🏜️ Final Frontier: Ghost Towns, Ancient Art & Epic Escarpments – Our Last Utah Adventure (for this trip...)
- Switching Gears RV Diary
- Jan 26, 2025
- 4 min read
We’re wrapping up our 12-episode journey across remote Utah, and this stop is one for the books. We said goodbye to Green River, made a quick pit stop in Thompson Springs, explored the hidden masterpieces of Sego Canyon, and capped it all off with an unforgettable drive atop the Book Cliffs. This is the perfect blend of mystery, history, and wide-open beauty—just what our series set out to capture.
🏙️ From Green River to Thompson Springs: A Small Stop with a Big Story
After soaking in the lesser-known landscapes around Green River, we found ourselves heading east along I‑70 toward Thompson Springs. Tucked into the eastern Utah canyon lands, Thompson is nearly a ghost town—just 39 residents recorded in the 2010 census. Though small and quiet, it’s not without significance.
Once a busy cattle shipping hub in the late 1800s, Thompson Springs operated as a vital staging point for herds grazing in the nearby Book Cliffs. While it lacked the bustling infrastructure of towns like Green River, it was still a critical connector in the agricultural web of historic eastern Utah.
We didn’t stick around long—our true destination loomed just beyond on Highway 94: Sego Canyon, a treasure trove of ancient rock art waiting to be rediscovered.
🎨 Sego Canyon: Utah’s Three-Culture Gallery
Less than three miles off Hwy 94, you’ll find the Sego Canyon Rock Art Interpretive Site—a treasure managed by the BLM. What makes Sego Canyon special is that it's home to three distinct styles of rock art:
Barrier Canyon Style – haunting, elongated human and spirit figures that echo back to 2000 BCE
Fremont – geometric designs and figures from 300–1400 CE
Ute – more recent pictographs that layer on top of earlier artwork
Each panel tells story—of climate, culture, and centuries of people leaving their mark on the canyon walls. We parked at the main trailhead, unloaded our gear, and walked through vivid petroglyphs and pigments, pausing at three primary panels before continuing deeper into the canyon on foot.
🏚️ Beyond the Site: Discovering the Town of Sego
Leaving Julius behind, we drove along the wash-lined spurs and noticed the remnants of railroad bridges—silent witnesses to a forgotten era. Once known as Nelson—a small mining camp born of ambition—Sego grew fast after Henry Ballard struck coal. The railroad followed, and the town was renamed after the local sego lily.
Coal flowed steadily from 1920 to 1947, feeding town growth and hope. But when a devastating flash flood in the 1950s washed away roads and tracks, lives changed. Residents left. Mother Nature reclaimed her land. The structures remain, but only as decaying ghosts of the past.
Among the ruins lies a small cemetery where coal miners rest. Even more curious: placed before gravestones were little plastic dinosaurs. It felt both reverent and surreal—an odd modern tribute in the middle of desert solitude.
🏞️ Following the Book Cliffs: A Ribbon Along the Rim
But we weren’t finished yet. We climbed back in Julius and made our way onto a high trail rim that runs the length of the Book Cliffs escarpment. Spanning over 250 miles from Utah to Colorado, this continuous cliff line was named for its resemblance to stacked books on a shelf.
Driving this route offered rugged terrain, towering drops, and breathtaking panoramas. While the main trail was manageable with high-clearance 4WD, the side spurs took us closer to edges and dramatic overlooks—and rewarded us with some truly epic vistas.
🚐 Off-Roading Tips & Travel Essentials
Our final Utah adventure wasn’t just about what we saw—it was about how we got there. Here are our top travel tips for tackling this route:
Vehicle: High-clearance 4WD strongly recommended.
Navigation: Cell coverage is unreliable—download road maps or use an offline GPS.
Gas & Supplies: Thompson Springs has limited services; fuel up in Green River.
Season & Weather: Dirt roads can be treacherous after rain—check conditions before heading out.
BLM Etiquette: Stay on marked trails to protect vegetation and artifacts.
Leave No Trace: Especially in sensitive archaeological areas like Sego and the Book Cliffs.
Bring Essentials: Water, layers, snacks, and sun protection are mandatory.
🖼️ Why This Finale Means So Much
This final journey captures the essence of our Utah epic: small towns with deep roots, landscapes shaped over time, and moments that take your breath away. From the cattle paths of Thompson Springs to the spiritual layers of Sego Canyon, and the panoramic Book Cliffs overlook, we traveled through time, culture, and scale.
It’s a reminder that even in the emptiest places, the echoes of human story linger—and nature remains silent, beautiful, and complex.
🎥 What’s Next? Season’s Change, Season’s Shift
Utah has been good to us, but seasons change—and temperatures south of here are calling. Next, we’ll follow the snowbird route from Colorado into Arizona, trading sandstone canyons for seasonal warmth.
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📌 Quick Resources & Links
Sego Canyon Rock Art Info: BLM Site
Utah 12-Part Remote Places Playlist: https://shorturl.at/NBo9n BLM Camping & Access Guides: [BLM.gov Utah]
🧭 Final Thoughts: Leaving the Greatest Debris
We entered Utah as wanderers and leave as witnesses—to time, to nature, and to human legacy. The plastic dinosaurs at a miners’ grave, the echoes of cattle drives, and the huge escarpments looming overhead... they all speak of resilience, curiosity, and quiet endurance.
We hope this final chapter inspires you to chase your own remoteness—to dig deeper, drive slower, and look closer. Because when you wind through forgotten towns and canyons of ancient paint, you’re living proof that the world still holds secrets.
Until next time, from desert ridges and canyon edges—thank you for traveling with us. Keep exploring.
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