Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau

Рет қаралды 13,493

Күн бұрын

Recorded the end of July 2020.
I've driven along Highway 12 skirting Boulder Mountain so many times, and it's always one of the highlights of the Scenic Highway but there aren't any easy ways from the highway to the top of the mountain. But from the other side there are multiple routes taking you up onto the Mountain and the rest of the Aquarius Plateau where high mountain meadows are nestled between lakes and pine forests.
So I planned a trip to see what it was like on top, and what the views are like off the rim of the mountain down into the nearby parks and monuments. Many times I've been down in the desert looking up into the cool mountains. Now I wanted to finally spend the heat of summer up in the cool (and thin) mountain air.
Besides some great views and old cabins I saw some really nice lodging opportunities for people who want to reserve a little home in the mountains for their vacation.
The Forest service rents out the old Aquarius Guard Station: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/fishl...
And a private tour service maintains a system of huts through the region in partnership with the USFS for mountain bikers. Sounds like they provide the food, drinks, and beds. You just bike yourself 20-30 miles from hut to hut so you can cross the mountains without having to haul too much gear.
aquariustrail.com/
After going from overlooking Capitol Reef to overlooking Bryce Canyon, I was headed home and thought I'd drive the 12 miles to eat dinner on the edge of the Burr Trail and I loved it! Now I'm DEFINATELY going to be driving that next.
Link to KML file of the route (drag and drop to Google Earth, GaiaGPS, or import in Google MyMaps): drive.google.com/file/d/1tiMy...

Пікірлер: 57

@brentbaugh9645 Жыл бұрын

Dustin, your videos are awesome! I’ve been hunting, hiking, fishing and exploring Boulder mountain for 36 years! I love it there

@martinforrester8249 2 жыл бұрын

Loved this episode, awesome country. Never got this far West of highway 12 which is one hell of a road through to Torrey. My first trip took me through here in 1995, my last 2012. At 77, I've hung my boots up now, so watching your travels with my maps to follow your route is so special. Oldtimer Englishman from Shropshire signing off.

@TJackSurvival 2 жыл бұрын

Ya that video was GREAT!!!

@utahatvadventures7893 Жыл бұрын

Great video. I’ve heard the fishing is great in the Boulders.

@Starbreaker666 3 жыл бұрын

It's always a good day when I see a new Explore Southwest video...

@mirandamom1346 3 жыл бұрын

An older fellow I chatted with in Escalante a couple years ago recommended the Aquarius Plateau to us. Thanks for the foretaste!

@BretBerger Жыл бұрын

Nice tour of Boulder Mountain!

@ritagordley4699 2 жыл бұрын

Love your videos. I love all the places you are traveling through……… I have visited Utah quite a lot but never have the time to do all you do. I live in Colorado……. Thanks for your explorations!

@ronaldolin675 3 жыл бұрын

Utah Hwy 12 - the most beautiful drive in the US.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

I honestly think so too. I've been on lots of other great drives but I think this one wins.

@kayakerpaddler2023 3 жыл бұрын

Boulder Mountain and Aquarius plateau are some of my favorite places on earth. LOVE your videos...so lucky to stumble upon them. Used to do a lot more intense backroad, but as a semi-geezer, now stick to moderate. Some of the stuff you do is crazy! 😆😆😆😆

@garyonnen7634 2 жыл бұрын

I watched that video on MORR the shack looked familiar. Thanks for the tour of the area.

@utahwanderlust700 3 жыл бұрын

Well done! 👍 One of my favorite places in the whole world. Been all over it north to south and east to west. It used to be better like 10 years ago before they really started herding too many sheep and cattle up there. By the way, Boulder Mountain was not named that because of the boulders. It was actually named Thousand Lake Mountain, then a mapping mistake much later accidentally swapped the two mountains, and it stuck. If you go to today's Thousand Lake Mountain, you'll find very few lakes at all, and none on the top of it. It was never supposed to be called what it is.🤷‍♂️

@KK-ts1pm 3 жыл бұрын

I really love the Aquarius plateau also. The swap of the names really is obvious, since the two peaks are completely opposite of their features.

