It Started With an Adventure with My Parents
This whole journey started because my parents signed up for a Road Scholar trip through Southern Utah and parts of Arizona. They needed a ride to their starting point in St. George, so I offered to take them.
That part was simple. But once I dropped them off, I wasn’t ready to just turn around and head home. Something in me said, keep going.
So I did.
So… I Nearly Drove Off a Cliff
Let me start by saying: I’m not afraid of heights. At least, I wasn’t. Moki Dugway, a twisty dirt road carved into the side of a cliff, with zero guardrails and exactly one emotion: “What the actual fuck?”
But… I made it with the biggest goofy smile plastered across my face. Honestly, it was one of the coolest stretches of road I’ve ever driven.
Muley Point: Pasta + Panorama = Bliss
Wow, Wow, WOW. Camping at this location was surreal. At the top of Moki Dugway road is Muley Point, a spot so beautiful, I had to sit down just to process it. And what better time to bust out my camp stove and whip up some penne with vodka sauce and sausage?
I sat on the cliff’s edge, fork in one hand, water bottle in the other, and just stared. The desert sprawled out like some alien planet. Then night fell, and the stars? They went off. Like the universe decided to throw a rave and forgot to tell the rest of the world.
Quick Detour: Goosenecks Viewpoint
Not every stop has to be dramatic. Goosenecks Viewpoint was more of a “Hey, I’m nearby anyway” situation. It’s a drive-up lookout with layered, winding canyons that look like a geology class diagram. I stayed just long enough to snap a pic, nod in appreciation, and hop back in the car.
Echoes of the Ancients: Monarch Cave & Butler Wash
Next, I hiked up to Monarch Cave, and let me tell you, there’s something emotional about standing near ancient Puebloan ruins tucked into a cliffside. You can’t touch them (and it’s illegal to disrupt them), but just being there was powerful. Like the air around them was thicker somehow.
Up a dirt road was Butler Wash, which was kind of like Monarch Cave’s cousin. More ruins, more cliffs, more standing there quietly feeling tiny in the best possible way.
Cruising the Valley of the Gods
Valley of the Gods Road is a dope desert road to just cruise down. Mesas and buttes rise up around you, and it feels like the kind of place that doesn’t care what day it is. I blasted some dark r&b music, let the dust fly, and just existed for a while.
Then came camping. Oh damn. Dispersed sites, total silence, and a sunset so dramatic it made me laugh. I even managed a quick outdoor shower.
Surprise! My Parents Are Here!
Here’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming. My parents were on their own Utah trip, part of one of those Road Scholar National Park trips where they flew into Utah and jumped on a tour coach bus to explore. And somehow, somehow, we ended up at Goulding’s Lodge at the exact same time.
We hugged, had some lunch, caught up, and then split off again. It was stellar timing. Random and perfect.
Monument Valley: Cue the John Wayne Music
From Goulding’s, it was just a quick jump into Monument Valley. You know the place, even if you’ve never been. Towering sandstone spires, buttes that look like something out of a Western, and roads that twist through red dust and quiet magic.
I drove through slowly, windows down, soaking it in. I didn’t even try to rush it. Places like this deserve your time.
Muley Point Camping Again
I cannot stress this enough. I LOVE Muley Point. So, of course I had to camp here again before heading to my next destination. This time I had leftovers from Goulding’s Lodge. Tonight the sunset took my breath away. I almost died.
Natural Bridges, Blisters, and One Fiery House
Before heading out, I tackled one last beast: a 9-mile hike Under the Natural Bridges. Three massive stone arches, canyon climbs, and a couple of “Wait… where’s the trail?” moments. I got lost. I found myself again. I cursed at rocks. I high-fived a tree. It was a whole thing and I’m not afraid to admit it.
Even though my legs were sore, I made one final push to House on Fire, a short hike with ruins that light up in the morning sun like they’re, well, on fire. And for once, I could actually get close. I sat there alone, dusty and tired and happy, just taking it in.
Let’s Reflect on This for a Second
I just pulled off something I never thought I could or even wanted to.
What started as a simple drive to drop my parents off in St. George turned into a 10-day overlanding trip through Utah and Arizona. No real plan. No reservations. Just me, Estes, and the gear I packed.
From St. George, I took the long way home, through Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Moab. This was full-on overlanding. No running water. No hotels. Barely any cell service. One restaurant. The occasional bathroom. And a whole lot of wide-open space.
It was hard. Lonely, at times. Hot, cold, windy, wild. But it cracked something open in me.
I didn’t know what I was chasing until I was deep into it. Every night under the stars. Every quiet mile. Every moment without a distraction. It stripped everything down and showed me what I’m capable of when there’s no one else to lean on.
I proved to myself I could do something wild, hard, and totally uncertain. And I’ll never forget it.
So yeah, go. Get lost. Get found. Bring snacks.
