Natural Bridges National Park

natural bridge
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So Elodie and Charlie finally arrived much later than they thought, shattered and ready for bed. They quickly hoovered up the left-over burrito from Jont’s doggy bag which he kindly donated (they hadn’t eaten since breakfast). Next day was Jont’s birthday so he was woken by us singing ‘happy birthday’ to him and a plateful of the best chocolate cupcakes the garage next door could provide, blazing with 39 candles (actually 4, we didn’t want to burn the place down).

After he’d got over the shock (at points during the day you could hear him muttering “39!!” under his breath in horror) we all headed off to Natural Bridges National monument, which is a small park with a nine mile loop with three natural stone bridges made by water erosion which you can hike down a canyon to. The boys picked up their Junior ranger info and booklets, and we headed off.

the Moki Dugway

amazing view
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We hiked the mile or so down to the first bridge, a pretty scarily steep hike down the cliffs - punctuated by ladders (made apparently of twigs) where it got too vertical. We drove along to the next point and picnicked on the rocks over-looking the bridge, then walked down to the final bridge and beyond, along the canyon bottom a mile or so. We found a dead Jerusalem cricket which the boys found very exciting (massive and weird looking) and lots of deer and coyote tracks on the damp sand of the riverbed.

You kind of get anesthetised to the astonishing scenery when you visit a load of national parks in a short amount of time, but the tranquility and stillness that you experience when you’re in the middle of nowhere never loses its impact. We had been recommended to visit Muley Point on the 261 by Jim, our motel owner (he and his wife Luanne were lovely and the Recapture Lodge where we stayed was very simple but great) so we headed off there next. It didn’t sound very prepossessing and was down a dirt track but when we arrived we were all in awe of the phenomenal view - accross Utah to Arizona and Monument Valley. It was a highlight of the day and the sun was just getting ready to set so the light was wonderful. I don’t like heights so I couldn’t really relax and enjoy it but Jont, Charlie and the kids were clambering over the rocks like mountain goats.

As the sun set we drove down the Moki Dugway; a switchback dirt road that drops 1100 ft in only 3 miles. This simultaneously scared the living daylights out of us whilst giving us an incredible view of the cliffs and dramatic landscape. We made it back to Bluff in one piece before going to the only place to eat in town that was open out of season - the Twin Rocks Cafe. There we celebrated Jont’s birthday with New York steak (long way from home) and beer - the only alcohol they served. Charlie had to go back to the lodge to pick up Elodie’s ID as she was refused a beer. It’s her 30th birthday in a few days so she was quite chuffed! We went back to the lodge to put the boys to bed and drink warm cava out of paper cups. All glamour.