@mostachiocam1598 2 жыл бұрын

The map views are awesome. Thank you very much. I'm planning a camping trip for last week of August. Hoping its not too hot

@NorwegianXplorer 3 жыл бұрын

Great to see this area, Boulder mountain always makes me happy when I see it looming in the distance, would be awesome to see a video from Powell Point!

@lemoaivoyageur 3 жыл бұрын

Another great report. Please keep them coming. Can’t wait to see the Burr Trail.

@awitnessuntoallnations 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this area with us! Didn't know much about Boulder Mountain or Aquarius Plateau before watching. Would definitely like to visit Utah again to check it out. Awesome scenic shots & very well done narration! 👍

@billkipper3264 3 жыл бұрын

you mentioned the Tushar mountains a couple of times so I had to look at them on Google Earth. I discovered that the Mt. Holly ski area, now known as Eagle Point, is there. I skied there a few times back in the 80's when I was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. And yes, a good video on the Burr Trail would be great too.

@kenlodge3399 3 жыл бұрын

Yessir, Yessir. Really like you go to the more out of the way, remote locations, WTG. Wowee Boulder Mtn, am telling you there is just no end to all the diversity in terrain there in Utah. That Boulder mountain is fascinating. Ahh, first your camp site, or your first campsite I thought was excellent. I prefer hilltops myself - wind buffeting can be a good thing. I agree, mountain meadows are the first thing I look for when hiking in the mountains, they're just cool. Didn't think there'd be fish in those as see catchment pond in meadows usually, but there was a lot of things on that mountain didn't expect. Was curious right off about the elevation and temp, treeline is usually at 11,500 and those pines look like those at lower elevations, to me, but there is a lot of water up there too - should've named it Water or Pond Mountain you ask me.. Fascinating place, it's location also. And that halftrack had a White engine, they were famous for building tractors... surprised me seeing it as believed Chrysler produced all of them. Sorry, just an aside. And that lumpy sod you complained about... believe that has to do with the type of soil as in clay with sand, but don't quote me on that. But biggest curiosity is about what you said at the end about, Hell's Backbone - where is it located as what route to Boulder is it because every video have seen, like 6 so far only ! showed it!?! As always really appreciate your effort as they are No.1. There's nothing better when watching these type videos than to have an intelligent narrative with some complimentary dry wit. Thanks

@cosmicbackwoods 2 жыл бұрын

I will be camping there in two weeks and I'm so damn excited. thanks for the warmup video

@johnwyoder 3 жыл бұрын

What an adventure! I'd love to check out that area sometime. Also, I went and watched the video of the guys recovering that stuck truck you mentioned. That was a crazy recovery!

@kurtporter1323 3 жыл бұрын

Great fishing all over aquarius plateau. Watch out for problem bears though. You're right about flat tires, got 2 in one day.

@danieltcruz7787 3 жыл бұрын

I also recall reading in that geologic report on Boulder Mountain/Aquarius Plateau a description of relict glacial "scratches" found in the some areas of exposed bedrock.

@TucsonArizona 3 жыл бұрын

We have some cool mountains here in Tucson, Arizona where I live but I love other mountain videos! Can’t wait to get out and explore soon! Love your channel! I’m following!

@rsberryalta 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, nicely done, and thanks for pointing out how to deal with the mud patches on the road, so they don't get wider from vehicles trying to go around.

@jeremyncrm2012 3 жыл бұрын

I love boulder, it pains me to see videos on it because I don't want it overrun by people like so many other places, but I understand why you'd want to share such a great place.

@wademay6807 3 жыл бұрын

I will definitely second the recommendation for Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder. Anytime we are anywhere near the area we time our travels to take a meal there. The Lodge is also first-rate. Refreshing to find such fantastic establishments in such a beautiful and uncrowded area. Nice video. Definitely appreciating your travels to the more remote areas.

