File:Gunsmoke (40890638733).jpg

Day two of the trip

It’s only about 120 miles from Old Paria to Yant Flat, so I had lots of time to spare. About five miles before reaching Kanab, I turned north on Johnson Canyon road and drive about five miles to the location of the set for the old Gunsmoke TV series. It’s on private property but close enough to the road for photographs. Many of the buildings are dilapidated and barely standing. It brought back childhood memories of Marshal Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty, and the Doc. Needless to say, I identified most closely with Doc Adams.

In Kanab I turned south to Fredonia and then west to Colorado City and eventually Hurricane in order to avoid the traffic in Zion. A few miles past Colorado City I decided to take the Smithsonian Butte Scenic Backway, a rugged dirt road that cuts north and east, ending at the intersection with highway 9 in Rockville. I had never been on this road and just wanted to see what was there. I found some nice views of Zion (but not as nice as being in Zion itself) and barely stopped to take a picture or two. (The road was pretty rough.)

Continuing on hwy 9,

I eventually reached I-15 and headed north for just a few miles, exiting at the first sign for the town of Leeds. After a couple of miles I turned west and ducked under the Interstate and onto the road that would take me to Yant Flat in about 10 miles. The dirt road was in fair condition. There’s an unofficial parking area for Yant Flat, and when I reached there, I found two other vehicles. Another one pulled up as I was preparing for the walk down to the rocks.