routlaw Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 We just returned last week from another camping trip down in the southwest. Great time, with great hikes and weather although the first few days were a bit more chilly than normal. Hit some of our past best hits, San Rafael Swell, ST George Area, and finally a new one which has been on my bucket list for a long time, Valley of Fire State Park in NV. Beautiful place but have to say we were surprised by the crowds even in mid week. Thought I might share several pix including a few taking on heaps of mud while traveling down 25-30 mile gravel roads in the outback. Thanks BLM campground at Swinging Bridge shot of mud bath mud was inches thick, started falling on its own weight. Once this stuff dries it is hard as a brick. Took over an hour of pressure washing and $20+ to get most but not all of it off swing bridge now retired swinging bridge pictographs 2 4 3 Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 (edited) @routlaw Great photos and write up! Well done. Thank you for sharing! Edited April 1 by Patriot 1 1 2020 OLEII - Hull #634 aka- “XPLOR” 2021 F350 6.7 liter Diesel Lariat Ultimate Tremor North Carolina 🇺🇸 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
routlaw Posted April 1 Author Share Posted April 1 15 minutes ago, Patriot said: @routlaw Great photos and write up! Well done. Thank you for sharing! Thanks Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd1923 Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Great pictures @routlaw! We're leaving in three weeks, couple of nights at Valley of Fire State Park (Lake Meade) on the way to St. George, small world! North Rim on the way back, if the road is open, Vermillion Cliffs and other stops. 2 Chris & John in Prescott, AZ | 2016 EII #113 | '01 Ram 2500 Cummins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Burner Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Awesome report on your trip to the Great Southwest USA, @routlaw... Thanks for posting those wonderful pix!!! 1 Art, Diane, Magnus & Oscar (double-Aaarrf!) 2022 TUNDRA 2017 LE II; Hull #226 "Casablanca" HAM call-sign: W0ABX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators mossemi Posted April 2 Moderators Share Posted April 2 @routlawThank you for posting your pictures and camping report. Well done! Mossey 1 Mike and Krunch Lutz, FL 2017 LEII #193 “the dog house” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted April 2 Moderators Share Posted April 2 (edited) If anyone is in the St George area and has a little time - Look for the water tower that is located northeast of the center of town. Find a way to get to that water tower. Just prior (200 yards or so) to reaching the water tower there should be parking on the left side of the road. Park there, get out of the vehicle and start walking north (another 200 to 300 yards) - down a gentle slope to what is the bottom of an old stream bed. Walk the stream bed back to the east looking for tracks - big ones! Dino was here! Bill p.s. if it is anything like the last time I was there - do not take your Ollie. Both parking and turning around would be difficult. p.p.s. Snow Canyon (just west of St. George) is also a place to visit. p.p.p.s. GPS for the dino prints - 37.15604, -113.50169 Edited April 2 by topgun2 added detail 3 3 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Sagebrush Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 Rob, thanks for a great trip report! Valley of Fire used to be one of our favorite parks, but since the explosion of COVID camping, the crowds have made it not as pleasant a stay. The good news is that Nevada now has a reservation system that removes the uncertainty of finding a place in the park. The Mesa near Overton is another place to spend the night boondocking, as is the BLM land around Lake Mead. Buying a season pass is another way to reduce hassle. 4 Hull #364 - The Roadrunner 2023 F350 CCLB SRW 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd1923 Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 8 hours ago, topgun2 said: If anyone is in the St George area and has a little time... Snow Canyon (just west of St. George) is also a place to visit... Thanks so much Bill! We have 3 nights booked at Snow Canyon campground to end our St. George stay. We go to St. George every year for the Red Rock PPA Tournament (pickleball). Chris and I play in the mixed seniors on one day and then we watch the pros play over the weekend. Past trips not enough time, this time we planned 8-nights in St. George alone! MUST SEE a performance at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. What a place! Homepage - Tuacahn Center for the Arts (OFFICIAL) Last year we watched this spectacular show: The Redeemer by Jenny Oaks Baker - Tuacahn Center for the Arts (OFFICIAL) Imagine we have time to follow your course and see the Dino Tracks too! 2 Chris & John in Prescott, AZ | 2016 EII #113 | '01 Ram 2500 Cummins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
routlaw Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 8 hours ago, Wandering Sagebrush said: Rob, thanks for a great trip report! Valley of Fire used to be one of our favorite parks, but since the explosion of COVID camping, the crowds have made it not as pleasant a stay. The good news is that Nevada now has a reservation system that removes the uncertainty of finding a place in the park. The Mesa near Overton is another place to spend the night boondocking, as is the BLM land around Lake Mead. Buying a season pass is another way to reduce hassle. We actually ended up camping on BLM land from the east side closer to Las Vegas but considered the Poverty Flats area you mention too. I knew there wouldn't be any available spots at the VOF campgrounds since we made the decision to go there as a spur of the moment affair. We enjoyed some great views and it was only a few miles out of the park and not nearly as crowded as Poverty Flats or Lake Mead area. Thanks for the heads up info though. 2 Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
routlaw Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 9 hours ago, topgun2 said: p.p.s. Snow Canyon (just west of St. George) is also a place to visit. p.p.p.s. GPS for the dino prints - 37.15604, -113.50169 Not familiar with those particular Dino tracks but will definitely check them out the next time we are there. Snow Canyon is another beautiful state park, also very crowded now so plan ahead if you want to camp there. There are many BLM boon docking locations in the nearby area as well, nothing special but adequate. Also worth checking out is Babylon Arch. While the arch compared to many is nothing special the area around it is excellent and very reminiscent of Arches NP without the crowds. It's difficult to find and absolutely in no way should you take you Oliver down this soft sandy road with no place to turn around. Beautiful hiking and exploring though. The road is up by Leeds north of St George. 1 Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
routlaw Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 It appears a lot of you are familiar with Valley of Fire State Park but thought I would upload a few images from that part of our recent trip. First two images are with my Nikon Z7 and the remainder with iPhone 13 Pro in RAW mode for anyone interested in the technicals White Domes Road view to the south White Domes Road view to the north White Domes Loop trail with remnants of old movie set Trudi taking a break on the hike Detail of sandstone geology One of the many petroglyphs found along the Mouses Tank trail. Fire Wave Trail Firewave trail and Pastel Canyon End of White Dome Loop trail 3 3 2 Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Sagebrush Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Lots of wonderful glyphs at VOF, but have you found the mysterious Bat Woman glyph? It’s shown on the signs at the Mouse’s Tank trail head. 2 Hull #364 - The Roadrunner 2023 F350 CCLB SRW 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
routlaw Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 37 minutes ago, Wandering Sagebrush said: Lots of wonderful glyphs at VOF, but have you found the mysterious Bat Woman glyph? It’s shown on the signs at the Mouse’s Tank trail head. Darn I'm not sure we saw that one, will ask Trudi if she remembers. Legacy Elite II #70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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