(I’m writing this post from Ridgway, CO and we just finished out Jeep tour into the San Juan Mountains between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. Words fail to describe how exquisite it was! Fortunately, I took lots of pictures so I will let them do the speaking in my next post.)
We loved out time at Goosnecks SP, but, as usual, our itchy feet got the better of us and it was time to go. So Thursday morning we broke camp and headed north on SR (State Route) 261. Along the way we had to go up the Moki Dugway. There is a sheer escarpment 6 miles north of Goosnecks and there is a road literally cut right through the edge of it that you can go up
Utah State Routes 95 and 261 together are known as the “Trail of The Ancients” because of the many Anasazi and Puebloan ruins near them. It’s less than 60 miles from Goosnecks SP to the House on Fire ruin.
At the bottom, ready to go up.
This is fair warning to all who try to go up it. I didn’t think it was any big deal, but one member of our caravan found it too difficult and turned around half way up and went back down.
It takes many switchbacks to get up it!
Now that is a “Knock-Your-Socks-Off” view
I just loved the colors and the whole amazing feel of the drive up the Moki Dugout.
One view from the top.
Stunning!
Mule Canyon and House on Fire
From there we continued on to Mule Canyon where we spent the night and the next day walked back into the “House on Fire” Puebloan ruins. It is a very pleasant one mile walk along Mule Canyon and it’s creek. This is the second time I have walked it (the first was in May, 2008)and both times there was still water in spots along the creek so Homer got to enjoy a pleasant walk himself.
This is our campsite near the trailhead to Mule Canyon and House on Fire. It is in an area known as Cedar Mesa in Utah and it has a huge number of Anasazi and Puebloan ruins.
It was fitting that on our first night there the sky caught on fire at sunset!!
But then we had a small amount of rain and got a beautiful rainbow to put out that fire!
House on Fire!! This isn’t a trick with Photoshop. While it isn’t what your eye sees while you are there, it is what always comes out of a properly exposed shot, whether film or digital.
A kind person offered to take our picture while we posed. That’s Judy, myself and Al.
Photographing the Southwest: Volume 1–Southern Utah
This is the turn in to the Mule Canyon trail-head
The trailhead is about 1/3 of a mile from the turn in. That camper is parked directly across from the trailhead. The white dots above the camper are our vans in our campsite.
There were a surprising number of flowers in bloom for a cold October. This is just before the ruin itself,
My van at the House On Fire Campsite
WOW! The pictures of the house on fire and the sunset are absolutely STUNNING! It’s gorgeous out there, I am so with you in spirit on this journey, wish I could be there!
thanks Myddy!! one of these days maybe the time will be right!
Bob
It will probably be into next year- this winter I’m settling into my “workamping” job at a warehouse and they are taking such good care of me and don’t mind my situation, that I am staying to put back as much money as possible!
Myddy, anymore, if you have a job you like and are able to save some money, you better grab and hold onto it!!
Bob
Hi Bob,
How cool the house of fire is and the other photos. I’ll have to check that place out. I loved going down the Moki Dugway! It was a nice surprise that I just stumbled across. What an amazing trip you are all having.
Tina
Tina, that’s the same thing with me, I didn’t go looking for the Moki Dugway, in fact at first it was just an obstacle in the way, but then I kind of fell in love with it! Funny how a lot of life is like that. Something that starts out as an obstacle can turn into a treasure with just a change of attitude!
Bob
Absolutely stunning place, glad you told us, we will definitely go there someday…..just came back from the Smoky Mountains and I thought that was beautiful….but it doesn’t even compare!
Edie, I love the great Smoky Mountains, but you’re right, it doesn’t really compare. There is one place there that did move me as much as anything else and that was the Rhododendron Gardens on Roan Mountain (on the Tennessee-North Carolina Border) in mid-June. That is a top 10 place of everywhere I have ever been!
Bob
Funny you mentioned it because I booked a spot in Living Waters campground at Roan mountain for next year from Aprril to Oct and I will leave my trailer there so I can come and go all summer and definitely will be there in June…can’t wait.
That was an outstanding travel report!
Thanks Rob!
Bob
Thanks for the detailed report of your drive and hike! Yuor photographs are gorgeous!
Thanks Karen! I hope to see you this winter!?
Bob
We’ll most likely be staying east this winter so I’m watching the plans for a East Coast RTR. Plans have a way of changing into something completely different for all of us fulltimers but I’m hoping it works out. We’ll be there! (unless our plans change -lol)
Post some more trip reports when you get the chance!
Karen, the East Coast RTR is looking more likely all the time!
Bob
Bob, thank you for sharing these locations. It’s great to have a group of like-minded individuals wanting to explore together.
I was in that area last year but my brother insisted we take Hwy 15 to 89 from Salt Lake to Flagstaff. The perfect route, if you want to avoid EVERYTHING, except for a quick peak at Glen’s Canyon.
Moral of story: Never travel with my brother unless I own or rented the vehicle. 🙂
traveling Troy, I’m afraid your brother is like most people it’s not the journey they care about, just the destination.
I like your and my way much better:
It’s all about the Journey!! The destination is just icing on the cake!
