NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT, BLANDING TO HANKSVILLE, UTAH

After a 2am wake up call with a huge lightning, thunder and torrential rain storm which lasted 10 minutes we set off next morning in sunshine despite the forecast of thunderstorms.
We drove to Hanksville taking a short detour to Natural Bridges National Monument for 4 hours. We've been here before but did not hike to the bridges themselves. This time we hiked down to Sipapu Bridge, one of the largest natural bridges in the world, 220 ft high and 268 ft across - quite stunning to stand underneath!
We also went down to Kachina Bridge and the trail to Horse Collar ruins, the weather lasted till we saw Owachoma Bridge the last of the three before the fork lightning made us retreat from the high rocks. As we left we came across hailstones on the road so we really missed to worst. Rainbows ended the 9 mile scenic drive. On through pretty scenery to Hanksville and more thunder!

 

                                          Sipapu Bridge

                                                                     SIPAPU BRIDGE

                                                                SIPAPU BRIDGE

                       
                         CAN YOU SPOT THE HORSE COLLAR RUINS?    SEE BELOW

                                                                 KACHINA BRIDGE

                                                              OWACHOMA BRIDGE

                                                      Just loved these clouds!

                                                          Colorado River near Lake Powell

                                     Hite Overlook at Lake Powell