Saturday morning Kent and I headed towards Kanab, Utah. There was no rain this past week so it was a good time to explore Bull Valley Gorge in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We enjoyed the back country drive through scenic Johnson Canyon before merging onto Skutumpah Road (Scoot-um-pa). This area is quite remote so, if you go, be prepared.
Bull Valley Gorge is impressive when viewed from above, the gorge is at least 100 ft. deep. One unique feature is a truck wedged high above a section of the narrows, since it could't be removed it became the base for a wider bridge over the gorge. Once you descend into the gorge it is noticeably cooler, the deep sandstone walls sculpted by water form a pretty impressive slot canyon. If you go be ready to face a few obstacles - one being a 10 ft. chockstone . . . there is a rope and you will need it!
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| Old movie set used for Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days, How the West was Won and a few other westerns |
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| Johnson Canyon Road is paved and quite scenic |
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| We left the pavement and turned onto Skutumpah Road |
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| We have arrived at Bull Valley Gorge |
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| Starting out on the trail...... |
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| This is a deep gorge, it's best to stay on the trail |
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| Do you see Kent? He's trying to take a peek into the 100 ft. gorge |
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| This is where we entered the gorge.... |
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| Starting to descend into the unknown |
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| The walls get higher as we go |
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| The walls twist and turn |
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| It's nice and cool in the gorge |
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| We're in the gorge, hope we can find our way out |
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| Three men died in this truck |
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| 62 years later, it still has a license plate and tires |
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| The truck is now part of the newer sturdy bridge, along with logs, boulders and dirt |
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| Bull Valley Gorge is worth the trip, it's quite amazing! |
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| Mud from recent rains |
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| Beautiful |
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| You definitely need upper body strength here! |
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| It's only a 10 ft. rockfall ....whew! |
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| Heading back out of the gorge |
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| It is very deep |
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| Here's a view of the truck from the trail up above the gorge |
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| This shows the road that is built on top of the truck |
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| Looking at the gorge from the road |