Bob
I would add that there’s really only one good campsite at Mule Canyon—the one we snagged. There’s a spot right after the signs in the photo above, but it puts you right next to the highway. There’s another spot past where we camped that’s next to a corral. It’s okay, but depending on when you’re there, you might have cattle and cowboys needing to use the area. However, a backpacker had camp set up back in a little nook in the canyon.
And Moki Dugway is a challenge for those afraid of heights, narrow gravel roads and drop-offs. Near the summit, though, we met a beer truck heading the other way. The brew must get through!
Al, thanks for adding the campsite tip. The winding road looks smooth enough, but I gotta ask: if you were towing behind a wide TT much longer than a van, would you brave the roads where you’ve been? What are the odds that those 5 MPH switchbacks are too narrow and sharp to cut? The beer truck is some solace, but they aren’t 53′ end to end. Do I have a chance, in your opinion?
I am not a good judge of how much room trailers need. I don’t tow so I don’t know. I would say send someone else up the road and see what happens. ;^)
You know, for someone with no experience towing, that’s a VERY good answer. Then again, I guess it works with vans when testing out muddy forest rods too, huh? The Universal Solution.
Doug, it was a tractor trailer beer truck! It wasn’t a 53 foot or even 48 foot trailer, but I am sure it was 35 foot. So you could do the Moki! At House on fire there was a huge camping area close to the road and it would be a piece of cake for you. Where we were camped has a switchback and I honestly have no idea if you could make it. I think so but I am more often wrong than right about what other people are able to do, especially with long trailers.
Bob
Awesome! Thanks, Bob! Now all I have to do is add it to my list and see if I can find some courage somewhere.
Al, you are right as far as we went, but Judy and I walked further one day and there are many great spots further up the road.
In fact that tent we saw by the creek actually has a good road to that spot. It was an incredible campsite, even better than ours!
Bob
Have you been to Muley Point, the first left when you get to the top of the Moki Dugway? Great place to camp with views similar to Goosenecks SP. We love that area.
What a beautiful photo of the sunset!
Gayle, I haven,’t been to Muley Point, but everyone says it is beautiful. Next time!
I ten to prefer big showy sunsets but this one was small, but its intensity made up for what it lacked in size! And that rainbow was literally just opposite of it.
We were fortunate to be there!
Bob
LOL – Appropriately enough, the blooms are Mule’s Ears. Usually only bloom in spring, but I think all the recent rains have brought them back.
Desert Rat, that is appropriate! I’m sure you are right, everywhere we have traveled everyone has commented on the unusually large amount of rain we had this year.
We are going to be in your neck of the woods very soon!! Hopefully we can get together and you can share some of your desert knowledge with me. I love learning from people who are living the life!
Bob
Bob, email me where you’re camped when you get to Moab and I’ll come visit – wih warning, of course.
Done! We are in Moab now!
Bob
After leaving the Vancouver, BC area we arrived in Boise and visiting my Sister. Leaving tomorrow for Southern Utah. Looks like we will be visiting the places that you have already been. Ha haha!
Hope to see you somewhere and say Hello!
Hopefully we can meet up at Moab! I’m looking forward to it!
Bob
Echo on Thanks for the Pics. Specifically, I enjoy seeing the pics of you in the foreground w/ Judy and Al. Your gorgeous shots of the world do indeed tempt my soul. However, I like to see you in a shot or two, as well.
After all, the journey/story we are all following is yours.
Scenery is beautiful on it’s own, of course; but alone just a postcard. With you, the scenery becomes a story.
ILdan, thanks for the feedback! I am working on getting myself into more of the shots. The next travel post will be the Jeep Tour and Beth and Forrest were kind enough to take several of me so I will include those.
Like most people, I am embarrassed by my looks, but I am trying to overcome it!
Bob
You handsome devil! Just hold at bay that secret desire to get a mohawk, and you’ll be fine.
Doug, I didn’t know you felt that way!! The plumbing is wrong or I would be interested!! Just kidding!!!!!!
I always had a flat-top haircut when I was a kid, I am seriously thinking about going back to it. But so far I am resisting it.
Bob
What a ride!
Thanks Kim, maybe next year you can do it!
Bob
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the great pics and trip report. Keep it coming, please.
Omar
You bet Omar!
Bob
All I can say is WOW I need to see all of those places. Your pictures are book worthy.
Thanks Linda! You are too kind!
Bob
Awesome pics and write up as usual Bob! I’ve heard of House on Fire but not Moki Dugway. Thanks for giving me another Southwest destination to visit. BTW I just ordered a Mr. Heater unit, 12 foot hose and fuel filter from your Amazon link. One step closer to being fully geared up! Thanks for all the great info.
Joe, as a precaution, you may want to carefully inspect the sealing surface on that filter before you hook it up for the first time. I had a bad one, and it was exciting for a few seconds there! You’ll love the heater itself, though. I’m toasting in front of mine right now.
Doug – Thanks for the tip! I will check over it thoroughly.
Joe, thanks for the kind words and for ordering through the site! I very much appreciate it.
That Mr. Buddy is a great heater. It’s one flaw is it is too good!! It puts out a lot of heat and will bake the van. But, I would rather have that than be cold!! I find opening more windows to let the heat out keeps it more moderate. Or you can just turn it on and off as it gets hot then cools off. That saves some money.
It will keep you warm!!
Bob