Today began around 8 am when we had an amazing buffet breakfast at the Broken Spur Inn. I say amazing because it was something different from the PB&J Bagels that we have EVERY morning.
We then descended from Torrey into one of the best kept secrets in the national park system, Capitol Reef National Park. It is not nearly as crowded as places like Zion or Yosemite, but it is just as spectacular. I had never even heard of it until today, but I already want to come back and explore it more.
Even from the road the red rock landscape of Capitol Reef was breathtaking. But we didn't just see it from the road, we took a short break from riding and hiked to one of the parks most famous features, the amazing Hickman Bridge, a natural arch formed out of stone.
We then descended from Torrey into one of the best kept secrets in the national park system, Capitol Reef National Park. It is not nearly as crowded as places like Zion or Yosemite, but it is just as spectacular. I had never even heard of it until today, but I already want to come back and explore it more.
Even from the road the red rock landscape of Capitol Reef was breathtaking. But we didn't just see it from the road, we took a short break from riding and hiked to one of the parks most famous features, the amazing Hickman Bridge, a natural arch formed out of stone.
Capitol Reef Vistors Center.
Alien petroglyphs in Capitol Reef.
Capitol Reef in the distance behind me.
We then continued on cycling out of the park and into a landscape that looked just like the moon. The landscape looked more desert-like and had less dramatic features. this continued all the way into the town of Hanksville, which, with a population of 250 people, is little more than a few blocks long.
Hanksville does happen to have a very decent steakhouse where we dropped in for dinner. It also has a very peculiar gas station food mart that is actually built into the side of a mountain.
Hanksville does happen to have a very decent steakhouse where we dropped in for dinner. It also has a very peculiar gas station food mart that is actually built into the side of a mountain.
Watch my video below of clips from Utah's Scenic Highway 12 below.
Hankville
Worst hotel of the trip, but it had air conditioning so no one complained!
Our 8pm evening meeting on the beautiful (NOT) front porch of the Hankville Inn.
 BBQ across the street is good. |  |
Early start the next morning on the 4th of July.
