval Dome

Next, we headed to the less visited Needles section of Canyonlands. We're approaching the 4-year anniversary of our Winnebago Travato. We call it the Bebopabago, because Bebop thinks we bought it for her so she can travel with us - and she's not totally wrong. We have taken 13 road trips, with 299 days on the road, and almost 38,000 miles of adventure. For stats and info on our van see: https://enerjazz.com/travato/

Our Needles camp site - the van, not the teepee

A few years ago, I hiked the beautiful Chesler Park loop. This time I took on the challenging hike to Druid Arch. Here's a blog covering that segment of the trip.

Paul at Druid Arch

Here was our trip route and our trip data.

Trip Route (final leg to/from DFW cut off)

Trip Data

Days driving: 27
Miles Driven: 3,140 miles
Average miles/day: 116
Time Driving: 68 hours
Avg Speed: 46 mph
MPG: 16.6 (vehicle calc); 15.8 (actual)
Gas Used:  199 gallons, average of 7.4 gallons/day
Gas Cost: $579 ($21/day) - avg of $2.91/gallon

- Paul

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Canyonlands Needles and Druid Arch

The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park is quite remote. From the highway it’s about 35 miles down a 2-lane road to reach the visitor’s center. I was here in 2019 and hiked Chesler Park Loop, which was beautiful. This time I hiked to a most unusual arch - Druid Arch. We first had to drive three miles down a narrow gravel road to reach the Elephant Hill parking lot where the trailhead for several hikes was located. The Druid Arch hike is 11 miles RT and almost 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Elena accompanied me for the first 1.3 miles to a nice overlook of the Needles.

Hiking up from the Elephant Hill parking lot - see our van?

At the first Needles overlook

More needles

I continued on for the remaining hike to reach the Druid Arch. Much of the hike was in Elephant Canyon - a mix of rock and sand. Much of the rock is a dark purple sandstone - a very unusual color. At one point, where the canyon is narrow and filled with boulders and water, you have to scramble up the side of a cliff and walk a narrow ledge until you can drop back in the wash. It was not an easy scramble. 

In Elephant Canyon on the trail

In Elephant Canyon on the trail

When you finally get near the arch, you can only see the side profile. To view it you must scramble up through a very vertical boulder debris field. About 500 feet of the total vertical climb is in this final section. But once you get up to the top and stand on the flat section, you get a full view of the unique arch. It’s well over 150’ high - it’s bigger than it looks in the photos.

I made it to the Druid Arch!

I could be on Instagram

Druid Arch

I started fairly early, and one female hiker was departing as I arrived. I sat down and had a snack and enjoyed the solitude for about 30 minutes. As I got ready to depart, I saw one person scrambling up the boulder field. Then two more, Then another pair. In the first 30 minutes of my return hike, I passed over 20 other people coming in. I was glad that I had the place to myself. I was pretty worn out when I returned to the van, but glad to have made the hike to see such an interesting formation.

Looking back up Elephant Canyon - I came up that little crack.

Flowers and rocks

Almost back to the trailhead.

Nearly done

 - Paul

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