Southern Utah - Burr Trail

Continuing the previous Southern Utah trip:  from Torrey my friend and I drove down via Scenic Highway 12 to Boulder, Utah.  Not, Colorado, Utah.  It has an amazing population of 250 people out in the sticks!  It has 2 gas stations, 3 motels and 3 restaurants all rates probably 1 star to even out the counting numbers.  I didn’t see anything else of note.  And, the motel we stayed at – Circle Cliffs – was rather spider infested so I wouldn’t recommend staying there again.  By infested I mean that I killed 12 spiders and gave up as there many, many more.  Eck!

The Gas Station and Local at Boulder, UT.  You gotta love it! 

Anyhow, at Boulder we turned east onto the Burr Trail.  The Burr trail is quite spectacular and as long as it hasn’t rained you can easily get to the switchbacks in a two wheel drive car.  The first 10 miles or so you drive through Long Canyon which is grandeur at its best.  The sheer rock cliffs following a dry river were just beautiful.  You continue to go through different rock formations and rock types all the while being able to see the Henry Mountains in the distance.  WOW!  Sadly, the weather was not the greatest with threatening rain and serious cold wind so we didn’t do any hiking. 

 The View at the top of the Switchbacks with the Henry Mtns in the background.

After about 30 miles you hit the switchbacks which look pretty intimidating as it goes STRAIGHT DOWN on a dirt road.  But, as long as it’s dry it really isn’t a big issue and there are places to pass other cars coming the other direction.  From the switchbacks we drove south to Hall’s Creek Crossing.  This is definitely worth it as it gives you a great perspective of the Waterpocket Fold.  They say you can see 80 miles worth of the 100 miles of rock formations, including a double arch and of course, Hall’s creek.  I enjoyed the bird’s eye view of it. 

Hall's Creek Crossing - view of the Waterpocket Fold.

We turned around and drove back up the switchbacks (due to threatening rain) and had lunch at the switchback view.  It is indeed pretty.  From there we drove back into Long Canyon with again beautiful views of the various rock formations and took some little walks along the campground area and riverbeds to stretch our legs.  Even though it is along the same route the views are totally different and equally spectacular. 

As the weather continued to get colder and colder we headed back to the little spec of Boulder and ate at Boulder Mesa Restaurant.  This is the cheap greasy spoon place in Boulder owned by a really nice older couple.  In just the space of dinner I knew more about the Ms. and her family than I do about some of my neighbors!  I do love that about small towns.