The first half
From Zion, I took Utah's Scenic Byway 12, which goes near Red Canyon, Bryce, Escalante, Capitol Reef, and others. It was indeed scenic and a byway.
I'd planned on going to Bryce, but after Zion, I was craving something a little more low-key so I went to Kodachrome Basin instead, which is a somewhat remote state park a short detour off the byway.
If Zion is a fancy cocktail bar, Kodachrome is a dive bar. Charming in its own way, and you still get drunk but for a third of the price.
Still some good colors and impressive rock walls and viewpoints. Much less busy than Zion and you can wander around more freely. And parts of it felt much more alien.
After Kodachrome, the road went up a mountain and through the biggest aspen forest I've ever seen. It was still cold up there (there was still snow on the ground) so the trees hadn't even started budding yet. It must look amazing in the Fall.
Slept in Torrey at a reasonably priced motel and ate a Healthy Choice for dinner so I could splurge later.
The second half
The next day, I headed towards Hanksville and Colorado. The scenery was every bit as beautiful as the day before.
Farther along, I saw Factory Butte a few miles in the distance but didn't take a picture. I'd never get home if I took a picture of everything cool-looking here.
I parked alongside the road just outside of Hanksville to see the Spire. You can drive about a mile off-road to the "parking lot", but I didn't want to chance it. I rode my bike the first leg since I'd rather have that break than the car.
The ground was spongey, but the OHV tracks packed it down so it wasn't too bad even on a road bike.
I left the bike locked up to a sign post and continued on foot for the last mile or so. You can stay on the OHV tracks and it's a walk in the park. Or you can get over-excited and trudge up the hills like I did.
Rounding a bend and coming over a hill, you can see the top of a spike slowly emerge. And then you see the rest of it.
It's even cooler up close.
The spire was amazing, but I loved the whole area. I've never felt more like I was walking on another planet. I had such a blast. That was easily one of my top 5 favorite hikes of all time.
Made it to Hanksville and ate a delicious burrito for lunch overlooking the desert and mountains.
Didn't need gas or anything else, but I couldn't not stop here at this gas station built into the side of a mountain.
The third half
Headed northeast and got back on the interstate for the first time since Flagstaff, and in just a short while, I crossed into Colorado.
The rocky deserts of Arizona and Utah were unnerving at first, but I grew to really love them, and I couldn't help but feel sad crossing the state line. I'll miss all those bizarre and alien worlds, but I'm eager to see what Colorado has in store.