If you get the chance to cut across from I-15 south of Salt Lake to travel Hwy-89 through Page, Utah to Flagstaff, AZ – take it. The quick pics from my camera phone can’t do these justice.
I-15 between Great Falls and Helena in a snowstorm?
Not so much.
We were in the Page AZ area last May. Moeb UT two years ago. You are right, the area is absolutely fascinating. Pictures would need a Million words.
You’re right. It’s vast country with multitudes of strange formations and a camera can’t do it justice.
We drove most of that route annually – as well as Highway 6 – for nearly 20 years mid-summer to take our children to visit relatives in Southwest Colorado, and also over to Page. We’d make the odd stop at places such as Arches National Park but July was too hot to spend much time exploring.
The kids are long since all grown up and the last couple of times we’ve driven it off-season we were able to thoroughly savor the magnificent views.
Southern Utah has some amazing roadways. Most never get seen since they go from nowhere to nowhere else. Try 163 going north out of Mexican hat for about 8 miles and cut across to 261 on valley of the gods road (jeep not necessary, but recommended) and then up the Moki Dugway. Google moki dugway for images.
We travelled through there in Dec, 2004, coming home from Phoenix. Instead of HI way 89. We took a road that took us right over the mountains and brought us into Ceder City, Utah, from the south. There was about 5 feet of snow on top of the mountains, big snow ridges plowed up on the cliff side of the road. I was real glad to get out of there. I’d love to go back in the summer sometime though.
Flagstaff, near the Barringer crater , that is a no miss stop as well , drove the back roads from Lost Wages to the Grande Canyon to Barringer and across to Lake Havasu and San Diego about 10 years ago.
let the dogs loose in Barringer , they shouldnt go to far
Awesome country out there. Be sure to drive through Sedona on the way south, worth the detour if you have time.
If you’re in Phoenix Kate, be sure to use the hotel pool if its heated. Drives the locals CRAZY to see us Snowbirds in the pool in February.
I live a few hours from there, and the weather’s GREAT!
FYI Kate
Agreed; Sodona is a must(hwy 89A), the hwy runs parallel with the 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. I highly recommend taking this route to or back from Phoenix.
While at Sodona, make sure you bring canned beer and some lawn chairs, and go spend a few hours at the Rock Slide Creek(5 min out of Sodona). $10 for a family day pass. Best tourism value in the valley.
Also, check-out some MLB Spring Training in the Tempe Area(East Valley).
Cheers
I have done that route. On the return leg, I went northeasterly from Phoenix through the wooded country, and up to Winslow, visited the Barringer Crater, and then east a ways and north through the Painted Desert back into Utah. Awesome scenery, all of it.
I know the weather’s great. I’m wishing I was there enjoying it, but the cost of PROPANE pretty much killed my shot at a February in Ahwatukee. A family of four can fly from Buffalo for the price of 500 gallons of the new liquid gold. Plus HST!
I’d actually be further ahead burning fuel oil. Higher BTU content per gallon.
I’ve driven it a few times on the Portland to Phoenix run (via California on I5 to I10* is faster but deadly dull); it’s a good excuse to hit the Grand Canyon.
Slow as hell compared to the Interstates, but verra scenic.
(* The smart traveler skirts around LA on CA-58 through the Mojave.)
I’ve done that road (and several others in the southwest) and even though I’ve lived here for years now I never grow tired of how great scenery is. We do a lot of road trips, make a 4 day weekend thing, and whenever I can I try to get off the interstates and take the smaller highways. Sometimes it takes a little longer but it’s a much more interesting trip.
and if you have time to boogy over to Florida………….:-))))
In Flagstaff, got to Salsa Brava restaurant, amazing. It is on the Route 66 road.