Going deeper into the middle of Southern Utah

Panguitch, UT to Torrey, UT (more sightseeing!)

June 6 - 7, 2016

We moved east then north following Utah highway 12 across what was often solid rock.  Of course the rock consisted of many layers of different types of sediment laid down millions of years ago.  I really can't wrap my head around it but the result, after millions of years of exposure to rain, snow, wind, ice, flowing rivers, upheavals, etc. is just amazing.  So many beautiful formations and colors.

You can see rock stretching for as far as you can see from this panorama taken at one of the pull offs along highway 12.
Most of what you see is petrified sand dunes!

My hat is off to the people who built this road (all roads in fact).
I practically faint when I think of working in the intense heat to build it.

Oftentimes they had to blast through the rock to make the roads. 

Here, nature has cut through the rock over millions of years creating a lovely canyon.

This is us - parked at the side of the road so we can
get some pictures and let Barney take a wizz. 

Another example of flowing water cutting down through the rock.
In this case she's created broad canyon which suddenly becomes a narrow one.

We positioned ourselves in Torrey, UT in order to visit Capital Reef National Park, a beautiful and remote spot in the middle of Utah.  This was another park we visited in the past and thought it worth seeing again.  For all it's remoteness, it was inhabited early on by Mormon pioneers who created fruit orchards and built irrigation ditches to provide water.  Some of the orchards are still there and create wonderful pastoral scenes at the north end of the park.  It's not hard to understand why they choose to homestead here - it has the look and feel of a wonderful place to live.

The green pastures and orchards provide a welcome coolness.

A very old tree with many battle scars.
Was it here 150 years ago?

I can see what the original pioneers saw in this area.  It's very appealing.

Capital Reef was named for the white domes of rock which reminded pioneers of the capital dome in Washington DC.  I get that part but where did Reef come from.  It turns out it's an old sailors term for anything that is hard to cross.  That described this region very well as you will see below.

One of the white domes that give Capital Reef its name.

Panoramic view of the area just outside the park.

On one edge of the east side of the park is something called the waterpocket fold which runs north/south and creates a natural barrier to travels in the east/west direction.

This should explain everything!  Got it??  If not it's because we didn't get the entire explanation in the picture!!!

 You can travel some rough roads in the park and actually visit the fold which would have been interesting I think, but a bit tough on our CRV.

Some interesting rocks formations.

It was threatening rain but finally the sun broke out and Laura got some great shots of the drive out of the canyon.

Awe inspiring isn't it?

 If you ever get a chance to visit Capital Reef - take it.  You won't be disappointed.