A FANTASTIC Drive Home Through Utah to Arizona | There Are Viewpoints & Then There Are VIEWPOINTS

As we depart from our epic Utah and Colorado road trip, we can't help but reminisce on the unforgettable views of red rock canyons and stunning vistas. The journey may be over for now, but we can't wait until our return to the awe-inspiring landscapes of Utah!
It's time to drive home from our 2023 Utah and Colorado road trip. With heavy hearts, we leave Green River, Utah, and head through some of the prettiest landscapes imaginable. Winding roads through red rock sandstone, canyons deep below, and the beckoning of home inspired us on this last day of the trip.
We gas up and hit the road from Hanksville, Utah along Route 95 until we neared the Colorado River and stopped to take in some views at a scenic overlook as well as by the Hite Crossing Bridge. It's amazing to imagine the length of time it took for the Colorado River to slowly carve away at the sandstone to create the red cliffs before us.
The Hite Crossing Bridge, built in 1966, makes for an easy way to cross the Colorado River, but before that the river was forded downstream or travelers with cars would later take an automobile ferry.
Finally, we say our goodbyes to familiar sights from a week prior when we were just setting off. Utah, we bid you goodbye but it won't be forever. We will return.
VIDEO FILMED: 04/15/2023
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@sueanna_banana]

Thanks for the whole series, Utah never gets old.

[@CactusAtlas]

Anytime! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@tomthatcher7757]

Thanks. I drove Utah 95 from Hanksville south last October. Stopped at the Hite Overlook. Went to Natural Bridges and hiked to the same bridge you did. Drove down the Moki Dugway, went through Valley of the Gods. Went to Goosenecks State Park and down to Monument Valley. Thanks for sharing. This brought back wonderful memories.

[@CactusAtlas]

Now THAT is a great trip!! Those are some awesome places to stop at! I bet you had a blast!

[@cowelk]

Great view of the Hwy 95 bridge from the drone overhead with the shadow of the bridge crossing the Colorado River.

[@CactusAtlas]

Many thanks! 😄

[@philmcbride5576]

I've been there, it truly is beautiful.

[@shirleyrichards2514]

Thanks for the video. It was great

[@CactusAtlas]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

Amazing views from the road 😎👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you 👍

[@SidetrackAdventures]

The breakfast tacos at Maverik are worth going out of the way for, so if there's any gas station to get all three meals from that's the one I'd want! The views from the drive are fantastic. Nowhere beats the southwest for the views.

[@CactusAtlas]

Maverik has saved the day more than once!!!

[@Gamira00]

I will be traveling from Dallas to Utah, Arizona then back to Dallas next months. Thanks for the inspiration ! Loved it

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks! We can't seem to stay away from Utah. It keeps pulling us back. 😅 How you have an amazing trip. 👍

[@kedrevs4037]

Traveled on the Utah 95 a couple of times now. My Dad and Father-in-law (both well in their 70s)had never seen southern Utah before. I must have stopped a dozen times. We crossed the Hite Bridge coming from the east, must have stopped a two dozen times to let them take pics. Only saw about 6 other vehicles between there and Capitol Reef. The view from that viewpoint stays with me all the time, as does entering Zion from the Mt. Carmel Tunnel, and Looking at Boulder Mountain from Bryce on a clear day. The most spectacular part of the lower 48.

[@CactusAtlas]

Couldn't agree more. Utah is simply a place of magic with so many gorgeous scenes tucked away everywhere you look. 👍

[@votrolacres8526]

Another great video! We are planning our winter trip and love being along on your road trips.

[@CactusAtlas]

Nice! Thank you so much!

[@ENJIMEEREBAY]

Thank you for another excellent production. I enjoy the expeirence of following your travels. thanks again.

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! Thank you for watching. We appreciate it and your kind words. 😊

[@stevefowler8660]

The mountains are the Henry Mt. The last mountain range in the lower 48 it was surveyed back in the late 1800s.

[@CactusAtlas]

Awesome! Thank you so much for the info! 👍

[@shirleyrichards2514]

Sweet travels ❤

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! 😅

[@scottysworld700]

You know i really enjoy your videos. I've noticed all the you tubers never use a state guide for some reason. All you have to do is go to a state tourist bureau, go in and go to the desk and you have to ask for a State Tourist Guide and they will give you one for free and it has everything there is to do in that state and its location. Have a nice weekend.

[@CactusAtlas]

We have a couple of state guides. We've thumbed through them but use the internet as well. Thankfully, there are plenty of free resources out there. Thanks for commenting! 😊👍

[@guipe43]

Thank you for sharing your journey to those beautiful and exotic landscapes! Have a happy weekend!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! You as well! 😊

[@steveh.5055]

Truly beautiful landscapes !🏜️Thanks again, Glen, for sharing your road trip with us!

