Notes on Great Western Express Map 3

[Ladyworldcyclist]

My hubby and I just finished the Great Western Express Map 3 from Panguitch, UT going straight into Cortez, CO.  Here are some notes on what we found that doesn't match the maps.  These should hopefully eventually get added to the addenda.

Western Express Route, Map 3 notes
Corner hwy 12 + 89-. There is a limited Convenience store, Red Canyon Village Store.  Snacks, drinks, microwave sandwiches, donuts, chips, cereal, some canned goods and cold drinks are about all that's available.
Tropic - The map needs a camping symbol added.  The campground is in the notes but not shown on the map.

Panel 35-
Escalante - There is tent camping at Shooting Star Campground and Drive In about 2  miles west of town.  Yes it is a drive in theatre.  Another campground that allows tents is just being completed directly across from visitor center called Grand Staircase Resort.
About 1/4 Mile west of the bridge crossing the Escalante River is the Kiva Coffeehouse.  Looks like you can get meals there.  About Mile 73.5.

Panel 37-
The hotel and restaurant located just east of Terry on RT 24 about 1.5 miles out of town also has a small C-store.

Panel 38-
There is Sleepy Hollow campground at the match line where road crosses Fremont River.
The Rodeway Inn at Caineville has just a very few food items for sale.  It'd be real hard to put together a good meal but you can at least get frozen burritos and cold drinks
Mesa RV park, camping, cafe is at Mile 100.5.  It doesn't look overly popular so it may not last.
Mesa farmers market is shown on wrong side of road on the map.

Panel 43 –
Bar TN RV park is actually the Old West RV park.  It is open.  It has tent sites as well as cabins.  348 S. Main St.  435-459-1327

Panel 44-
At the UT/CO State line is State Line Bar and Grill.  Open TH - SU at 11AM

Panel 45-
There are no stores between Dove Creek and Lewis.
There is a good C-store, P.O, and Restaurant in Lewis at the intersection of 491 and 184

[PeanutButterShammyCream]

I am planning on riding this route in August. Were there places  that offer shade in Utah, or do you go through long stretches where there is no shade? Do you think I will be able to ride through Nevada and Utah during August, or will it be too hot? Thanks!

[JHamelman]

Thanks Ladyworldcyclist!

I'll add your information to our next round of Map Updates and Corrections (Addenda) for the Western Express Section 3.

Jennifer

[Ladyworldcyclist]

I am planning on riding this route in August. Were there places  that offer shade in Utah, or do you go through long stretches where there is no shade? Do you think I will be able to ride through Nevada and Utah during August, or will it be too hot? Thanks!

August would be a really difficult time to do this.  Even now it's getting pretty warm.  I wouldn't recommend it unless you plan to ride only very early mornings and late evenings.

For most of the ride finding some shade somewhere is not a problem.  We didn't do Nevada, so I don't know about there.  Most of it goes places where there are juniper trees.  They're short but tall enough to get out of the sun.  The worst section without shade is from Hanksville to past the Colorado River.  You drop below the juniper tree elevation so there are only short bushes.  We wound up taking lunch under a road bridge just to get out of the sun for a while.

Your biggest problem will be carrying water especially considering the very steep climbs.   The section from Hanksville to Monticello in particular is very scarce on water.  We actually drove the route in advance and cached several 2 L bottles of water at many locations along the way which helped a lot.

 If you get a headwind it may be very strong and you may have real difficulty making the miles you expect.  So you'll need even more water.  Also by August any creeks that are flowing now may be dry by then.  So you'll probably want to carry a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day from each reliable water source.  That can be one heck of a load especially when climbing out of such places as the Escalante River crossing.

All in all you may want to consider a cooler route for August and save this route for a spring or fall trip.  If you do try for August plan your water very carefully.

Best if luck and may the winds be at your back.