Advice on traveling to Utah

[mike_bc]

Thanks for the feedback and your concerns re the harsh environment in the summer. My wife and I have some experience in hot dry environments so we will be prepared.

Thanks to your
feedback we've got some good directions and links to follow up on.

I've taken all comments with the humor that was intended. This is a good board full of good people.

Cheers!

[Raz]

Just north of Moab is Rt 128 on which there are numerous BLM campgrounds. Some are just for tenters while others will accommodate large trailers. They are on the Colorado river. Most have high canyon walls that provide some shade. No power or water, just pit toilets. Our first trip was to see the parks. The second trip was to camp on the river again. It's just a nice place to be. Raz
BLM Campgrounds surrounding Moab, Utah

[fusedlight]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Those afternoon thunder storms are common on the high desert everywhere. It also allows dry gullys to become raging rivers with no warning 10 minutes to an hour after the storm starts upstream. ...

That's absolutely gold with platinum plating advice! NEVER camp/park in that "gosh, what a smooth area!" space in the bottom of a canyon. Back in the day I was geologist. I remember my professor taking my class on a trip one day and pointing out houses in the flood plain. "That's going to go, that's going to go, that's going to go..." and so on. Four weeks later the Rapid City flood of '72 happened and it was exactly as he said. I remember hearing about a guy out in the Badlands who parked his jeep in the bottom of a draw. When he got back from collecting the axles were covered in silt.

If you see smooth sand, if you see banked gravel beds, if it looks a little iffy, Don't Camp There. They call 'em "flood plains" for a reason.

[Darwin Maring]

I said: B alert for young men dressed in white shirts and dress slacks riding bicycles on the road.

Bob Said: Comments about certain Utah natives are not only inappropriate, as I am led to believe there are few active Missionaries in Utah, (except at the MTC in Provo) they are inaccurate.

I did not say anything about Missionaries but to be political correct on this form I revise my post.

Do Not B alert for young men dressed in white shirts and dress slacks riding bicycles on the road.

[Darwin Maring]

BC Dave said:
I don't suppose that we should speculate about the odds that they have had their drivers licenses suspended for too many DUI's?

If it was not DUI could it be they broke the Bumper to Bumper rule as previously stated in this forum.

I do have a question though: Can you be charged with DUI for being positive for caffeine?

[Bob Miller]

More not so transparent comments.....
Offensive is as Offensive does.
Lets stick with FG Trailer comments

[Rob and Linda]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

More not so transparent comments.....
Offensive is as Offensive does.
Lets stick with FG Trailer comments

Exactly right!

R

[Art VanDelay]

Darwin,

You just ran into 2 internet bullies!!!!

[RRIZZO]

Thank you Bob,Rob & Linda. This is not the place to post any religious issues. I love Zion NP. Plan for heat any where in Utah during August. Its a beautiful state, with many wonderful parks and sites. I will put the KOA in Salt Lake City on my list of places to stay while traveling. Passing on bits of info is what this site is all about.

[Carol H]

Mike what route from BC do you plan to take? In mid July last year I went down the coast and then went across on Highway 20 through southern end of Oregon and Idaho.... beyond Bend Oregon it was a long hot drive.... found the drive home via Wyoming, Montana, Northern Idaho and Washington had a lot more camping options and it was a fair bit more comfortable weather wise.

[mike_bc]

Hi Carol,

Option 1: follow 5 then 84 south-south east via Portland/Yakima/Pendleton/Twin Falls..etc..

Option 2: Via Creston/Sandpoint Idaho then follow 95 and pick up 20 at Boise.

I like the idea of traveling to Creston then into Idaho. We stayed once at a really nice and unassuming place in Creston called Scotty's. It was truly peaceful and shady. AND right across the street from Kokanee Brewing. :-)

[Carol H]

Creston area is indeed nice. If you go that way there is a nice state park I stayed at not far from Coeur de Alene called Heyburn - think its actually in Plummer Idaho. - A little bit off 95 but worth it.

I seem to recall that the section from where 95 picks up 20 and on to Pocatello Idaho was a long hot one.... I drove a lot further that day than intended as I dont recall a great many points of interest along the way unless you deviate over to the Craters of the Moon area. Dont mean to offend anyone from that area! Thats just how it seemed at the time - having done little research of the area prior to going through it. If your going home via 15 I found a quick stop kind of place vs a rest stop that turned out to be not bad at all - it was part of the Fort Hill casino complex just a few miles out of Pacatello - it was very new and clean and cheap as I recall - not a long stay kind of place but good for an overnight on the move type of stop.

If for some reason you find yourself on the 90 (12) through Montana there is a quirky little campground called Ekstoms Stage Station in Clinton (Rock Creek) about 20 miles east of Missoula off the I90 - it has an interesting history - there was big cougar on the road way in when I was there - not that it would scare a boy from BC though :-) Another interesting side trip off the I90 is down the 1 to a town called Philpsburg Montana - lots of history with a number of ghost towns to explore in the area around the old town.

Have a fun safe trip.

[Jon Vermilye]

I also recommend Kodachrome Basin, with a side trip to Grosvener Arch about 15 miles south of the park on Cottonwood Drive, a good gravel road.

Another park worth a visit is Goblin Valley near Hanksville, UT.

[fusedlight]

Kodachrome Basin is indeed wonderful. I wonder how many years it's going to be before someone asks "What's that named after???"

[mike_bc]

Thanks for the tips Carol and the others. I really appreciate the information and the shared experiences.

Originally Posted by fusedlight

Kodachrome Basin is indeed wonderful. I wonder how many years it's going to be before someone asks "What's that named after???"

I think it's a given....only the youngest here born in the digital age may not know.

For those interested: Kodachrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Carol H]

Or those into their parents retro music might think it was named in honor of Paul Simon's hit

[fusedlight]

FYI... even though you can't get Kodachrome processed to give you a colour slide, you CAN get it processed to give you a black and white slide.

But we digress...

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

FYI... even though you can't get Kodachrome processed to give you a colour slide, you CAN get it processed to give you a black and white slide. But we digress...

You use to be able to. It stopped being possible when kodak stopped selling/making? the chemicals to do it. ......... just showing my age

[Thomas G.]

One of most beautiful sights I've ever seen are the wild flowers at Cedar Breaks National Monument, which is kind of between Bryce and Zion. If you are there in the summer, stop in, cool off and enjoy the wildflowers.

Directions - Cedar Breaks National Monument

[fusedlight]

Originally Posted by Carol H

You use to be able to. It stopped being possible when kodak stopped selling/making? the chemicals to do it. ......... just showing my age

You can't get color processing but you CAN get b/w processing.