This state park is so huge, it is really amazing, and I am sad that so many people never come here. So, if you ever head to Las Vegas to do some gambling and enjoy the big hotels, save at least one day to drive out here--maybe two days. (Pack a picnic because there are no restaurants or takeout for at least 10 miles in any direction and that is on a winding and curvy road. Also bring a few bottles of water in a cooler.) Las Vegas has yellow air most of the time, just like Los Angeles, so you are better not even stopping there at all!!
First, head to the visitor center to look around and get a map. Then drive up the steep road beside the visitor center to the higher area. Spend a few minutes looking at the craggy rocks as you drive up here because if you are lucky, you will see some ewes and their lambs who are excellent at rock climbing.
Your first stop should be Mouse's Tank, which will take you 1-2 hours to walk it. It is level but soft beach-type sand, so flip flops are not a good idea. It's only about a half-mile walk each way, but if you are short of time, you really only have to walk in about 1,000'. Spend some time imagining what the pictographs mean.
Then continue driving about 6 miles straight down road to the White Domes. Park and walk through the opening to the large area where the domes are located. Basically, just follow the crowd. There is a long hike that starts here, but you don't have to walk the entire way. And look out for sheep.
Here are a few of the photos I took today as I did this drive. I did not stop at Mouse's Tank because I had been there a couple of times, but I did stop at the Domes and walked a couple of hundred feet to where i could see them in the distance. Frankly, it was getting cold as the sun was getting low over the mountains.
They are building a new visitor center near the campground. The rangers I asked about it said the old one was in poor shape with the septic system not working anymore, and it was just too small anymore for the number of people coming since COVID.
I love long vistas and lack of traffic in the desert!
The visitor center is the low building in the distance, but the road turns left and heads up the mountain just before you get to it.
It was really cold today, but taking water with you is always a good idea.
The road goes past the visitor center and turns right, up a steep incline.
Hard to tell how steep this road is from the next few photos, but trust me on this. I had to push the accelerator down hard, and my V10 engine roared as it took my 15,000 pound vehicle up the hill!
It is getting more level now, but what a view!!
Finally at the top. Notice the various colors in the rocks.
And do watch out for the dips. Most desert places do not put pipes under the roadway to handle flood waters. They just lower the road so the water flows over it.
By the way, I am holding my camera up towards the windshield and just taking photos, hoping they are in focus and the camera is pointed in the right direction. I probably end up with one good photo out of three, but i need to watch the road instead of the camera screen.
I'm not quite sure how they are formed, but this is one of what they call the "domes."
When I got to the parking lot, it was full, so I had to park in one of the spots along the roadway. It was a bit downhill, so I cocked my front wheels so they would not take my vehicle off the highway.
Then I put one of my super-chocks under a rear tire. There are actually dual tires here, but one chock will have to do because the inner tire is too hard to reach.
I walked up to the beginning of the trail and took a couple of photos. Had I been here when I was a few dozen years younger, it would have been nice to walk down a few more hundred feet. 😞 But those days are gone.
Headed back to campground.
And down the hill! Can you see the road in the distance?
Can you see why this is one of my favorite places in the West? In a lot of ways, I think this is prettier than Zion National Park, and it is certainly not as crowded.
No comments:
Post a Comment