This felt like a bit of an adventure. We took the directions listed to find this place and…read morewondered if we had found ourselves in one of those "you missed the wrong turn" kind of scary adventure movie. But we finally saw a sign posting the parking to the Wall Art - and we were so glad we hadn't turned around. This place is amazing! To think of this art lasting for so many thousands of years, so that we can still see it today gives you such a moment of awe. This place is fairly unknown so we had so much space and time to explore without gobs of other people. It was truly a magical experience - which I will stop trying to express as I just don't have the words to describe. However, I can say that I highly recommend a visit to this very lonely, yet magical place.

It is so fascinating to see Barrier canyon style pictographs. It is easy to access (but due to that…read morevandalism is high) and quite a variety of pictographs and petroglyphs can be seen. In winter, mostly only us and had quietly admired the ancient work. I wrote more detailed descriptions in my blog. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2025/06/barrier-canyon-style-rock-art-sego.html

Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

I took my 2.5 year old son here to pet some animals, and he loved it so much he cried for 20…read moreminutes after we left. This place is a hidden little gem that everyone should visit. It's so unique with all their little tiny houses and the animals. Each house has a theme like the teddy bear house, the old lady in the boot, mother goose, grandma's house, and so many more. The gentleman who owns it is very kind. The admission is free, but they appreciate a $5 donation per person. My son was allowed to pet and feed all the animals, and he got to hold a bunny. He was in heaven!! We will go back here for sure, especially for the pumpkin patch and for Christmas.

I picked up a few pumpkins with my fiancee this October. I heard that this was their first year…read morewith a pick your own pumpkin patch. We enjoyed the hay rack ride, which was my fiancee's first ever. We loaded up with all of the other kids and parents and did a tour (or a lap) around the pumpkins. We then were dropped off where we started and set off with a wagon to get the perfect pumpkin. We had a great time. The weather was wonderful. The only disappointment I had was that they did not have food or anything to purchase other than pumpkins. I was thinking caramel corn, caramel covered apples, some sweets, nothing available. Being their first year, I'm sure they will figure it out for next year.

This is a cool little place to check out. If you have been on the road for a while need a walk and…read moresee something then pavement then stop and check out some history.

Three stars for some ambivalence here... The house tour is fascinating, super unique, with 5,000…read moresquare feet of living space with a ton of original furniture, fixtures, home decor and objects in general to look at. Most of it was HAND BUILT by the owners many decades ago. Really cool! But twelve actual minutes to run through it? Really? The docent was nice enough but obviously doesn't care about his job. It was almost funny how he was moving us through as fast as the candy on Lucy's conveyer belt. I reluctantly recommend the tour because the house/history is amazing, but the tour itself desperately needs a new guide and at least double the time to enjoy it. The girl at the front that sold the tickets was a delight: she enthusiastically answered our questions and actually seemed to enjoy engaging with guests.

Great spot to visit. It's like a 15 minute stop max. Several off roading options around s there tooread more

It's petroglyphs on a huge boulder, from different native cultures, from different eras…read more The boulder has 4 sides, and each side has petroglyphs, including one which is a depiction of a woman giving birth, hence the name. From Moab, you drive along the Colorado on a somewhat remote, but paved road. The road goes deep into the canyon, bordered by several remote camping areas and trail heads. There are a few mobile homes along the road as well, and a small wooden house partially built into the rock walls of the canyon. We also saw three walls, for lack of a better word, built of stone, like those found in ancient ruins. Unfortunately, they were on private property with "No Trespassing" signs, so we didn't go check them out. Anyway, once you no longer see homes, the road goes on for maybe one more mile, then turns to unpaved gravel. Dirt bikes, utvs and other vehicles all use this road, and because it is a "shelf" road, it can be a little scary. Just go a little slower than you normally would, and you'll be fine. The rock sits below the level of the road, as does the signage, so you may drive by it, but there is enough room to both pull over or turn around. There is no parking lot. If you're into any sort of history, but especially native cultures, this is a nice little piece of it to check out. 38/2021

Stopped by to check out the ruins of the Driggs mansion. Built by two Italian stone masons for…read moreLawrence Driggs, a lawyer, author and Texas cattle rancher, between 1914 and 1918, when he homesteaded in Unaweep Canyon. The land where the mansion stood was sold to 3 Grand Junction businessmen who turned it into a hunting lodge. The local rancher who then acquired the property took the roof off the mansion because he wanted to discourage trespassing. The building was fortified by an archaeological company to ensure the structure would stand the test of time. It is an example of the homesteading efforts in the canyon. Unfortunately the structure is on private property and not open to the public. It would have been cool to be able to look at the sandstone blocks and mortar work. We pulled off to the side of the road to take some photos of the structure. Some talkative cattle were nearby and it was amusing to hear them 'speak.'

The hike was a lot longer and strenuous than we felt it was billed as. Give yourself 40 minutes to…read moreget up there, 30 minutes to check it out, wait for pictures ( there is a line). 25 minutes to hike down. Bring a headlamp for the sunset time. It gets dark quickly

Delicate Arch is the face of this national park, maybe for the entire park service, Moab, UT, and…read moreeven the American West. The first known photo of this arch was taken in 1906, and it appeared in LIFE magazine in 1953.  We climbed up to the top of the hill, which is opposite the arch. The Green Rock signifies the change of time. The green sediments come from a humid era in Archer's Jurassic past, which included braided rivers, floodplains, and a nearby volcano. Volcanic ash full of iron settled atop clay, silt, and other sediments here.

Just an amazing time you have to go. Taking pictures doesn't give it just to see any in person…read more Definitely bring some water sunblock sunglasses and a hat, but you definitely enjoy the area.

It is our last stop in the park. We initially planned to visit here first, but were unable to find…read moreparking. By now, the noon sunlight is unforgiving for photography than at 8 am, but the tenterhook rock (on every side!) and other rocks, and thrilling landscapes more than made up for it.  The mostly paved 0.25-mile loop trail is an easy walk. There is a picnic area with a bathroom in the opposite direction, which I didn't go to.

Truly a "bucket list" type of trip Everyone needs to experience the White Rim trail once in their…read morelife. I had to reserve the camp sites months in advance. So worth it though. Besides a permit you need a 4 wheel drive vehicle with decent clearance. The trail is right around 100 miles long and most of it is slow technical driving. If you get easily scared from drop offs or narrow shelf type roads you won't enjoy this trail. My biggest fear as the driver wasn't the drop offs but on coming traffic. There are spots where the trail is so narrow you'd have to back up a ways to find a spot where both vehicles could squeeze by each other. I camped at Murphy A, and Taylor sites. Murphy A had an amazing view. Each site has a pit toilet and that's it. If you come in the spring make sure to check the Green River flows. Part of the trail was flooded but passable.

Great off-roading along the rim of the canyons with epic views of the green river, Musselman arch…read moreand Schafer trail switchbacks. Had a blast driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon over two days with a backcountry permit for candlestick campsite. The hogs hill and hardscrabble hills were a fun challenge in low 4 gear. Trip of a lifetime and great memories to match the views.