I know some people that have camped off the road to Horse Thief Trail (the road at the cattle crossing). Is that closed to camping now? I like the campground, but I have camped at Gemini Bridges before and near Monitor and Merimac.
Speaking of National Parks: Did everyone catch the PBS series on the National Parks by Ken Burns. Truly one of Americas best ideas. The series did give reinforce my opinion of the town of Cameron, AZ., I knew there was a reason I never really liked the town. Erik, Where do you go at Island in the Sky? The campground? In the past I
had a favorite spot off the main road before you reach the campground, but now that region is closed to vehicles. Thanks, Joe
--- On Thu, 10/22/09, erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net> wrote:
From: erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net <erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Dark Sky star party sites To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 10:12 PM
For those who wish to camp and have 4WD there are a number of places adjacent to Capital Reef. Near Thousand Lake Mountain and Devils Backbone are examples (there are some shortcuts using dirt roads), check a map and explore for yourselves. It was always so much more relaxing to set up equipment for multiple nights. For single nights areas within 70 miles where much more appealing for which there are many good sites near SLC. To each their own preference we should all experience all the National Parks we are blessed with.
My preference was always Island in the Sky with many memorable nights. Map quest puts driving distance 270 miles to Bryce and Kolob, 200 miles to Capital Reef and 140 miles to the Wedge.
If you are up for a drive Organ Pipe Cactus has a nice campground with designated sites for generators, so not to offend non-Star Gazers. It is very warm in the winter.
Hello:
I have star gazed from Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges, the Wedge Overlook, etc. over the years. The reason I have settled on Capitol Reef National Park is that it is just as dark as anywhere else I've been in southern Utah. From my house in the Cottonwood Heights/Sandy area, it takes me just as long to drive to the Wedge Overlook as it does Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef however, is paved road all the way to the actual observing area and there are campgrounds or motels just a few miles away from the official observing area we use at Panorama Point. Capitol Reef also is available from March through October with little worry about bad roads or bitter cold as the elevation is just a bit higher than Salt Lake at around 5,000 feet. I love to visit all of the other parks and remote areas in southern Utah, yet for dark skies and convenience, it's hard to beat Capitol Reef. That's just my experience, yet talk with other SLAS member who have star gazed from various places and you'll probably get the feedback that Natural Bridges, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef have offered just about as good a dark sky view as anywhere, with Capitol Reef perhaps being the most convenient for private dark sky parties. Thanks.
Lowell Lyon _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
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