{"id":13308,"date":"2021-06-17T20:38:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T20:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/?page_id=13308"},"modified":"2021-06-25T17:02:29","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T17:02:29","slug":"100-days-journey-vermilion-cliffs-april-2021","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/100-days-journey-vermilion-cliffs-april-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"100 Days Journey: Part 8 &#8211; Vermilion Cliffs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610214283171{background-color: #000000 !important;}&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624630081876{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>100 Days Journey: Part 8 &#8211; Vermillion Cliffs<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610224958479{padding-top: 10px !important;}&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]After wrapping up the Ladies Offroad Network Navigation Skills Camp, I headed north to get away from the crowds that seemed to be packing into the most popular outdoor recreation areas.\u00a0 Passed through Sedona and Flagstaff and kept on going until just before the border with Utah, where I set up camp and did some exploring around the Vermilion Cliffs.\u00a0 (Click through the images below for each day&#8217;s notes)&#8230;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][vc_column]<style type='text\/css'>#cbpw-wrap98 {margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;}#cbpw-grid98 .cbp-l-caption-title {color:#ffffff;background-color:transparent;font-size:15px;font-family:Open Sans;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;line-height:21px;text-align:center;padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;text-transform:capitalize;}#cbpw-grid98 .cbp-l-caption-desc {color:#aaa;background-color:transparent;font-size:12px;font-family:Open Sans;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;line-height:16px;text-align:center;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;text-transform:none;}#cbpw-grid98 .cbp-caption-activeWrap {background-color:#000000;}#cbpw-filters79 .cbp-filter-item {background-color:transparent;border-color:#313eec;color:#76788a;font-size:13px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;line-height:35px;margin:0px 0px 10px 0px;padding:0px 18px 0px 18px;text-transform:none;}#cbpw-filters79 .cbp-filter-item:hover {background-color:transparent;border-color:#3288C4;color:#313eec;font-size:13px;font-family:Open 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30px 0px 30px;margin:40px 0px 0px 0px;text-transform:none;}#cbpw-loadMore98 .cbp-l-loadMore-link:hover {color:#B0B0B0;background-color:transparent;border-width:1px 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#DEDEDE;font-size:12px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;line-height:34px;text-align:center;padding:0px 30px 0px 30px;margin:40px 0px 0px 0px;text-transform:none;}#cbpw-loadMore98 .cbp-l-loadMore-loading {color:#B0B0B0;background-color:transparent;border-width:1px 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#DEDEDE;font-size:12px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;line-height:34px;text-align:center;padding:0px 30px 0px 30px;margin:40px 0px 0px 0px;text-transform:none;}#cbpw-loadMore98 .cbp-l-loadMore-loading:hover {color:#B0B0B0;background-color:transparent;border-width:1px 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:#DEDEDE;font-size:12px;font-family:Open 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{color:#ffffff;font-size:13px;font-family:Open Sans;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;}<\/style><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Open+Sans:700normal,400normal\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\" property=\"stylesheet\"><div id=\"cbpw-wrap98\"><div id=\"cbpw-grid98\" class=\"cbp-l-grid-masonry cbp\"><div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0421-AZ-CottonwoodtoMarbleCanyon_lbridgebycamerontradingpost_IMG_9207_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 73:<\/strong> Continued the drive north crossing into the Navajo Nation where the desert stretches out and its vastness becomes more visceral. About 30 miles after passing the old bridge over the Little Colorado River in Cameron, the colorful badland landscapes of the Painted Desert begin to come into view. The long drive through the desert\u2019s beauty gave me the time to make the mental transition back to the \u201cwilderness\u201d and by the time I crossed the Navajo Bridge near Marble Canyon, I was ready to take it all in. I stopped for the night at the edge of the Vermilion Cliffs \u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0421-AZ-CottonwoodtoMarbleCanyon_lbridgebycamerontradingpost_IMG_9207_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 73: AZ - Sedona to Marble Canyon<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">Crossed Navajo Nation Lands to Marble Canyon ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0422-AZ-VermilionCliffs_clifftopdetail_IMG_9387_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 74:<\/strong> The sky was unsettled this morning and the weather did not look great, with winds picking up and colder temperatures in the forecast. I ignored the forecast and spent the day exploring the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument along House Rock Valley Road. I stopped at the Condor Viewing area, but don\u2019t think