[@CactusAtlas]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching. 😄👍

[@dmbrew54]

When the lake was up to the boat ramp, most of the dark foreground was all lake. Incredibly beautiful sight and fun to explore the canyons on water.

[@curtshelp6170]

I read that the largest is the one on Lake Powell, seen from the water it's very impressive.

[@steveschwartz6138]

I did that exact route 5 years ago with my kids. Truly beautiful.

[@CactusAtlas]

It's beautiful, isn't it? So worth a roadtrip or just a side trip when travelling through the area. 🤩

[@jlacy73]

Bluff Fort is a sampling of the fort created by the Mormon pioneers who settled Bluff in 1880. This is the same group that came through the Hole in the Rock on their way to Bluff. These were a group of hardy pioneers and I would guess that most of the Anglo population in San Juan County today are descended from this stock.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very interesting! Will have to check it out sometime when back in that area. 👍

[@SwiftyTravels]

What a gorgeous drive!! So hard to say goodbye! 😢

[@CactusAtlas]

It was but I'm sure we'll be back. Still so much more to explore. 😄

[@geraldzimmerman8777]

I love this part of 95, following the North Wash. Also going over the Dirty Devil and Colorado Rivers, Then on through Comb Ridge. I 1st went through the cut almost 50 years ago with my brother. And Hite is HIGHIT- one syllable.

[@CactusAtlas]

It's such a beautiful area. We just love it. Had a feeling it was pronounced like height but we've gotten heat over mispronouncing things before that aren't how they look. 😂

[@wendingourway]

Enjoy the travels! It has been on the news that it is rather on the hot side in Arizona...keep safe. Such amazing scenic views...my head would seem like it was on a swivel to take it all in. lol Incredible the natural bridges! Keep up the amazing adventuring! Bruce and Otis

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh yeah... it's been pretty darn warm outside here so not a lot of hanging outside in the sun. (Well, I have been staying in. Glenn has... mostly. There's a story there but that's for next week. 😅)

[@gstiles7]

Awwww you weren't gonna be one of those guys trying to get the IG pic at the edge of the cliff...disappointing j/k. Definitely some spectacular views and what a great opportunity to get some awesome drone footage!

[@CactusAtlas]

We only do that when duck face is displayed. 🤣 I agree... Glenn gets some amazing drone footage. Not that it's hard where he goes. LOL

[@arlenelaw5645]

Beautiful.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! 😄

[@robertbaker3540]

That bridge is still quite a few miles from AZ. I'm from so Ut but I do love AZ it's my second favorite state

[@CactusAtlas]

Yes, we're aware. Glenn simply misspoke. Having been on the road for a week does that to ya. 😅

[@robertbaker3540]

@@CactusAtlas Have you checked out Coyote gulch

[@CactusAtlas]

We have not, no. Hoping to get to that area eventually though.

[@cathymaxcy3391]

Unwinding of the mind...I remember a trip that my father and I took to Guatemala. Lunch the first day, I was sitting by a window and saw two basilisk lizards mating in the grass. That's when I unwinded.

[@CactusAtlas]

I suppose that's when you know you're somewhere different. 😅 Guatemala! That's awesome!

[@DontcallmeaCuck]

My wife is Guatemalan and want to go soon . Is it dangerous ? Wife says it’s safe as long as your in the right zones … Or touristy areas … But can’t use your cellphone inside of car due to muggers on motorcycles ?

[@cathymaxcy3391]

@@DontcallmeaCuck I don't know about the cell phone thing, we always left ours in the hotel room. Never heard about the muggers, but I would stay strictly in tourist zones and not go adventuring outside those zones.

[@GoHighOctane500LC]

I drove this route many times. You have missed THE best viewpoint and camping spot in Utah. But I can't share it online to save it from crowds.

[@CactusAtlas]

When making a drive home after a long road trip, one tends to prioritize getting miles behind. Always time in the future. 😊👍

[@Astroinmotion]

I have been to that same Maverick!!! I spent a night at Green River after visit to Moab and Canyonlands National Parks. Pretty cool to revisit that route again

[@CactusAtlas]

That Maverik saved the day during this trip. 😂

[@melissaallen9277]

Awesome as usual!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! Cheers! 😊

[@geraldzimmerman8777]

They are the Henry Mountains, named by John Wesley Powell. They are Laccolithic, meaning a volcano that didn't blow it's top. Navaho Mt is also one

[@CactusAtlas]

Awesome! Thanks for the info! 👍

[@dmbrew54]

Looking through the giant formations you drove between from the Hite overlook to the Colorado River, that scene was on the cover of the 1993 AAA Road Atlas.

