This is the tenth in a series of posts about my visit through parts of Arizona and Utah.
(Click words that are bolded for more information.)
(Click words that are bolded for more information.)
After leaving Bryce Canyon National Park, we ended our day in the remote small town of Escalante, Utah, (population 850) which was settled in 1875 by Mormon pioneers and was named after a Spanish explorer. After a good night's sleep, we would continue traveling northeast along Utah's Scenic Byway 12. With a distance of over 120 miles, Highway 12 transverses through Bryce Canyon, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, over Boulder Mountain in Dixie National Forest, and ends at Highway 24 near Capitol Reef National Park. Along the way, this scenic highway winds through slickrock canyons, around striking rock formations, along a razorback ridge, through forests of pine and aspen trees, and remote rural towns.
View from Head of the Rocks Overlook along Highway 12 in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated in 1996 by President Clinton. This area of the country is so rugged and remote that it was the last part of the continental United States to be mapped. Originally covering 1.9 million acres, in 2017 President Trump divided the Monument into three areas and reduced the size to just over 1 million acres, although all areas retain their existing level of federal protection.
View from Boynton Overlook along Highway 12
The Escalante River flows southeast for about 90 miles before entering Lake Powell and was the last river of its size to be charted in the continental United States. It winds its way through the canyons of Escalante. Cottonwood trees often line its banks, a thread of green through this vast, rugged area, but in some places invasive salt cedar bushes, also know as tamarisk, thrive. This non-native plant, along with river dams, has drastically changed the native habitat in many areas of the western United States.
Escalante River lined with tamarisk
We stopped near the Escalante River Trailhead and took a short walk along the river to see the ruins of two Ancestral Puebloan granaries tucked into a sheer rock face of the Escalante Canyon walls. Tamarisk grows thickly here where the floor of the canyon is sandy and the river is usually a slow and shallow stream. But during spring runoff and summer monsoon season, the Escalante River swells, and hikers must be prepared for flooding.
Granary one
Granary two
It was hard to tell just how large these structures were, since they were in alcoves high up the rock face. Apparently they had been used to store grain, high and dry above the river bed.
Along the Escalante River Trail near the Highway 12 bridge
After our walk near the river, we proceeded along Scenic Byway 12 to the tiny town of Boulder, with a population of just over 200, which was established in 1889. This remote town's claim to fame is that it was the last town in the United States to have mail brought in on a mule train. The extension of Scenic Byway 12 through the town put an end to the mail mule train and made this remote area accessible.
Anasazi State Park Museum is located here. This was the site of one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan, also known as Anasazi, communities in Utah west of the Colorado River. Between 1050 and 1200 AD, up to 200 people lived here. Excavations have been undertaken since 1958, with 97 rooms and 10 pit structures currently uncovered. Only half of the site has been investigated. Just outside the museum is a six room replica of a pueblo, and a short trail from the museum leads to the site ruins.
Anasazi State Park Museum is located here. This was the site of one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan, also known as Anasazi, communities in Utah west of the Colorado River. Between 1050 and 1200 AD, up to 200 people lived here. Excavations have been undertaken since 1958, with 97 rooms and 10 pit structures currently uncovered. Only half of the site has been investigated. Just outside the museum is a six room replica of a pueblo, and a short trail from the museum leads to the site ruins.
Pueblo replica at Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, Utah
A Pit House, the original "Tiny House"
Utah's Scenic Byway 12 passes through two national parks, a national monument, three state parks, and a national forest. Elevations range from 4,000 to 10,000 feet. The incredible geographical diversity of this area is unique to Utah. The sheer magnitude and variety of colors, shapes and beauty of this desolate rock covered country is breathtaking.
The day wasn't over yet, but this blog post has come to an end. More astonishing geological wonders were yet to come as we continued our journey along the scenic highways and byways of awe inspiring Utah.
~Debbie
First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.
Fourth stop - The Grand Canyon here.
Fifth stop - The Desert Watch Tower here.
Sixth stop - Glen Canyon and Lake Powell here.
Seventh stop - Zion National Park here.
Eighth stop - Between canyons here.
Ninth stop - Bryce Canyon here.
Tenth stop - Utah's Scenic Byway 12 here.
Eleventh stop - Ancient Petroglyphs here.
~Debbie
First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.
Fourth stop - The Grand Canyon here.
Fifth stop - The Desert Watch Tower here.
Sixth stop - Glen Canyon and Lake Powell here.
Seventh stop - Zion National Park here.
Eighth stop - Between canyons here.
Ninth stop - Bryce Canyon here.
Tenth stop - Utah's Scenic Byway 12 here.
Eleventh stop - Ancient Petroglyphs here.