I saw any Condors (I did see some birds but could not tell if they were condors or not), then I went for a short hike near the Maze Rock Art site. As the afternoon wore on I decided to set up camp at the small State Line campground which has only eight sites, and is tucked into an area that is somewhat protected from the wind \u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0422-AZ-VermilionCliffs_clifftopdetail_IMG_9387_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 74: AZ - Vermilion Cliffs<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">House Rock Valley Road to Stateline Camp ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0423-AZ-VermilionCliffs_whitepocket-overviewof2butteslandscape_IMG_9765_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 75:<\/strong> The wind wasn\u2019t too bad in the morning, and the sun was out, so I went to for an early hike into the \u201cToadstools\u201d, a surreal landscape of giant mushroom-shaped rock pillars. The scale of the Toadstools made me feel a bit like \u201cAlice in Wonderland\u201d but the short hike is magnificent, starting out in an \u201cordinary\u201d desert landscape, with no sign of what is to come, then as you follow the wash, it starts to open up into some really beautiful views, and soon you find yourself in a truly otherworldly place. I was very lucky to have the area to myself, only encountering a few other hikers on my way back out. In the afternoon I set out for White Pocket. Everything I had read described the drive to White Pocket as difficult through deep sand, but I was aired down and it wasn\u2019t difficult at all. When I reached the parking area for the hike there were only a few other vehicles there, and I set off to wander around the \u201ctrail-less\u201d terrain of folded, twisted, undulating rock formations. It was like walking within a massive sculpture, and seeing it from both the inside and the outside all at once. I somehow ended up climbing up towards the top of the formation, where the wind seemed to be amplified after being channeled between the walls, and it really felt like it was possible to get literally \u201cblown away.\u201d  I took that as a sign I had better start climbing back down, and slowly made my way across the basin, noting how there was a series of \u201cpotholes\u201d that looked like giant animal tracks leading to the top of the formation on the other side. Everywhere I looked there was something magical. And the fact that there was not a \u201ctrail\u201d or specific path you were \u201csupposed\u201d to take, made it  a singular pleasure of individual discovery \u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0423-AZ-VermilionCliffs_whitepocket-overviewof2butteslandscape_IMG_9765_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 75: AZ - Vermilion Cliffs<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">Toadstools and White Pocket ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0424-AZ-VermilionCliffs_unnamedtrail-jeepinlandscapewideview_IMG_0111_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 76:<\/strong> I was inspired by the intensity of yesterday\u2019s \u201cdiscoveries\u201d and decided to do some spontaneous exploring around the Vermilion Cliffs today. I wanted to get to the actual base of the red rock walls of the \u201ccliffs\u201d themselves, and I randomly chose a road that, on the map, seemed to go there.  It was a nondescript and un-signed dirt road off 89A and I had to pass through one of those cattle gates that was not locked \u2014 just closed with a sign asking us to keep it closed after passing through. The sandy trail wound through the desert brush in a nice easy drive that seemed longer than it had looked, reminding me that it is always difficult to judge distances in the desert. I continued driving towards the red rock walls as they grew more massive in front of me, and soon a small abandoned ranch structure came into view. It seems all roads lead to something, even if it is not noted on the map. The little building was a ruin, but still in decent shape, and the land behind it was fenced off, so it must belong to someone. I was curious about it and made some notes to research it further, then got back on the trail, which as I\u2019d hoped, went close to the base of the cliffs themselves. And, just before reaching them, protected from view by a small hill, there was a dispersed campsite that looked superb \u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0424-AZ-VermilionCliffs_unnamedtrail-jeepinlandscapewideview_IMG_0111_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 76: AZ - Vermilion Cliffs<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">Exploring some random trails ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0424-AZ-VermilionCliffs-Page_horseshoebend-overview_IMG_0586_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 77:<\/strong> The weather continues to worsen, and according to the forecast, 50 mph winds are expected later in the day into the overnight. Fearing my tent would be in tatters, I broke camp and made a decision to hotel in the town of Page overnight. I slowly worked my way east, exploring a bit more on the way, and making a few stops at the key touristic sites. I took the time to walk across the old Navajo Bridge that spans the Colorado River near Marble Canyon. And though I hate mass tourism \u201csights,\u201d there ARE some places worth braving the crowds and the corralled experience for \u2014 Horseshoe Bend is one of