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh look at that! I just looked it up and sure enough that looks super familiar. Not surprising though as that whole area is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing that! 👍

[@dmbrew54]

@@CactusAtlas The first time I rode that road in 1969 between the giant formations, the road was one lane with a crew removing a large boulder that had fallen from above. Guess they were going to do a little road repair afterwards.

[@Don-md6wn]

This was of great interest to me as I will drive a lot of it in September from Moab to Monument Valley and from Monument Valley to Capitol Reef. I suspect that some of the vehicles you saw pulled over on 95 in the vicinity of Blanding were of people making short hikes to some ancient Native American structures like House on Fire, Moon House and Fallen Roof Ruin.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very possible! 😄 Your trip sounds like an amazing time. Hope it's a good one! 👍

[@Don-md6wn]

@@CactusAtlas It will be a 2 month trip, tent camping out of a Toyota 4Runner. I will be in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, southern Utah and northern Arizona including both rims of the Grand Canyon and one night ar the Toroweap Overlook. I have permits for 2 nights camping on the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands and for a day at South Coyote Buttes. Your video caused me to decide to stop at Natural Bridges NM on the way from Monument Valley to Capitol Reef. I had the 9 mile loop hike at Natural Bridges in my head which I don't have time for, but I can do the scenic drive and the short hikes to the individual arches.

[@CactusAtlas]

Wow! Sounds awesome!

[@A-K_Rambler]

Pocket Money!

[@CactusAtlas]

Holy cow! Thank you so very much! That is so incredibly kind of you! 😄🙏

[@user-cs2wg1xg6t]

Just watched the fantastic drive home thru Utah to az a couple years ago we took the ferry from halls crossing to bull frog then down 95…great ride.. Forgot to tell you we love your videos as we have been to a whole lot of them. When watching your videos it like watching a brother from another mother…keep up the good work…wild bill and julia

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh wow! Thank you so much. 👍

[@Maxbps88]

That area of the country is gorgeous. Utah is the most beautiful state in our union. Incredible. Thank You. (Recommendation for videoing = move slow. The human eyes can take in a lot live, but via video absorbs differently. Fast movement creates nausea and eventually headaches. My rule of thumb is 3x slower when video-taping and always slower than you think. Driving is a little different as the eye(s) have stable items vs everything moving at once. Slow & Steady wins the video race. Best of luck in all you do.)

[@CactusAtlas]

Couldn't agree more about Utah. And appreciate the feedback. Will definitely keep it in mind. 👍

[@christyrogers6914]

Great video! What time of year was this filmed? This is part of where we will be this March.

[@CactusAtlas]

Very close to when Glenn was there. He was there in mid-April of 2023.

[@dmbrew54]

Did you have to get special permission to use your drone there? I wanted to use mine last time I was through, but wasn't sure. I wanted to find an old campsite we used when the water was up. Those snow capped mountains are the Henry Mountains you saw around Hanksville. You got across the river on Hite Ferry before the bridge was built. FYI: There is a difference between arches and bridges. Arches are formed by wind and bridges are formed by water. Excuse all my info, but this area is one of my favorites. I'm from Georgia, but my grandfather from Southern Utah would take me as a kid to this area and tell me stories. He used to go in these areas when it would take days or weeks to go where you just drove in a couple of hours. His group of friends took National Geographic photographers on a few of their trips.

[@BurgundyKRO]

I love this area! Last winter I worked on 2 horror films that shot in this area.

[@CactusAtlas]

OOH! Love horror movies. How cool! 😄

[@ScramblinJim]

Was just there, stayed at the motel next to Sam’s burger shack. One constructive criticism (excuse if I missed it); why don’t you state the dates you were there?

[@CactusAtlas]

Actually we do. They are in our video descriptions. Not obvious since KZbin hides the majority of the text though. 😅

[@tolson57]

Great video. One point, the Hite bridge is firmly in Utah, not Arizona.

[@CactusAtlas]

Yes, we're aware. Glenn simply misspoke. Having been on the road for a week does that to ya. 😅

[@mset510]

You said a HUGE booboo! U sed the bridge near Hite was one of the best in Arizona. But u r in Utahhhhhh

[@CactusAtlas]

We are aware. Glenn was tired and misspoke. It happens.

[@mset510]

@CactusAtlas but you usually make an on screen correction with a little dialog box inserted in the frame somewhere. I looked for it. Oh well. Obviously the vid was still EPIC so THANK YOU!

[@CactusAtlas]

Having not been on the trip, I didn't really know. We're bound to make mistakes. Only human. 🤷‍♀️😅

[@tao265]

Has pickup truck. Dumps everything in backseat. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CactusAtlas]

You have to when the bed is full of camping gear and other things needed for a weeklong trip.

[@Dokkema]

Figure out what state your in U keep referring to Utah as Arizona Also don’t call bridges Arch’s There’s is a distinct difference Misinformation is worse then no info at all….