We left Hanksville this morning and drove east and south to an overlook on the Colorado River:

We crossed the Colorado River using the bridge at Hite (as opposed to the ferry crossing at Lees Ferry), and pulled off the road a few miles to hike up to a pair of arches I had read about:

We walked across the road and saw that we it would be easiest to get down to the river through the vehicle culvert under the road, so we went back:

Walking through the culvert under the road:

Trish took off her shoes and waded across the river.  The kids and I went downstream 50 feet and found a place to cross:

One of B’s flower photos:

Eventually, the trail ended and we were forced to walk in the river:

We found Ducket Arch along the river bank:

Farther upstream we reached Big Arrowhead Arch:

We stopped at this structure, called The Grottos.  The kids found a few nice petrified wood chunks:

On the way back:

Continuing on, we stopped at a roadside pullout where a preserved 11th century Native American site has been restored:

We drove another mile and pulled off at the trailhead for Lower Mule Canyon, home of the Native American structure called House on Fire.  The trail through the canyon was lush in spots:

The canyon wall had some interesting eroded grottos:

At last we reached the House on Fire dwelling complex.  Ideal time for photography is when the sun is highest, around 1pm during daylight savings time.  We arrived a few hours later, so the sun was unfortunately fully illuminating the lower half of the structure:

The House on Fire:

From this side, much of the effect is lost:

Driving on, we visited the Butler Wash overview.  I walked out a half mile or so to view the townsite built into the canyon wall, much like at Mesa Verde:

Continuing on a bit father, we are overnighting in a dispersed camping location a few miles west of Blanding, Utah.  See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.