them. I paid my admission fee and followed the paved path with the multitudes and took my turn to stand at the overlook and gaze down at this masterpiece of nature. I could only imagine what it might be like to come upon this view organically\u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0424-AZ-VermilionCliffs-Page_horseshoebend-overview_IMG_0586_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 77: AZ - Vermilion Cliffs<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">Horseshoe Bend and Page ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"cbp-item logo\"><a href=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0425-AZ-PagetoMesa-dam_damcenteredriverlandscapebeyond_IMG_0654_1200w.jpg\" class=\"cbp-caption cbp-lightbox\" data-title=\"<p><strong>DAY 78:<\/strong> In the morning I made a short detour back to the river to see the Glen Canyon Dam. Of course it was just a dam, like any other, but this one had a special significance for me because of Ed Abbey\u2019s book, \u201cDesert Solitaire.\u201d I had never given dams much thought before reading that book, and if I did think about them at all, I just considered the positive of harnessing the water\u2019s power for energy and the \u201cengineering marvel\u201d aspect of their construction. After reading Abbey\u2019s book, my whole understanding changed, and I realized how much is lost on so many levels when we try to \u201charness\u201d nature rather than live in harmony with it. This dam represented the \u201ctipping point\u201d where we destroyed something irreplaceable for only the slightest marginal return. I looked out at the dam, a giant wall blocking the mighty river, taming its wildness\u2014was it a good thing or a bad thing? So many shades of grey. I left the dam and my questions behind and headed south as the wind picked up again. The gusting wind accompanied me all the way down to Phoenix \u2026<\/p>\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cbp-caption-defaultWrap\"><img src=\"\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SW-return_Apr-May2021_0425-AZ-PagetoMesa-dam_damcenteredriverlandscapebeyond_IMG_0654_1200w.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cbp-caption-activeWrap\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-alignCenter\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-body\"><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-title\">Day 78: AZ - Page to Phoenix<\/div><div class=\"cbp-l-caption-desc\">Heading south for the last time ...<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">this.initCubePortfolio =  this.initCubePortfolio || []; this.initCubePortfolio.push({id: 98, options: {\"filters\":\"\",\"loadMore\":\"\",\"loadMoreAction\":\"click\",\"search\":\"\",\"layoutMode\":\"grid\",\"sortToPreventGaps\":true,\"drag\":true,\"auto\":false,\"autoTimeout\":5000,\"autoPauseOnHover\":true,\"showNavigation\":true,\"showPagination\":true,\"rewindNav\":true,\"scrollByPage\":false,\"defaultFilter\":\"*\",\"filterDeeplinking\":false,\"animationType\":\"scaleSides\",\"gridAdjustment\":\"responsive\",\"mediaQueries\":[{\"width\":1400,\"cols\":43},{\"width\":1170,\"cols\":3},{\"width\":1024,\"cols\":3},{\"width\":960,\"cols\":3},{\"width\":778,\"cols\":3},{\"width\":640,\"cols\":2},{\"width\":480,\"cols\":1}],\"gapHorizontal\":20,\"gapVertical\":20,\"caption\":\"overlayBottomAlong\",\"displayType\":\"bottomToTop\",\"displayTypeSpeed\":200,\"lightboxDelegate\":\".cbp-lightbox\",\"lightboxGallery\":true,\"lightboxTitleSrc\":\"data-title\",\"lightboxCounter\":\"<div class=\\\"cbp-popup-lightbox-counter\\\">{{current}} of {{total}}<\/div>\",\"singlePageDelegate\":\".cbp-singlePage\",\"singlePageDeeplinking\":true,\"singlePageStickyNavigation\":true,\"singlePageCounter\":\"<div class=\\\"cbp-popup-singlePage-counter\\\">{{current}} of {{total}}<\/div>\",\"singlePageAnimation\":\"middle\",\"singlePageInlineDelegate\":\".cbp-singlePageInline\",\"singlePageInlineDeeplinking\":false,\"singlePageInlinePosition\":\"top\",\"singlePageInlineInFocus\":true,\"plugins\":{},\"cols\":3,\"coverRatio\":\"4:3\"}});<\/script>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610299121889{margin-top: 15px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=&#8221;slideInLeft&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">ROUTE<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gmaps link=&#8221;#E-8_JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbSUyRm1hcHMlMkZkJTJGZW1iZWQlM0ZtaWQlM0QxUUp1bnhpSVlIY1JyX2NqdW1KMFBwd0d2ZzM5Q0hIdUglMjIlMjB3aWR0aCUzRCUyMjY0MCUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjQ4MCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610224958479{padding-top: 10px !important;}&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]Note this map provides an overview of the eighth segment of the journey&#8211;from Phoenix area to Vermillion Cliffs and locations around Page, Arizona. The route on this map shows the overall direction of travel and key &#8220;stops&#8221; but does not include any detailed GPX tracks for backcountry trails, etc&#8230;[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610299121889{margin-top: 15px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=&#8221;slideInLeft&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">KEY LOCATIONS: Desert Waypoints<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610296030586{margin-top: 15px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Vermilion