Saturday Summary - Week 24 - Red Cliffs, River Time, and a Little Snow

Torrey, UT (60’s) → Green River, UT (50’s)  → Montrose, CO (40’s)

From the towering red rock landscapes of Capitol Reef National Park to kayaking a quiet stretch of the Green River to ending the week with an unexpected snow day in Montrose, we covered serious ground in every sense of the word. This week felt like a full-spectrum experience: remote desert solitude, jaw-dropping hikes, peaceful riverside moments, and a reminder that spring in the West doesn’t follow anyone’s rules.

Capitol Reef: An Unexpected Favorite

Capitol Reef wasn’t originally one of the parks we were most excited about, but it surprised us in all the right ways.

The drive in alone from the West sets the tone. Towering red cliffs, winding roads, and that feeling of being completely surrounded by something much bigger than you. We stopped at Panorama Point early on, and honestly, we could have stayed there for hours. The views were dramatic, with sheer drop-offs that I personally admired from a safe distance… while Don was the subject of my photos.

Like most national parks, Lucky couldn’t join us on the trails, but with temperatures in the 60s and a steady breeze, she stayed comfortable back at the bus while we explored.  Our first hike was along the Fremont River. There is a flowing river in the desert, which always feels like a gift. Then came one of the more unexpected highlights of the park: the Gifford Homestead.

A working orchard and historic site… with pie. Yes, pie. And not just any pie, really good pie. We paired it with homemade vanilla ice cream and sat beneath towering cliffs, fully aware that this was one of those simple moments we’d remember.

We wrapped up the day with the hike to Hickman Bridge, a massive natural arch and one of the park’s most iconic features. Every turn on that trail felt like a new landscape.

And then… we almost made a very questionable decision. We had a campground booked just outside the park, but after driving toward it, something felt off. The landscape shifted into something I can only describe as otherworldly. Stark. Empty. Almost lunar. Between that and the general vibe, we turned around.

Instead, we found BLM land with cell service and what might be one of the most spectacular campsites we’ve had yet. Wide open views, dramatic cliffs, and just enough distance from the edge to let me sleep at night, even with the wind howling.

The next morning, we went back into the park and started our day at the Gifford Homestead for cinnamon rolls; we made coffee in the bus and sat at a picnic table under those same towering cliffs. Not a bad way to start the day. We tackled the scenic drive (shorter than expected, but still impressive) and then headed out for a longer hike through Grand Wash. We walked nearly five miles through a wide slot canyon carved by ancient water flow. The scale of the cliffs was hard to wrap your head around. We kept a steady pace, partly because we were excited, partly because Lucky was waiting back at the bus. Even when conditions are perfect, we never love leaving her too long.

That night: pizza, beer, and another round of insane views.

Green River: Water, Fire, and a Slower Pace

After a cold (35°F!) morning, we made our way to Green River State Park. We chose it for one simple reason: it’s on a river… in the desert. And after weeks of desert landscapes, we were craving green. Trees. Water. Shade. This gave us all of that.

We settled in for a few days, and we finally had another campfire. Only our third of the entire trip, which feels wild considering how long we’ve been out here. Evenings looked like this: Beer in hand, watching the fire crackle (aka: caveman TV) and listening to Conor Knighton’s Leave Only Footprints, a book about his exploration of the National Parks during the centennial in 2016.

We also got out on the water! Kayaking the Green River turned out to be one of those “should we…?” decisions that became a highlight. We paddled upstream first (smart move), worked harder than expected in a few spots, and then enjoyed the ride back. I had originally hesitated about getting on the water at all because there was a freeze warning the night before, but by midday, it was warm, calm, and perfect.

Colorado: A New State & A Surprise Ending

Crossing into Colorado felt like a milestone. Don pointed out something I hadn’t fully processed yet, we’ve now visited more states than we have left. Somehow, we’re on the downhill side of this trip. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. We made a quick stop at the library in Grand Junction for reliable WiFi, and I took the opportunity to catch up on writing and photos. Honestly, I’ve missed being in a library. Quiet, focused, productive, it felt good. We wrapped the week in Montrose at a great little campground… and then woke up to snow. Snow! After everything this week: desert heat, 60-degree hikes, river time, it felt like the perfect reminder that this trip will keep throwing surprises our way.

Looking Ahead: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park. More hiking, more red rocks, and I’m sure there will be more moments we didn’t plan for.