It's Friday morning, and Linda are I are on our way to Hole-in-the-rock-road near Escalante, Utah. We almost didn't come. It has been one of those weeks that left us both tired, mentally, and physically. I usually prefer to leave Thursday afternoon for my camping trips, however as we discussed it Thursday morning, neither was in the mood to pack or quite frankly even go. I didn't want to spend another weekend in from of the computer, so Friday morning, we woke with a determined effort to getaway.

Hole-in-the-rock-road has such a remarkable history, but I won't detail that history here. It also serves as an access point to some fantastic landscapes that aren't found anywhere else in the world. Linda and I stopped in Escalante for a late lunch. In a small town, the crowded restaurant is a surprise for an afternoon, but we enjoy our meal and then stop at the station to top off the gas tank. The last thing you need to be worried about when heading into the backcountry is if you'll have enough gas.

Turning onto Hole-in-the-rock-road, I am shocked by what I see. Vehicles lined up along the edge of the road, campers and trailers dot the spaces between the juniper trees in the area to the right. I never expected so much activity. We don't want to camp among the crowd, but camping along the road is "camping in designated" or existing campsites only. We had already stopped at the visitor center for our permit, but there is no campground per se, don't create a new camp are the instructions.

We continue to drive down, one of the worst roads I've been on. It is gravel and maintained, but the wash-board is rough enough for us to jitter and bump along at about ten mph. Sick of the pounding, we decide to take the next available campsite as soon as we pass Cedar Wash Road. Finally, we spot a turnoff and a sizeable empty camp; our only concern is it sits right at the road's edge with only two large Juniper trees to separate us from the constant stream of dust and traffic. Thankfully there is a slight wind blowing the dust to the east as we set up camp and unload the ATV for this afternoon short excursion.

Covered Wagon Natural Bridge is a short drive up Cedar Wash Road; the road passes through private property before crossing back again into public lands. Another hike to Cedar Wash Arch is along this road, but we had difficulty finding the trailhead before deciding to continue to The Covered Wagon parking area.

This short hike drops into the wash directly below the parking lot and trailhead. Covered Wagon Natural Bridge is easy to spot and is accessible from above or below if you desire to stand atop this natural rock bridge. It is beautiful, to be sure, but young cottonwood trees will soon block the view and perhaps eventually damage the arch itself. The genuinely remarkable sight in the area is the alcove upstream from the Bridge about 50 yards.

Undercut by the stream; a large cavern has eroded the soft sandstone. Rock and sand have piled up to create a barrier forcing the water flow even deeper into the cavern. The curved nature of the flow and the rock's wear forms a tunnel that would make even the more popular Subway slot canyon proud.