Cliffs&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1623782638040-55e0442a-2b2b&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13320&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624634895312{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blm.gov\/national-conservation-lands\/arizona\/vermilion-cliffs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Vermilion Cliffs National Monument<\/span><\/a> is located in northern Arizona just south of the Utah state line. The 293,689 acre national monument, administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, protects the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and Paria Canyon. The monument is also home to a growing number of endangered California condors. The Vermilion Cliffs themselves run along the southern and eastern edges of the monument. Steep eroded escarpments consisting primarily of sandstone, siltstone, limestone, and shale the Vermilion Cliffs rise as much as 3,000 feet above their bases. The escarpment runs for over 30 miles and is one of the most spectacular and extensive cliff faces in the US \u2013 unusually colorful because of the especially variegated Chinle Formation that forms the lower strata. These sedimentary rocks have been deeply eroded for millions of years, exposing hundreds of layers of richly colored rock strata. Mesas, buttes, and large tablelands are interspersed with steep canyons. The first explorers into the region were Spanish missionaries and explorers from the 1776 Dom\u00ednguez\u2013Escalante expedition. Later, Mormon pioneers settled on land that is now within the monument and built one of the first ferry crossings on the Colorado River in 1871. That same year, John Wesley Powell ventured through this region during his scientific explorations of the Colorado River plateau. Today, the region surrounding the monument is relatively unspoiled with virtually no permanent inhabitants remaining and limited road access. The monument borders Kaibab National Forest to the west and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the east. Elevations range from 3,100 to 7,100 feet. A visit to the monument, requires careful planning and awareness of potential hazards. There are no paved roads and most roads need a high clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle due to deep sand. While House Rock Valley Road (BLM 1065) is a maintained dirt road, it may be impassable when wet. There are two developed campgrounds outside the monument \u2014 Stateline and White House \u2014 and dispersed camping is allowed within the monument in previously disturbed sites outside the wilderness area. Permits are required to hike in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), Coyote Buttes South, and for overnight trips within Paria Canyon. There are no visitor centers in the monument.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;House Rock Valley Road&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630129566-24b0e8a1-0599&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13580&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624632276731{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.arizonahighways.com\/explore\/scenic-drives\/house-rock-valley-road\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">House Rock Valley Road<\/span><\/a> (BLM Road 1065) is a 29.5-mile maintained dirt road that provides access to sites within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Heading north from the junction with HWY 89A, the deep red cliffs contrast with the green of pi\u00f1on pines and junipers on the valley\u2019s floor. After 2.7 miles, there is a site for observing endangered California condors, which are released from atop the Vermilion Cliffs every September. Five miles past the observation site, after cresting a hill, there is a glimpse of the jagged Coyote Buttes to the north. At about eight miles, BLM 1100 goes to West Bench Pueblo, a pueblo ruin site. These dwellings are thought to have been used around A.D. 1050-1150. West Bench is an archaeological site, rather than a spectacular &#8220;ruin&#8221;. There are no exposed walls, no doorways, no vast views instead there is a low hump of juniper and sage-covered ground, with an old ATV trail cut through part of it where small scatterings of potsherds, stone flakes, and some shaped sandstone slabs can be found. Continuing on House Rock Valley Road, there is a short hike to a rock art site before reaching the Stateline campground at around 19.5 miles. From here the road continues into Utah, and at Mile 25, the Buckskin Gulch Trailhead. House Rock Valley Road ends at the junction with HWY 89, where the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument meets the Grand-Escalante National Monument.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Toadstools&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630128910-62757037-68e1&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13572&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624632759309{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitutah.com\/places-to-go\/parks-outdoors\/grand-staircase-escalante\/grand-staircase-section\/family\/the-toadstools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Toadstools<\/a><\/span>, located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, is a site with balanced rock formations that look like mushrooms and offer awe-inspiring views that enchant. The toadstools are easy to access via a 1.5-mile round-trip hike rated easy to moderate.