Moab Off The Beaten Path

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I think these tracks and the ones mentioned in Part 2 are the best in Moab. Take route 191 north out of Moab for about 13 miles (mile post 142). Klondike Bluff road is on the right. If you pass the airport, you went too far. This road is easily accessed with two wheel drive cars. Th parking area is at the end where you will see a wired fence and gate. Beyond this is moutnain biking and 4 wheeling. This is nice to hike as well if you only want to see the dinosaur tracks.

Follow the Klondike road trail on a double track road. This can be very sandy in the beginning. The road turns right and into a wash type trail. as soon as you emerge from this onto slick rock you will see a number of dinosaur tracks marked by stones placed around them for easy identification. Please do not disturb the rocks Other tracks ahead do not have these stones. See Part 2.

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These are very interesting tracks because of there size. There is a sign at the location with some historical information. These tracks can be 23 miles north of Moab. On the left hnd side (if you are driving north) there is a large microwave tower. Make the next right and drive for a few miles to the parking area. It is a very easy hike up to the tracks.

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Some cool tracks here not as defined as others but definitely noticeable. There is also a sign describing the tracks put in by BLM.

To find the tracks, drive north on 191. Over the Colorado River and drive until you pass 313 on the left. Willow Springs rd is the second right after 313. Continue on Willow Springs road and just before you get to the boarder with Arches National Park there is a marker sign on the right. The tracks are easy to find.

A normal two wheel car can drive this road.

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On the south side of Moab there is ken's Lake that the locals use a lot. It is small but my wife and I used a canoe to enjoy the lake and scenery.

After relaxing at the lake, we headed up into an area where it was rumored Demi Moore was going to build a house. Great views and wilderness and no people!

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While this is about 1 hour away from Moab, it is accessable for a long day trip. The easiest and most accessable slot canyon in the San Rafael swell is actually a loop hike of Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon. Follow all directions to Goblin State Park. Just before you get to the entrance of Goblin you will be at a stop sign. Left is the entrance to Goblin, turn right here and take the well maintained road for several miles to the first well established trail head on the right. You will cross a large dry wash.

The trail head has toilets. Park here and walk the trail until you can drop into the dry wash. About 10-15 minute you will see the canyon split. Turn right and enter Little Wild Horse Canyon. On the left is Bell Canyon where you will exit later. Some negotiating is required and you may need to use you hands. In winter and early spring there will be water in the slots that can be passed by stemming the canyon wall.

When the canyon opens up about 3 miles later there will be a fork to the left. Take this as it crosses over to a well maintained dirt road. Walk the Road (turn left) until you come tot he next dry wash. This is Bell Canyon. Continue on to the end.

Highly recommend!

During my travels in Southwest US, I often came across these funny vertical stripes on the walls. Looked as if someone had poured down varnish from the walltop.

Later on, I learned that this indeed is called "desert varnish".

I checked the web, and found the following infos:
(for more details please check NPS.gov website, the Canyonlands' one):

Desert varnish only appears where water flows over rocks, and bacteria are present. It is composed of fine-grained clay minerals, which contain black manganese oxide and red iron oxide, or hydroxides.


Now directly from NPS/Canyonlands Website:

Desert varnish consists of clays and other particles cemented to rock surfaces by manganese emplaced and oxidized by bacteria living there. It is produced by the physiological activities of microorganisms which are able to take manganese out of the environment, then oxidize and emplace it onto rock surfaces. These microorganisms live on most rock surfaces and may be able to use both organic and inorganic nutrition sources. These manganese-oxidizing microorganisms thrive in deserts and appear to fill an environmental niche unfit for faster growing organisms which feed only on organic materials.
The sources for desert varnish components come from outside the rock, most likely from atmospheric dust and surface runoff. Streaks of black varnish often occur where water cascades over cliffs. No major varnish characteristics are caused by wind.
Thousands of years are required to form a complete coat of manganese-rich desert varnish so it is rarely found on easily eroded surfaces. A change to more acidic conditions (such as acid rain) can erode rock varnish. In addition, lichens are involved in the chemical erosion of rock varnish.

This site is famous for a large sandstone panel covered with petroglyphs that date from 1,500 to 200 years ago, from the Fremont people to the ancestral Puebloans, and finally the Utes and Navajo. The panel also includes initials and names left by early white settlers, including one J. P. Gonzales of Monticello, who herded sheep in the canyon in the early 1900s. Administered by the Bureau of Land Management's Monticello Field Office (tel. 435/587-1500), the site is located in Indian Creek Canyon, along the road to Canyonlands' Needles District, Utah 211, about 12 miles west of U.S. 191. Camping is free at a primitive campground just across the road from Newspaper Rock, with dispersed camping for about eight tents or small RVs, but no drinking water. Vault toilets are located at Newspaper Rock.

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This arch is right on the highway, and easy to see if not going over 80MPH. It is close to Hwy 46 turnoff, to the south maybe 2 miles, and about 10 miles from Needles Canyonlands turnoff further south. you can hike up to the arch very easliy