I thought i would do a text search but lo and behold it is being repaired. i have looked on Mapquest and it estimates just over 5 hrs. following RT 24 to 95 to 261(portions unpaved[?]), and then to 163. Is the unpaved section difficult? On my AAA map it looks likeit involves the Valley of the Gods area where we plan on stopping for a bit.

Is this the best route? It looks it to me but I have read many complaints about the accuracy in both time and distance w/mapquest.

We have done this route. There is only one section that is dirt. It's pretty steep and windy. Here are some links to pictures and descriptions of Moki Dugway which is the dirt section of the road. Or you can do your own search of "Moki Dugway"

http://www.so-utah.com/souteast/powerdrv/mokidgwy/homepage.html

http://marina.fortunecity.com/highwater/419/moki.html

If you are coming from Torrey and going to Gouldings then you will be going DOWN the grade. When we did this route we were going UP the grade. It's been a long time but it never bothered me.

An alt route would be to stay on Hwy 95 and then take Hwy 191 down to Gouldings. I would suggest the alt route if it's raining.

Utahtea

I forgot to mention that my Microsoft Streets and Trip software came up with 5 1/2 hour also. And a little over 6 hours for the alt route. My program is usually pretty good on time. These roads are not fast driving roads.

Utahtea

Thanks Utahtea, that's the kind of info I was looking for. I have read a lot of good comments about Valley of the Gods and would like to visit but needed some reassurance. This route looks to be scenic--several mountains to the west, crossing the Colorado etc. Hopefully that will make up for the fact that we will spend the better part of daylight in the car.

Oops, I just noticed I made an error in my post where I said you would take Hwy 191 down to Goulding on the Alt route. You will pick up Hwy 163 after Bluff.

The Valley of the Gods is after you have come down the Moki Dugway. If you take the alt route you can also drive though Valley of the Gods. It's a 16 mile drive on a dirt road.

Here's a link to a nice map of the Valley of the Gods.

http://www.nature-photo-tours.com/photography/valley_of_the_gods/valley_of_the_gods_info.asp#Map%20of%20Valley%20of %20the%20Gods

Utahtea

Those are great photos, thanks. I was wondering if there were any other points along this route to stop. Natural Bridges Monument sounds great but I can't get a sense of how far out of the way it might be. The AAA book makes it sound lovely. Is there any place else we should consider? Thanks for the great advice thus far.

The entrance to Natural Bridges National Monument is just about 5 miles off of Hwy 95. My best guess is that is would add 20 miles to your trip once you leave Hwy 95 until you returned to Hwy 95.

The drive in the park is short and then there is a one way loop to see the three bridges.

http://www.so-utah.com/souteast/natural/homepage.html

The National Park Web site for Natural Bridges says the scenic drive takes about 45 minutes. You can see all the bridges from the scenic drive. Add more time if you want to do any hiking.

http://www.nps.gov/nabr/pphtml/basics.html

Utahtea

Thanks again! I completely forgot to check for info on the National Parks Website. I have been relying on AAA and a Frommers guide to the national parks to the exclusion of the parks site. So much info out there!
Thanks again!

Utahtea and I think alike on most of this part of the world. I think there is nothing quite like it. Capitol Reef is one of my favorite places. It is tied with Bryce and a few other places for first place.
Natural Bridges is a neat, fun place. I am not sure I could do it now, but when I was about 55 we went down the ladders and the trails all the way to the creek and looked up at the bridges. The hike down and back was fun. We were able to scramble around like kids and run up and down the ladders.
If you drive south from the Bridges you come to the edge of the mesa. The route is state 261 and it leads to the road that turns off to the Valley of the Gods. At end end of the mesa you can see literally forever over Monument Valley. Shortly after you descend that steep cliff face you will be near the Goosenecks of the San Juan River.
It will not take long to see these incredible features. They demonstrate remarkably well how the area was once near sea level and the San Juan River had become an old river and was meandering along curving all over the place. Then the Colorado Plateau was uplifted and the river was traped in its entranched meanders so that it carved the land forms known as goosenecks.
I think they are worth stopping to see. They are not far off of the highway and as such constitute a neat little lesson in physical geology.

You were asking about the route and whether or not it was the best one.
Let us suffice it to say that it is indeed the best one by far. Your alternative is to drive on the dirt.
Or to put it another way, it is much faster than your other options!!
The total distance from the Capitol Reef visitor center to Natural Bridges is about 140 miles. Route 261 is not the same road that goes through the Valley of the Gods; that is off to the side.
The dirt part is fine UNLESS it is raining! In that case, I am not so sure. But that is dry country so chances are it will not be raining.
When I drove it, the road had been graded and was smooth.

After all, the old stock car races in the South were held on dirt tracks. Those guys would fly around those tracks like the were possessed. Boy the old romance of the choking dust dirt track is gone. The stockers would skid the corners on racing slicks that spewed dust as they bit into the curves.

Mr. Brown, I thank you for your advice. Since you say that Capitol Reef is one of your favorite places, what would you recommend we do? We will arrive early afternoon in Torrey and would like to do some sort of hike. I have a Frommers guide that lists a bunch including Cassidy Arch,Chimney Rock,Fremont Gorge, Grand Wash & more. Unfortunately we will only have that afternoon in Torrey as we leave the next day for MV. Any particular favorites? We are early 40's and an 11 yearold. All in good shape and enthusiastic hikers.

I am already wishing we had a month to see and do all we want to do...

Thanks for any advice!

I hope you don't mind me answering the question you asked bob brown. Capitol Reef is one of my favorite parks too. But bob brown and I differe on our second favorite. My top three are Arches, Capitol Reef and Zion and the favorite is the one I'm in at the time!

Since you only have less than a day I would recommend doing the Grand Wash. It's fairly level and easy and you walk in the canyon with these sheer high walls everywhere. It's my favorite. The whole trail is 4 1/2 miles round trip but you can stop and turn around at any time.

I would also recommend doing the short hike at the Petroglyphs on Hwy 24.

If you still had some time you might do the mile hike in Captiol Gorge to Pioneer Register which is interesting to see and an easy 2 mile round trip hike.

If you go in the summer carry plenty of water. It gets HOT! Don't enter any canyon if it looks like a rain storm is coming. The wash areas are subject to flash floods.

I've done Cohab Canyon hike and I was really disappointed. Hickman Bridge is nice. We've never done Cassidy Arch or Chimney Rock. It was always so HOT when we visited in the summer.

Depending on the time of the year you can pick fruit in the Fruita orchards. They let you eat all you can in the orchards for free and if you want to take some they have really cheap prices.

Utahtea

Utahtea, There is little chance I or anyone on this board would object to you answering any question. At this point I am second guessing all of the decisions I have made as they relate to time constraints rather than a desire to visit certain places.

As it stands I was reluctant to post about our trip because we have cut Moab from the trip and clearly that is a favorite of yours. I am thinking that it will be the focal point of next years trip. We travel from the East Coast and as much as I want to cram everything in, something has to give.

I find the advice from those of you who have been to these places invaluable. I will take your advice for Capitol Reef it is just what I needed.

We will be there in late June and understand the weather issues. we just keep saying it's dry heat! Seriously we were in AZ last year at that time and know the dangersof heat & sun exposure. We may try and get quick hike in the morning we leave which may be the Capitol Gorge.

Thanks once again for the info, as I have said, it is nice to get advice from folks who have been there.

Thanks again!