A Bookseller Always on Adventure: Utah’s Fantasy Canyon Adds Courage

As a single woman whose two sons are successfully launched, one now out of college and the other finishing his junior year, I am content to work on my writing during the week, but then the anticipation of the weekend approaches, and I itch for a new adventure. I have become mesmerized by the number of choices I have in Utah, maybe even obsessed. I recently discovered an enchanting site in northern Utah called Fantasy Canyon. When I clicked on the images, I knew I had to get there, and fast.

I have become the metaphorical Girl Scout cookie or Encyclopedia Britannica saleswoman, with my boxes of national park books for kids in the trunk of my sedan. I am ready to sell at a moment’s notice. Every time I explore Utah’s back roads I have successfully placed my children’s book, Buzzy and the Red Rock Canyons, in towns across the state, including Moab, Springdale, Escalante, Teasdale, Torrey, Boulder and Blythe. My Fantasy Canyon weekend adventure would take me north on Highway 40 through Heber City and past Strawberry Reservoir, towards Duchesne, Roosevelt and Vernal, more than a four-hour drive one way. I have learned to thrive on combining work and play and it seems to be making an impact on my revenue stream!

It was a crisp, cool morning in Park City when I left, barely 30 degrees, with frost on my front lawn. I was tired, but energized by what I would find outside of Vernal, the city known for more than 1500 flower planters and baskets that line the sidewalks and hang from the lamp posts.

I started my journey with the ultimate destination of Fantasy Canyon, but the rest of the day would be based on spontaneity. I stopped to take a photo of one of my favorite views outside of Heber, Mount Timpanogos. Mount Timp (11,752’) is the second highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range and, though it was only September, already the summit was covered with a light dusting of snow. I savored its magic, and then I was on my way again. 

I had only driven north past Heber two other times, so I was excited to see the fall colors. I stopped again along Strawberry Reservoir and took a few more photos and watched the fishermen set out in their boats. There were not many places along the way to ask shop owners about carrying Buzzy. I passed one that I told myself I would come back to at a later time. I needed a bathroom break and a perfect place presented itself, the Duchesne Visitors Center. A lovely woman was happy to chat with me. She gave me the name of the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce as well as handwritten, photocopied directions for me to Fantasy Canyon. I knew instinctively Fantasy Canyon>span class="apple-converted-space"> was going to be a hidden gem.

The canyon is in Uintah County, the largest natural gas-producing county in the state, with a population of around 32,000. I passed through tiny towns of Myton, Ballard and Roosevelt, before entering Vernal, where I stopped at the Heritage Museum. Another charming older woman helped me with suggestions on shops that might carry my book and even informed me of the state museum conference coming up later in the month. I left Buzzy with her and purchased two heart-shaped rocks - a jade and an amethyst - stones suggested to me recently by a shaman healer. The jade promotes wisdom, balance, and peace, while the amethyst represents calm, balance and peace and helps to increase spirituality and intuition. I was about to drive 20 miles outside of town and four miles on a dirt road – alone and somewhat fearful, but knew I had to break through that fear. The two stones reminded me to trust myself.

I passed fields with equipment for the natural gas production, but very few signs of human civilization as I followed the few notes jotted on the tiny piece of paper to where I finally saw my first road sign for Fantasy Canyon. Beyond the fields I saw Utah’s famous red rock canyons and the layers of sediment that told their own stories. I was on my journey to tell this story.

I had decided not to bring my Jack Russell along with me and was now regretting it. I wanted his comfort beside me in the passenger seat, but the temperatures were so varied and he is NOT a hiker so I didn’t want to worry about leaving him in the car. 

The signs for Fantasy Canyon were now well-marked and it was time to turn off the paved road and onto the dirt road. Although the dirt was fairly well-packed, I am always cognizant of Utah’s rapidly changing weather patterns and wanted to make sure I would not get stuck anywhere without cell coverage. I was also driving on my spare tire while I waited for my new snow tires to arrive for the winter season.

The four miles to the parking area at Fantasy Canyon were bumpy and cumbersome, and I began to question my decision to of head into the backcountry alone. I reached a slight turn-off to the parking lot, and also saw three picnic tables, an outhouse, a large board with historical information about Fantasy Canyon, and an empty registration box. A van full of scouts pulled up to my car to tell me that they were leaving after their morning service project and warned me to be cautious of the wet paint. Then, they were gone and I was completely alone. Not a sound resonated anywhere, no birds, no traffic, just me. I shivered with both excitement but a bit of anxiety, too. I could hear my father scolding me, “Why do you do this?” and I responded, “Because I can.” 

I started to read about the history of the canyon. It was discovered in the early 1900s by paleontologist Earl Douglas. The rocks were deposited during the Eocene Epoch, 38-50 million years ago. "Sediments were deposited and the once loose sands, silts, and clays were forged into sandstone and shale. Because of different rates of weathering, the more durable sandstone remained while the more easily weathered siltstone and shale washed away, yielding this spectacular scenery."

Many of the rock formations had taken on somewhat recognizable characteristics like clouds do in the sky. A map displayed how to find them through a trail system that was not much more than a mile through the ten-acre canyon. Metal posts in the soil marked the rock formations and helped visitors to locate “Flying witch,” “Yawning lady,” “Diving otter,” “Screaming man,” and others. The formations were massive, towering above my head, nearly ten-feet high with unbelievable curves, spires and nooks and crannies, all created by nature. They looked nearly identical to sandcastles kids create with wet sand at the beach, and similar in color, too, not like the normal red rock I was used to seeing in southern Utah.

I walked one loop and then back to the starting point when another van arrived and I hesitated again. Should I be out there alone with no cell service? Then I heard kids’ voices -- a lot of them. Another scout troop? No it was a mother and father and their seven kids. They were jubilant and very loud, in contrast to my more reserved nature, but I was immediately impressed that the parents were taking their kids to experience Utah’s own form of Disneyland. Their youthful creativity was sure be inspired visiting this magical world. The parents asked me to take their family photo. I was more than impressed when the children all gathered calmly together.  One of the older girls looked at me inquisitively. She might have been thinking, “What is that woman doing out here all by herself?” Maybe she was wishing for some peace from her rambunctious brothers. Either way I knew that Fantasy Canyon had to have had an impact on her, just as it had for me.

I drove back to Vernal and made a stop at the Utah Field House of Natural History Park Museum. The staff was happy to consider reviewing my children’s book and would be in touch after they had a chance to read it. It was time to head home. The day had been a success. I missed Aro. I was ready to take him for a walk before dark. I was finally embracing my solo travels. I could trust my time on the road and in nature. Fear was becoming my friend. Courage and confidence were gaining strength.