Our Ride to the Dunes and the Reef

After extending our time in Bend by an extra day, we finally felt ready to head south. With five days and fifteen hundred miles between us and home, this last leg of our trip was certain to be full of some awesome sights -- and lots of time behind the wheel.

Eastern Oregon was very interesting, seemingly on different planet from the lush coast only a few hours away. We first drove through pine forests, before descending to these arid valleys as we neared Idaho.

One of the many fossil beds dotting eastern Oregon

Sagebrush vistas

A larger-than-life covered wagon -- a monument to
the settlers and the Oregon Trail

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In spite of an early start, it was almost evening by the time we reached our destination in Idaho: Bruneau Dunes State Park. The park is located in the desert/prairie between Boise and Twin Falls, and contains the tallest single sand dunes in the country. After a quick dinner, we walked from the campground to the dunes for a little exploration.

The trail to the campground oasis


Moonrise over the dunes and marsh


Walking along the spine of the smallest dune. It was a little disconcerting -- we must have been 100 feet up, walking on a narrow ridge that reminded us both of the backbone of a giant creature. The view was incredible, though, and the sand was fine and soft, still warm from the day. We sat for a while to watch the moon and the kids further on sliding down the side on plastic discs.

Watching the sun set

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The next day we were up early to begin our longest day of driving yet. Our first stop was Shoshone Falls, the "Niagara of the West," located in Twin Falls.

The falls are pretty great. They are taller than Niagara, and we found them to be more beautiful and approachable. Of course, the water flow would be much more powerful if it weren't for the dams and irrigation diversions upstream. We were sad to read that at certain times of the year, the falls can be completely dry as a result of irrigation needs.

The Snake river just below the falls

Into Utah now


Farming in the desert requires Lots of water

Driving through Salt Lake City was a long and grueling process, as much of the freeway was plagued with construction and gridlock. Once we got into the southern part of the state, though, and on to the little two-lane byways, we were entranced by the landscape.

Approaching Capitol Reef National Park