Mesa Verde / Canyonlands

Happy Birthday Uncle Dan!  Today we spent most of our morning at the Laundromat  across from last nights Motel.  It was close to 11AM by the time we set out to Mesa Verde National Monument,  From the Monuments border to visitor center was fifteen  miles.  The drive in was spectacular, amazing views in all directions.   

We spent a little time at the exhibits there before heading deeper into the park to the Chapin Museum.  From here it was a short self guided walk to some of the most well preserved cliff/cave dwellings in the park. 

We took lots of pictures and video of the drive in.

Early afternoon we started the three hour drive to Moab, UT.    We were about an hour out when we saw the signs for Canyonlands National Park.  It didn’t take long to make up our minds.  After a mile we saw a sign that read, Visitor center 34 miles.  With a stop here:   

It took nearly 45 minutes to get to the visitor center only to find they closed at 5PM.  It was 4:59.  As they were locking up Tyler asked for a Junior Ranger workbook and I grabbed a map. 

We noticed some BLM land bordering the park and a 4x4 road through it leading to Moab.  Bonus!

We drove the road deep into the canyons bordering the park.  Most of the time the road was rocky but in good condition.  There were numerous washes cutting through the road from flash floods., these were a bit more challenging.   We also crossed two creeks, one dry the other flowing.  The dry presented more of a challenge as it was clogged with tumbleweeds which I had to fish from the undercarriage after crossing.   

It is 7pm now and still 92 degrees.  We drank a lot of water today and drove a lot but our yard this evening is amazing!