@danieltcruz7787 3 жыл бұрын

@15:11 The uneven terrain with the 3-4 inch rock "mounds" may be an Ice Age relic. In the Arctic today there is a phenomenon called "patterned ground" that's classified as a "periglacial" (i.e. near-glacial) land surface. It's the result of frost-heave working on the ground surface pushing loose gravels into regular, sorted rings or 'nets'. Patterned ground can be quite extensive covering square mile after square mile of land surface. Relict patterned ground is found in areas that -- during the most recent Ice Age -- had a climate similar to today's Arctic. In the high elevations of the Rockies, relic patterned ground is abundant. If you return to this place -- or encounter similar land surfaces elsewhere at high elevations -- fly your drone overhead and see if there's a pattern evident. There is a geologic report about Boulder Mountain (published by the USGS? The Utah State Geol. Survey?) focusing on the Quaternary geology of the region (last 2 million years or so; including the Ice Ages).

@BretBerger Жыл бұрын

Hummocky? Iceland has similar, but more extreme areas.

@ruralliberal1377 3 жыл бұрын

utah resident here... you commented about the lack of maintenance on trail info, etc.; i believe the main reason is lack of funding for the forest service, and the budget backlog on much of our public lands. it's a shame

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

I think the increasing forest fire fighting costs is cutting into their budget as well.

@dancingoneness8348 3 жыл бұрын

I am from Boulder.

@jeffhandlin6262 3 жыл бұрын

I also have wanted to get up on Boulder Mountain for several years now....thanks for showing us all what the road is like! I might venture out in my wife's CRV seeing the sedans out there. As for your future Burr Trail excursion might I suggest (weather depending) to take the Wolverine Loop to see the 2nd largest petrified forest in the world? If you are a overnight backpacker too you could do the loop from Little Death Hollow to Wolverine Petrified Forest (I've not done Little Death Hollow since I'm not an overnight backpacker but I've read many reports and watched some youtubes on that slot. Regardless get out on the Wolverine Loop, the forest is spectacular and walking into Wolverine Canyon you will still find huge sections of trunks in the streambed showing you how powerful the water can be. I love the giant alcoves in the canyon too and I think you would as well. Personally it's a trip I would only do between April and early June due to heat and monsoons. Good luck putting that trip together, I think it will be one of your faves especially when you tack on Muley Twist, Burr Switchbacks and the Notom Road.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

I think your CRV will be fine. A littlest rough in places but not bad. The road from elbow lake to spectacle lake was the least traveled and roughest bit even that would be fine if you drove slow and careful in the worst bumpy spots.

@MountainHobbler 3 жыл бұрын

Kinda funny just a couple days ago I was on Google Earth planning a camp trip down towards Jacobs Res. The Summer crowds that you get up here in Northern Utah have pushed me to make my plans farther out.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

It still had the cool mountain air of a Northern Utah mountain trip in mid summer. Mornings and evenings needed jackets and hoodies.

@stuarthepworth2022 2 жыл бұрын

Just an FYI, but no brown trout on Boulder Top…the 12-inches you caught from Raft Lake was most likely a brook trout…

@exploresouthwest 2 жыл бұрын

Good to know. I never catch enough to be sure what kinds of fish there are. Especially with hybrids. Just try to match them up with pictures online.

@dudeonbike800 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Love Hwy 12. Been through Boulder, but never up to the higher country. I highly recommend you bring a mountain bike on your adventures. You can tool around and get to viewpoints more easily and enjoy the roads in a different way. I'd feel simply NAKED without a bike in the great places you visit. Those mounds are probably "bunch grass," and maybe native. This is what was native to California until the invasives came in and replaced them.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

I've got a bad ankle that prematurely ended my plans to backpack across them country. There's a good chance I'll be taking up biking as an alternative outdoor exploration method.

