- Take a trip to the fascinating Goblin Valley State Park
- Hike through the giant mushroom-like hills
- Another cross-country hike to the unknown Arsenic Arch canceled
A few drops of rain actually fell during the night. When we get up at 8 a.m. the sky is still cloudy and the lack of sun makes breakfast a fresh affair. We drive through the Capitol Reef National Park eastwards along Highway No. 24, which continues through spectacular desert scenery. The stone colors and shapes change again and again. In Hanksville we follow the highway north to make a detour to the lesser known but equally spectacular Goblin Valley State Park. A well-developed spur road leads from the highway to the state park. The countless mushroom-shaped rock shapes (so-called goblins) look like they come from another planet and have also served as a film set for Hollywood films. There is a rough breeze here in the San Rafael Desert, which repeatedly throws up sand. After a snack, we hike down to the goblin-strewn plains. The last clouds are slowly but surely clearing, but it won't be really hot today.
Since we are on the way to the south of Monument Valley, we drive back to Hanksville and from there on the lonely Highway 95 along the Henry Mountains. In the morning at the campground, I downloaded the information and GPS track for the hike to Arsenic Arch on my iPhone. This little-known rock arch is not even mentioned in our travel know-how guide. The cul-de-sac is in marginal condition without all-wheel drive. The path is even worse. Actually, there is no real way to be seen and the direction can only be followed using the GPS. The path would lead down to a plateau, but it is now too late for such an adventure. We decide to go back to Hanksville. Because in a southerly direction there is next to nothing for the next hundred kilometers. After dinner we plan the onward journey through South America a little more precisely over a drink.
