Goblin Valley/Capitol Reef/Swell Trip
What a trip...
Saturday: We left SLC around 6:00 and pulled into Goblin Valley ~9:00, not bad considering the 20mph speeds up Spanish in the snow. Craig & his wife had already set up a great camp just south of Temple Mountain.
Sunday: We headed off to check out the Hidden Splendor Mine and some of Reds Canyon, we were hoping to connect Hidden Splendor with Factory Butte, but despite the EVIDENT roads that have been there for 50+ years, it si a WSA now. So, we trekked back to HWY24 and headed down to Hanksville for some fuel. After some grub at Blondies we left Hanksville and headed to Cainville on 24, from there we were back on dirt heading north on Cainville Wash. Passed a couple of those troubled youth groups with handcarts, the Bentonite Hills (really cool colors!) and made out way to Capitol Reef via the east entrance. We stopped to check out the Lower & Uppers South Desert Overlooks & the Cathedral Valley area . We tried to make it over the HWY72 via 1000 Lakes road... but got stopped by a couple feet of snow. Craig & I did give it a hell of a try
So, we ended up going north on Cathedral Valley road and via dirt all the way up to I70. It was getting late so we hit the pavement and called it a night in Ferron.
Monday: Topped off the tanks in Ferron, and headed right into the Swell via Horn Siver Gulch. Headed north in search of the "dangerous river crossing" on the San Rafael River... could get ugly in some rain. Proceeded north to Clevland (Quarry was closed ), checked out the Desert Lake Waterfowl area, Victor Cemetary, & Mounds and headed back the Wellington for a late lunch & a soda. Spent an hour or so in Helper at the antique store (museum was closed ) and bombed back to SLC.
Gas: ~50 gallons
Miles: ~600
40's RULE! & Epperson's 70 was great too
A couple of shots (more will be on my website)
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Originally Posted by bh4rnnr
