The Detour That Wasn’t in the Plan
It started with a drop-off. My parents were kicking off a Road Scholar tour through Utah’s national parks, flying into Salt Lake and heading down to St. George. I played chauffeur, waved them off, then stared at my car like, “Now what?”
Going straight home felt… lame. So I didn’t.
Night One: Soap Creek Stars and Solitude
Camping at Soap Creek was my first night of “freedom.” I passed the gate, found a quiet spot with a few neighbors just far enough away not to kill the vibe, and looked up. The stars were unreal. No city lights. No noise. Just me, Estes and the night sky.
Hiking Sedona: Red Rocks, Sweat, and a Dash of Magic
Doe Mountain came next. Solid climb, totally worth it. If you’re doing this hike, do the North/South loop if you want views that’ll make your jaw hit the dirt.
Then there was Birthing Cave, which wasn’t even on my radar. A friend texted me, “You have to see this one.” I figured, why not? I sat inside that cave alone for a good 10 minutes, soaking it in. Then a noisy group arrived and shattered the peace, so I dipped. But that quiet moment stuck with me.
The Bell Rock Bond and Off-Road Madness
I met up with my new adventure buddy, Shawna, at Bell Rock. We clicked instantly, and the hike was pure chef’s kiss. You can stick to the base, but we scrambled up to the top and holy hell, those views. EPIC, all caps.
Now, Shawna didn’t have a 4×4 vehicle, but guess what? She was still hyped about doing some off-roading. Enter Broken Arrow Trail. I’d seen videos, and let me tell you, some of those obstacles are butt puckering. I’d shelved it for a solo trip, but she convinced me. We went for it, and it immediately jumped into my top favorite drives ever. My anal sphincter was clenched but it was worth it. One of the best trails I’ve been on.
Camping Fails and Wins
Schnebly Hill was a gorgeous spot until some folks decided to blast loud music. Nothing kills a vibe faster than someone’s Bluetooth speaker. Still, the mud adventure with Estes made up for it.
At Nolan Tank, I knew weekends could get crazy busy, so I tried to outsmart the crowds. Spent nearly two hours driving in circles through the Arizona desert trying to find a secluded site. Finally did but man, that was a test of patience.
Hidden Gems and the Edge of Everything
Raven Caves Trail felt like finding treasure. Parking was tight, I had to park in a neighborhood and hoof it a block but crawling through those caves was so much fun. Little ledge jumps, tight tunnels, and a surprise creek at the bottom.
But the spot that stole my heart was hands down Edge of the World. The name says it all. It’s like the earth just… ends, and below is Sedona glowing in the distance. Campfire crackling, cool breeze, annoying neighbors I managed to tune out, it was one of those nights where you don’t need music or WiFi or anything else. Just silence, and maybe a few marshmallows.
Let’s Talk About This for a Second
That detour through Sedona wasn’t part of the original plan, but honestly? It beat the hell out of any itinerary I could’ve written. Sometimes you need to take the long way home to remember what it feels like to really be home, with yourself, with the world, with the road under your tires.
So, if you’re ever feeling stuck, bored, or too tied to your calendar, ditch the straight line. Take the red rock route. Trust me.
Want more road trip stories and wild trail finds? Stick around. I’ve got plenty more where that came from. Next on the 10 day roadtrip….. GRAND CANYON
