Cowboy camping is a thing of beauty when bike touring or bikepacking... there is something primal that connects your soul to the universe sleeping under the stars. I woke up halfway through the night and couldn't get back to sleep so I just watched the shooting stars.
The Burr Trail is like riding through 200 postcards, each unique and beautiful in its own way. You do not want to rush it. Build in time to stand in awe of the scenery. Take all the pictures. This is the Utah people dream of. Words cannot describe the different rock layers and formations.
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Morning light and empty roads.
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| Looking down into another postcard. |
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Ever changing landscapes.
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| From pavement to dirt. |
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Just another view.
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The infamous switchbacks...12% grade downhill.
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That tiny speck is Ani!
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We wanted to do a side hike, but it was hot and the trailhead was 3 miles down a sandy doubletrack. It was a good thing we bailed on the hike because after the infamous switchbacks, the good dirt turned into sand and ruts straight into headwinds. What was supposed to be an easy 11-mile roll into camp took us twice as long as expected. The Cedar Mesa Campground was a primitive campsite with just 5 site managed by the Capital Reef National Park, and we did not have the energy to go any further. Even though all 5 sites were taken, as people on bikes, we can sometime squeeze into someone else's site. We got lucky, and got a small area next to the nicest guy named Dave his his dog Charlie (ages 71 and 12 respectively).
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| Sandy road into camp. |
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| Our home for the night. |
After a walk up a trail that started at the end of the campground, we joined Dave for some conversation at his campfire... we got deep as we talked about the deep bond between humans and doggos as the stars came out one by one.
Wow, surprised and then not surprised, that Cedar Mesa Campground was full. I've camped there at least 3 times and always alone. But this was back in the 1990s and before the Burr Trail was paved. I also noticed last year that at least the beginning of the Notom Road that goes by the campground is paved up to a certain point. Oh well, progress...I guess?
ReplyDeleteWe weren't particularly surprised it was full, but I've always had good luck rolling up on bikes to just about anywhere and having folks invite us to share a site if needed! And yea, the beginning of the Notom Road is paved... we were surprised by that because my gazetteer showed it as dirt. Progress for cars, I guess, but I like the dirt!
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