May Trip #12 - Hell's Backbone and Calf Creek Campground

We left Capitol Reef NP just after noon. Plan was to drive Highway 12 to Boulder, Utah for dinner at Hell's Backbone Farm and Grill and then to find some sort of dispersed camping somewhere around Escalante Staircase. Report was that Highway 12 was spectacular and another "exciting" road to take.

Had to add "just one more" from Capitol Reef (below)

 

Yep! We found another one of "those" exciting roads. Windy, steep, spectacular views and so much fun! Almost made it to 10,000 feet again. It wasn't dirt this time.

Looking over the valley. (Valley just doesn't seem to do justice to this view.)

Our destination was "Hell's Backbone Grill", a farm to table restaurant that Dean had heard about on KPFA (in California). You need to realize that Boulder, Utah is pretty much a wide spot on the road, this is out in the middle of nowhere. No reservations and people show up. We were one of the first to arrive so we were second in line. It turned out that the first couple in line were from California, the bay area and one of them worked 3 offices down from Ross (Michelle's fiance). Yes, it is a small world! The food and service were amazing! We had:

Biscuits with butter and jam

The (beyond basic) salad

Lamb Meatballs with mashed potatoes and chili sauce

and

Bread Pudding with Berries

Yum! Yum! Yum!

They came around with handmade blankets for anyone that was chilly. So cute!

Now to find a campsite! Good views along the road but not much in the way of flat spaces. Dean is at the "WOW! WOW! WOW!" stage!

Steep downhill to the left of us and.........

another steep downhill to the right of us! 
Perhaps this is why it's called "Hell's Backbone".

and every so often there is a real canyon!

There's a campground just below us! Wonder if there are open spaces.
Below you will see the view from the campground. That's a long way up (or down depending on you perspective)

There were no open campsites at Calf Creek Campground but they let us park in the day use parking lot. It was just perfect. Good view in front of our van (above). All the amenities. There were quite a number of us there. Interesting and informative camp host. Yes, we'll be back, next time on purpose.

We had a nice walk in the campground. There is a stream, lots of shade, good campsites and cliffs on two sides. Looks like a good hike out from the campground. We'll have to come back! Did someone say something about a dusty dog?