5/27/2026 Goblin to Dead Horse

 

  5/27/2026  

After leaving Goblin, we headed for Green River for fuel, laundry and lunch. We shared Navajo Fry bread (OMG good) with chicken, corn, black beans, avocado and salsa Verde and had enough left over for another meal. Next was Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Took many photos, but will share a few. Our campsite, one of 20, is at Kayenta Campground-Dead Horse in Canyonlands, high on a Mesa. It is the most expensive so far on the trip ($60), but there were no other campsites with availability It was really pretty. National Park Campsites cost $12.50 with the National Parks Pass.

ARCHES National Park

Loved these women

There are over 2000 arches in the park 

CANYONLANDS-CAMPGROUND

CANYONLANDS VISTAS

ON THE WAY TO NEEDLES

Petroglyphs

Wooden shoe arch

needles

Moki Dugway a couple of weeks ago

 

This was the road we took (up)  a couple of weeks ago, the Moki Dugway, arial view. Single lane, gravel with lots of twists and turns.  No guardrails. Fortunately we did not meet any oncoming cars. 

5/26/2026 Goblins

 5/26/2026  Spent the day and night at Goblins State Park.  This park is an hour south of Green River, UT, but is often missed because it is 12 miles off highway 24.  We visited the park before heading for our campsite.  We hiked down to the bottom, took some pics and, with hearts pounding, climbed the steps back up.  

The campground was sheltered by canyons on 2 sides.  The guy camped on one side was a retired man with his two teenage boys.  He had retired two years ago from his job in the states and moved to Borneo, Indonesia.  The boys are homeschooled there because they don't speak the language.  Very nice kids!

As we were getting ready to leave the next morning, we saw these two young girls, all alone, climbing the canyon.  No parents were around.  We had seen the dad assembling climbing gear the night before, so he must be experienced.  Eventually, dad showed up and told the girls to immediately get down.

5/25/2026 Fruita Campground in Capitol Reef National Park

5/25/2026 Fruita Campground in Capitol Reef National Park was beautiful. Mormon families settled this fertile valley where they grew cherries, peaches, plums, pears, apricots. apples and almond trees. The name Capitol Reef came from 2 things. One, a rock formation that looks like the Capitol dome in DC. The Reef name came from a nearby water fold.

A couple stopped by to pet Sammy and he was really wound up. The lady told us the secret to stopping his barking was to play Ave Maria and he would sing. She got out her phone, put on Ave Maria and he howled a couple of notes and then returned to barking. Oh, well! A friend on Facebook mentioned that maybe he wasn't Catholic.

The camp host's ride

corral near our campsite

Poppy's spot

Beautiful campground in a fertile valley

Sammy was unsure of horses

View from our campsite

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

Cherry trees ready for harvest

5/24/2026 Church in Panguitch

 5/24/2026

We had lunch, bought groceries and later attended church at St. Gertrude Catholic Church (2pm) where there was a first communion for one girl.  This small mission church was full and they were having a celebration afterward for the communicant. Then back to the campground for 2 more nights.

  

5/23/2026 White Bridge Forest Service Campground, UT

 

5/23/2026

We are staying at White Bridge Forest Service Campground, UT until Monday. We had no reservations so we arrived early yesterday and secured a spot. Our site is just feet from a bubbling brook. Most of the campers here are in tents and last night was on the 40s. Sammy needed to run, so we headed up a dirt road about a mile and he was able to be off leash. What energy that boy has! Ron and I were huffing and puffing!!

Bubbling brook

Our neighbors view of the stream

Come on guys, hurry up

And off he went

Flowers growing in the middle of the road

Poppy from a distance

5/22/2026 Bryce to White Bridge Campground

 When we departed Bryce this morning, there was a very long line of vehicles waiting to enter the park. We drove to Cedar Breaks National Monument (10,000 feet) which only opened 7 days ago for the season. The campground is closed until June. There were still patches of snow and the temp was in the 40s and very windy. In 1933, FDR designated these 6,155 acres as a national monument. This area rivals Bryce. You can see the snowfall marker in the photo. We found a National Forest Campground, White Bridge, with available sites and we will be here 3 nights to avoid the Memorial Day weekend crowds.