Wild Horse Window in the San Rafael Reef
We left Moab on Sunday and drove the short distance to Green River for an overnight stay at the KOA. We did laundry (I guess I should say Amelia did laundry while I rode my bike on Athena Trail), dumped the tanks, filled up on fresh water, took long showers, and had dinner at Ray’s Tavern.
Amelia had been carrying a postcard around she wanted to mail to her mom. It was Columbus Day, and we knew the post office was closed, but on our way out of town we stopped anyways. We were hoping the lobby would be open with a machine selling stamps. We parked across the street in front of the Green River Park. I stayed there and read about the Athena and Pershing missiles they used to launch at the test site outside of town. The target was White Sands Missile Range. This was between 1964-75. It’s quite fascinating.
Anywho, Amelia had a moment that rekindles your faith in mankind. Of course the lobby didn’t sell stamps, but on her way out two ladies were parked outside, clearly traveling. One was at the steering wheel writing.
So Amelia asked, “Would you by chance have a stamp I could buy?”
They laughed, “The post office doesn’t sell stamps?”
Once they realized it was closed, and Amelia said she just wanted to mail a postcard to her mom. The lady held up her writing and told her, “I send postcards to my grandma.” So they gave her a stamp and wouldn’t take money. Maybe there is hope.
This was the hiking portion of our trip. We hiked up to Wild Horse Window, which we did two years ago. Plus two new hikes: Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon…all located in Goblin Valley.
Green River KOA. The weather wasn’t as ominous as it looked.
Goblin Valley State Park dispersed camping area is becoming more popular, but still a great spot to boondock.
A little over a mile from our campsite up steep rock. This is a new sign. The window wasn’t really a secret, more like relatively unknown. Now the cat’s out of the bag!
The first section within the park boundary now has cairns wrapped in chicken wire.
After that there are various cairns all over as you hike up the slab.
Still a few water pockets from all the rain.
Eventually you arrive at this. The window is in the right arch. The picture makes it look small, it isn’t!
The window
Sometime around 2004 some shitbird drew these fake pictographs.
People being people, have carved the floor with names and dates.
Perspective shot, Amelia standing right outside the arch. We shared the window with another couple for a few minutes then had it all to ourselves. It’s a great place to sit and reflect.
Heading back down
Me and my obsession with reflections.
The next day we drove twenty minutes to the Bell Canyon and Little Wild Horse Trailhead. The two can be combined for an eight mile loop. When we were out here two years ago for the Ring of Fire sun eclipse event the area was packed. It was the busiest day ever for Goblin Valley State Park. I don’t think we were thinking clearly that day, because we thought we would try the Little Wild Horse slot canyon. Big mistake! It was packed with people going both directions, creating multiple log jams. I was still recovering from my Spooky Slot experience and just couldn’t do it. We ended up only doing a small bit of Little Wild Horse.
Two years later, Amelia, in all her wisdom, thought we should do Bell Canyon first because it isn’t a slot, then decide if we wanted to loop it. At the end of Bell I decided I wasn’t up for it. That turned out it was a great decision. At the trailhead when we were leaving people were talking about how there was still ankle deep water in Little Wild Horse that they had to wade through.
The sole remaining Prince’s Plume flower
After going through a wide open wash the landscape began to change.
There were a couple of short slots to walk through…
…they were never long, tight, or scary.
It was a pleasant, uncrowded, five mile hike in Bell Canyon.
This was the surprise hike! Brand new sign, so soon the masses will be on it.
Beautiful little dune at our entry point
Weather changes quickly around these parts. Thankfully we didn’t get rained on.
Tall walls
About as slotty as it got.
Juniper berries and pine nuts at the bottom of a plunge pool.
We turned around a little less than three miles in. It sure seemed like we could have continued forever. We finally saw another couple up high on the rocks. The dude was so geeked! So we went up there too…
Barrier canyon style pictographs! This is the Ochre Alcove, and from what I could ascertain on the internets at least 3,000 years old.😳
Some of the panel was fading.
Some eroding
We were so lucky to see that dude! What an amazing experience.
Panoramic view looking out from the Ochre Alcove.
Up next, the short drive to Capitol Reef!
Who dumped the tanks in Green River? 😆
Amelia says who the F you think did it!!
The pics are fabulous. Beautiful landscape.
Some very cool scenery, pictographs are a trip.