Backtracking is the name of the game – for today anyway.

October 14, 2013

Backtracking is the name of the game – for today anyway.

With the national parks and monuments back open in Utah we find ourselves backtracking again just to see some sights we missed a few days ago north of our campsite at Sand Island.  We’re on our way to Natural Bridges National Monument for a day of hiking. 

We drive back up Highway 191 to Blanding and head west on Highway 95.  Along 95 we come upon Mule Canyon Indian Ruins – right along the road.  Very nice.

The visitor center has but a few cars in it.  We stop in, talk with the ranger, and purchase a National Parks Passport book so we can date stamp our "passport" at each park we visit.  The park road is one-way from this point, making a big loop around to overlooks and trails to the natural bridges.  We keep right and head down Bridge View Drive.

Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo.

The park has 3 of the largest natural bridges in the world, and all are visible from overlooks along the road.  Natural Bridges became a national monument in 1908, and after having a short series of names through the years, the Hopi names were finally settled on in 1909.

Sipapu Bridge.

The name means “the place of emergence”.  The Hopis believed this to be an entryway by which their ancestors came into this world.

We look down upon Sipapu Bridge.  What a dramatic view.

We definitely want to see this from the bottom looking up.  We hit the trail … and the ladders.

A respite from the trail, we wonder along this massive overhang and view the bridge of this perspective.

Back on the trail, the bridge becomes more defined as we trudge down the rocky path.

The last two ladders and we’re nearly there.

Directly beneath the arch, I stare upward.  Magnificent!

We walk down the canyon a little way to get a new angle.

Around a bend in the canyon there is standing water from the recent rain.

 A tangle of debris caught in this cottonwood tree from rushing water is far above our heads.  Perhaps 12’-15’ above the canyon floor.  Not the place to be during or after a rain.

Starting back up the trail, we see this elderly couple pecking their way down into the canyon.  I’m a little fearful for them, but they seem to be doing just fine.

They made it down … and there they go!  Whew!  Now they just have to get back out of here somehow!

It’s a cool day so the climb back out of the canyon is not too strenuous.

Back up the rocky trail, up the ladders, and back in the Jeep.

Kachina Bridge.

This bridge is named for rock art on the bridge that resembles symbols frequently used on kachina dolls.

It’s a short hike to the overlook where you can see not only the bridge, but also the Horsecollar Ruin sight tucked beneath the cliffs in the canyon.

Jack, always with a sharp eye out for danger, watches for lighting as we walk back to the Jeep.

Owachomo Bridge.

The Hopi meaning is "rock mound," a feature atop the bridge's east abutment.

We hike down the short 4/10 of a mile trail and take a few pictures.

Natural Bridges is a very nice park.  You can actually hike down into White Canyon and meander through the canyon trails, walking beneath all 3 bridges in a day’s time.  That would be a great plan for another day.  Today has been long enough.  We’re on our way back to Bluff for dinner at the Twin Rocks Café.  We hear it’s great.