\u00a0From the trailhead, the route follows the wash towards the northern rim of a small canyon. The first toadstool you will see is giant and red, and often the &#8220;face&#8221; of the Toadstools as seen in the guidebooks and posters.\u00a0The base of Toadstool Hoodoo is Entrada sandstone and the caprock is Dakota sandstone. Its unique shape is due to erosion. Over time erosion wears away the softer Entrada sandstone while the harder Dakota sandstone remains relatively unscathed. Toadstool Hoodoo is best photographed late afternoon. Continue past the red Toadstool, and you will find more patches of mushroom-like rocks along the trail. Towards the end, you will see a lone white stem with a red cap, alongside stunning Paria River Valley views. Past this scenic stop are even more toadstools. Return the way you came.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;White Pocket&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630128313-9b5cd618-22ad&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13581&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624635162621{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.americansouthwest.net\/arizona\/vermilion_cliffs\/white-pocket.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">White Pocket<\/span><\/a>, located in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, is a remote location with amazing rock colors and formations. A group of domes and ridges covering an area of one square mile below a larger mesa lined by similar rocks, the &#8220;pocket&#8221; is a relatively small area of land markedly different from its surroundings. The rock formation juts out from a flat plateau of sandy plains sparsely covered by bushes and small trees. Similar to the more famous Coyote Buttes, White Pocket consists of swirling, thin-layered strata, adjacent layers of contrasting color, and curious erosive features in various shades of white and light grey. Like Coyote Buttes, some formations at White Pocket are delicate and could be damaged if subject to a large number of hikers, but there is no permit system and visitation is unlimited; it is however naturally restricted due to the difficulty of access. The long drive through deep sandy tracks requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle. From the parking area there is a sandy trail that leads for about 100 yards to the beginning of the slickrock. The closest formation is part of a broad, low relief ridge of white sandstone which to the north approaches taller white cliffs at the edge of a mesa and to the south breaks up to a series of little domes and outcrops of &#8220;brain rocks&#8221; &#8211; curving surfaces split by deep cracks into irregular polygonal shapes. The ridge has various gullies, wave-like formations and potholes that retain water for a long time after rain. There is no set trail, and visitors are free to explore all along the colorful slickrock. Each step is a view to something unique and picturesque. White Pocket is best photographed in sunny weather conditions, as the blue skies contrast nicely with the colors in the rock.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Navajo Bridge&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630127671-831cbf88-9cad&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13573&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624634495157{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/glca\/learn\/historyculture\/navajobridge.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Navajo Bridge<\/a><\/span> is the name of each of a pair of steel spandrel arch bridges that cross the Colorado River near Lees Ferry. The newer bridge of the pair carries vehicular traffic on U.S. Route 89A over Marble Canyon between Bitter Springs and Jacob Lake, allowing travel into a remote region north of the Colorado River. Prior to completion of the first Navajo Bridge, one of the only Colorado River crossings between Arizona and Utah was located about 5 miles upstream from the bridge site, at the mouth of Glen Canyon where Lees Ferry service had operated since 1873. In the 1870s, pioneers from Utah began to expand their settlements into northern Arizona but nearly 600 miles of deep canyons along the Colorado River stood in their way. One of the only places a wagon could reach the river from both north and south was at the mouth of Glen Canyon. Since the area was accessible and was a natural corridor, the ferry was established there. Lees Ferry became an important route for pioneers, settlers and local traffic. In the 1920s, automobiles began using the ferry as a means to cross the Colorado River. It was recognized that it was time to find a safer, more reliable way for vehicles to cross. A bridge site was selected 5 miles downriver at Marble Canyon. Construction of the bridge began in June of 1927. The original bridge was dedicated in 1929, and was only closed to vehicular traffic when the new bridge was opened in 1995. Today the original bridge is open for pedestrian and equestrian use. These two bridges, one historic and one new, still represent one of only seven land crossings of the Colorado River for 750 miles\u2026[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Glen Canyon Dam&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630124612-503291a3-7807&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13582&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624636024221{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usbr.gov\/uc\/rm\/crsp\/gc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Glen