@dudeonbike800 3 жыл бұрын

@@exploresouthwest that sounds like an excellent idea. And with the prevalence of electric bikes, you could ride something that would get you out and back with more ease.

@west-Co_exploration 2 жыл бұрын

We live at 6000 ft and are always totally winded and wiped out every time we end up on anything over 9500. That really seems to be the point where you start seeing lower oxygen levels and once you're up to 10, 500 and above it's brutal

@quinnstarr9322 9 ай бұрын

It’s been years since I’ve explored the Mtn, thanks for sharing! I’ve camped at Miller lake before, curious if you think the road to raft lake is doable with a small trailer and grand cherokee trailhawk? Thanks in advance.

@Hanson423 3 жыл бұрын

What brand of traction boards do you have? I like the look of those green ones.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

X-BULL Traction Tracks I've saw some reviews on them that they're pretty good, but not quite as good as MaxTrax. But they're much much cheaper. Unfortunately I haven't been stuck enough to need them yet so I don't have any real world experience with them. They seem pretty solid and decent though. Here's an amazon link to the ones I got: amzn.to/318qJAg

@Hanson423 3 жыл бұрын

@@exploresouthwest thanks! I’m shopping for some and yeah the maxtrax are so expensive haha

@janegossett8161 3 жыл бұрын

Which altitude heading app on your phones is being used in this video?

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

It's an android app called "GPS Test." Very basic, but very good at giving all the actual details of GPS. Has all the satellite info that old GPS receivers had before GPS just became blue arrow on a google map.

@janegossett8161 3 жыл бұрын

@@exploresouthwest thank you! Great video!

@jasondietrich3664 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely love Boulder. Id love it if they put those windmills on more lakes since we're getting more and more winterkill since the area is getting dryer over time. Out of curiosity, what dates did you take this trip? I distinctly remember seeing that little car you passed on the way up when I made a trip there with a friend last summer, and I think I remember passing a tundra with a RTT.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

I think it was the last days of July and beginning of August. The beginning of the peak heat of the state I didn't want to spend any time in a tent in the desert so I was just looking at what mountain ranges in Utah I could goto.

@jasondietrich3664 3 жыл бұрын

@@exploresouthwest That's hilarious, that is definitely the same time we were there and I'm pretty sure I remember passing your truck. Small world! We camped at cook lake and took our little red sidexside up top. I normally prefer to take my jeep on trips way out like that, but as you probably noticed those trails on boulder top are pretty rough, so having the SxS suspension is nice when you're trying to hit several lakes in a single day, lol. That whole area is magical. Hope that we happen to cross paths again sometime.

@exploresouthwest 3 жыл бұрын

@@jasondietrich3664 That's crazy. Cook Lake was actually where I was originally planning on camping too. When I was scouting the area out it actually looked like an ideal campsite. The main reason I pushed on is it looked like there was already people in the area. I think we basically had the same plan and you were just there first.

@jasondietrich3664 3 жыл бұрын

@@exploresouthwest Ha, that's great. It was a pretty good camp site. A little busier than I normally like with some people coming by to fish and a family with a trailer parked it prettyright around the corner, but I can't complain. It was definitely the most busy that I've seen the area in general, but I'd never visited in peak season like that before. I'm enjoying your videos so far, nice work on them.

@DuyanFarms 3 жыл бұрын

Hi ES. I followed the link regarding the Aquarius guard station and saw that vets can get an Interagency Annual Pass for free at recreation dot gov. Do you have one? I'm really looking forward to that when we head back to the states.

@henrikm4657 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, new subscriber here. Love the footage and the narrating, but if I may offer an unsolicited opinion, can you please drop that ultra cheezy muzak? IMNSHO, that’s what’s making this channel second to some other great channels. I don’t mean to criticize, but I just want to turn the sound off when I watch your videos. If your goal is more subscribers, please consider dropping that muzak. 🙏