Montezuma Canyon and the Doll House

IntrepidXJ

ADVENTR
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
3,487
Monday, October 7, 2013

The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

After spending the last two nights up in the San Juan Mountains, it was nice to spend a warmer night camping in the desert. I decided to skip sunrise this morning and sleep in a little bit. After breakfast, Marty and I wandered to some nearby rock art sites to take a few photos.

This is one of my favorite petroglyph panels in the area.


Duckhead Men by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A couple historic horse petroglyphs.


Horses by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After packing up camp we visited a few more sites in Montezuma Canyon before climbing out via the Deadman Canyon Road up onto Alkali Ridge. We then made our way over to Blanding to get some fuel for the Jeeps and some lunch. Over lunch we decided where to go for the rest of the day. It had been a few years since I'd been to the Doll House and Marty had yet to make it there, so we decided to head that direction.

Some fall colors and wispy clouds as we drive up through the Bears Ears onto Elk Ridge.


Bears Ear by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Marty in his Grand Cherokee up on Elk Ridge.


Marty by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

There were some nice fall colors to be found on Elk Ridge this time of year.


Roadside Color by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

It's been a few years since I was last at the Doll House. Actually, the last time I was here I was still shooting with my very first DSLR, a Canon XSi.


Doll House by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Great setting for this beautifully preserved ruin.


Protected by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After spending some time at this amazing ruin, we decided to make our way over to Wild Cow Point so we could hike down into Fable Valley the following morning.

More fall colors on our way back across Elk Ridge.


Elk Ridge Color by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Burn by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Yellow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The view from the Arch Canyon Overlook in the afternoon. Besides Arch Canyon you can see Comb Ridge and Sleeping Ute Mountain in the distance.


Arch Canyon Overlook by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Abajo Mountains from the Big Notch.


Big Notch View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Evening light on the sandstone formations in Beef Basin


Evening Sandstone by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Some more fall colors over Beef Basin as we descend down from North Long Point to the Dark Canyon Plateau.


Beef Basin by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

After setting up our camp on Wild Cow Point and having a little dinner, we spent a little time taking some night shots around camp before turning in for the night.


Night Camp by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Camp Under the Stars by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


ADVENTR Night by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Montezuma Canyon to the Doll House Photo Gallery

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Wish I hadn't lost 4-Low in my Jeep. Made me miss out on Lockhart. Turned out to be a code glitch (factory recall) in the TC.

I took this picture on Cottonwood Rd heading toward Hwy 211. The perfect Grinch I thought :)

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Such an awesome ruin. I don't think I've ever seen a photo looking at the back or top of it though. Is there a door somewhere or just the two windows in the front? I'd love to see that one sometime. Thanks for sharing.
 
Such an awesome ruin. I don't think I've ever seen a photo looking at the back or top of it though. Is there a door somewhere or just the two windows in the front? I'd love to see that one sometime. Thanks for sharing.

Just the two windows in the front. I have photos of this ruin from all angles, but most of them aren't that great ;)
 
The Doll House is a special place. There is a really nice granary about 300 yards to the left of it.

First time I was there, there were fresh bear tracks all over the place.

There is so much in that area..Hammond, Cottonwood, Cherry, Fable, etc.

Do you need extra gas tanks to make it to Fable Valley and back? I'd like to do a trip to there some day.
 
was, kinda......partially restored is what I have heard....still a neat one though!
 
Do you need extra gas tanks to make it to Fable Valley and back? I'd like to do a trip to there some day.

I didn't need any extra gas to make it from Blanding to the Doll House, to Fable Valley to 211 to Monticello. I probably could have pushed it and made it to Moab via Lockhart Basin without getting gas, but I decided to play it safe :)
 

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