I did my first real exploring around the Moab area this weekend. I started out by driving down into Spring Canyon and checking out the Bowknot Bend area. I explored both forks in the road once reaching the Green River, but my truck isn't the ideal vehicle for this area, so I went less than a mile in each direction before turning back. After leaving the Bowknot area, I started heading north toward I-70 on dirt roads, checking out Dubinky Well, the Needles, Juniper Arch, and Secret Spire. It was almost sundown by the time I finished up at Secret Spire, so most of the rest of the drive was in the dark. I had tons of fun and spent about eight hours off the pavement. The Secret Spire area was the most interesting, and I'm sure I could spend days exploring it on foot. I'll be back to check more of this area out, but next time I'll be on my ATV.
http://udink.org/geo/MoabNorthwest.kmz
The shelf road leading into Spring Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_9991.JPG
The road through Spring Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0008.JPG
Lunch spot along Bowknot Bend
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0039.JPG
East side of Bowknot Bend
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0046.JPG
East side of Bowknot Bend
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0057.JPG
Heading to the north side of Bowknot Bend
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0071.JPG
A little tight for the F-250
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0090.JPG
Back on the shelf road coming out of Spring Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...095_stitch.jpg
Rolling sandstone hills on Deadman Point
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...112_stitch.jpg
The Needles
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0119.JPG
Dubinky Well
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0121.JPG
The road past the Needles
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0135.JPG
Juniper Arch
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0140.JPG
On the way to Secret Spire
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0150.JPG
Secret Spire
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0153.JPG
Alcoves east of Secret Spire
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...168_stitch.jpg
On the way to Tenmile Wash
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0185.JPG
I-70 near Floy
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TP...0/IMG_0201.JPG
Many more photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/MoabNorthwest#