In 2023 Phyllis and I visited central Utah for the first time, and promised each other that we would return to see more of this incredible state. When our friend David expressed an interest in visiting Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah, Hovenweep National Monument, and Mesa Verda National Park, we agreed without hesitation. Unfortunately, the federal government shutdown closed most of Mesa Verde the day we arrived, so we cut the visit short and took our time driving back to Kansas, and visited Lathrop State Park in Colorado, Historic Lake Scott State Park in Kansas, and included an overnight stay with friends in Wichita. The 16-day road trip covered 2,200 miles and featured some of the most beautiful scenery in the western US.

Two unexpected gems of the trip were:

1. Cimarron Campground in the Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado. Cimarron Campground is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Montrose, CO on US Highway 50 at the site of Cimarron, a historic narrow gauge railroad town. The campground was home to a fascinating exhibit of equipment and structures from the late 1800's when cattle and sheep were shipped to Denver on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

2. Hovenweep National Monument. Human habitation at Hovenweep dates to over 10,000 years ago when nomadic Paleoindians visited the Cajon Mesa to gather food and hunt game. These people used the area for centuries, following the seasonal weather patterns. By about A.D. 900, people started to settle at Hovenweep year-round, planting and harvesting crops in the rich soil of the mesa top. By the late 1200s, the Hovenweep area was home to over 2,500 people.

Many thanks to David and Phyllis for their excellent photos!

Photos

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