Canyon Dam<\/a><\/span> is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River near the town of Page, AZ. The 710-foot high dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1956 to 1966 and forms Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. The dam is named for Glen Canyon, a series of deep sandstone gorges now flooded by the reservoir. A dam in Glen Canyon was studied as early as 1924, but these plans were initially dropped in favor of the Hoover Dam. By the 1950s, due to rapid population growth in the seven U.S. and two Mexican states comprising the Colorado River Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation deemed the construction of additional reservoirs necessary. The dam became a catalyst for the modern environmental movement and was one of the last dams of its size to be built in the United States. Today, Glen Canyon and Lake Powell are managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Operation of Glen Canyon Dam helps ensure an equitable distribution of water between the states of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Colorado, Wyoming, and most of New Mexico and Utah) and the Lower Basin (California, Nevada and most of Arizona). The dam is also a major source of hydroelectricity, averaging over 4 billion kilowatt hours per year. Beginning in the late 1990s, the Sierra Club and other organizations renewed the call to dismantle the dam and drain Lake Powell in Lower Glen Canyon.<!--more-->[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Horseshoe Bend&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1624630248279-fcb13bbf-e85e&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;13584&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624639104856{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/glca\/planyourvisit\/horseshoe-bend.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Horseshoe Bend<\/span><\/a> is a horseshoe-shaped section of the Colorado River located 5 miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam. Horseshoe Bend is a superb example of a entrenched meander. Six million years ago, the region around Horseshoe Bend was much closer to sea level, and the Colorado River was a meandering river with a nearly level floodplain. Then suddenly the region began to be uplifted, trapping the Colorado River in its bed, and the river rapidly cut downwards to produce Horseshoe Bend as we see it today. Horseshoe Bend can be viewed from the steep cliff above. The overlook is 4,200 feet above sea level, and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet above sea level, making it an awe-inspiring 1,000-foot drop. The scenic overlook is accessible via a 1.5-mile round trip hike from a parking area off HWY 89. For a long time Horseshoe Bend was mostly popular with nearby residents, but the yearly visitor count sharply increased with social media exposure and today it is a major tourist destination with more than 2 million visitors a year.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_tabs][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;black&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624621140887{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221;][vc_column][vc_btn title=&#8221;Back to Days 67-72&#8243; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fas fa-angle-double-left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usnomadstudio.com%2Ftheroadbook%2F100-days-journey-phoenix-area-april-2021%2F|title:100%20Days%20Journey%3A%20Mojave%20Road%20to%20Alabama%20Hills%20(February%202021)&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624621160566{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}&#8221;][vc_btn title=&#8221;100 Days &#8211; Main Page&#8221; link=&#8221;url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usnomadstudio.com%2Ftheroadbook%2F100-days-journey-across-the-usa-january-may-2021%2F&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624621175605{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}&#8221;][vc_btn title=&#8221;Ahead to Days 79-84&#8243; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fas fa-angle-double-right&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usnomadstudio.com%2Ftheroadbook%2F100-days-journey-phoenix-area-april-may-2021%2F|title:100%20Days%20Journey%3A%20Mojave%20Road%20to%20Alabama%20Hills%20(February%202021)&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624621188813{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610214283171{background-color: #000000 !important;}&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1624630081876{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}&#8221;] 100 Days Journey: Part 8 &#8211; Vermillion Cliffs [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1610224958479{padding-top: 10px !important;}&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]After wrapping up the Ladies Offroad Network Navigation Skills Camp, I headed north to get away from the crowds that seemed to be packing into the most popular [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-home.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13308"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13308"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13585,"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13308\/revisions\/13585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usnomadstudio.com\/theroadbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}