May 30, 2019 Bear Ears National Monument, Utah

Sunny, 70's. We went into Bear Ears National Monument.  When the monument was first made it was bigger, it just got cut down by the current administration. We saw some of the actual monument and some that used to be in it. It is lovely.

We did a nice mile round trip to see these ruins in Butler Wash. Senecio, yucca and yellow flowers, a big sundog around the sun and a mariposa lily. 

A nice view of the snow on the Abajo mountains. This is Mule Canyon Kiva and some of the ruins. Behind John is the bottom of what was a two story tower.  

We stopped at Natural Bridges National Monument. Indian paintbrush and cliff rose with yellow flowers. Sipapu natural bridge. 

Prickly poppies, the welcome to Bluff Utah sign. It says it was established in 650 AD. Do not stand at viewpoints during electrical storms. Duh! Horse Collar ruins are in the lower alove, down by the river. 

John walking on the trail from Horse Collar Ruins. This is one of the deep twisty canyons in Natural Bridges National Monument. 

These other two bridges are harder to see. The light was not good for photos. The top one is Kachina bridge and the bottom on is Owachomo Bridge. Wildflowers on Muley point.  

Moki Dugway road, it goes down 1,000 feet in 3 miles of tight switchbacks. We also drove through Valley of the Gods. It is called a mini Monument Valley. The wildflowers were amazing.  

More amazing wildflowers in Valley of the Gods. This pinacle is called Balanced Rock/ Lady in a bathtub. 

Delphiniums in front of Balanced Rock. Amazing wildflowers.  

Cactus blooms, some kind of a weird seed head or flower, yellow evening primrose and phacelia. A view of rock towers in Valley of the Gods. 

Castle Butte with prince's plume in front. Monument Valley in the distance behind blue delphiniums.  

Some petroglyphs from the Sand Island Petroglyph panel. Sunset tonight. The little lights at the bottom are in front of Comb ridge cafe where we walked over and had a yummy dinner tonight.