There were no tracks in the new snow except those of wildlife. We stopped whenever we wanted to look. The snow sparkled in bright sun and the temperature was perfect. With a name like Sand Flats, we didn't expect steep canyon walls, frozen waterfalls, and switchbacks.

On Wednesday, the 6 1/2-hour drive to Moab had worn us out. Every year the trip seemed harder on us, so we opted for an easy road on Thursday. Sand Flats Road turned out to be a great choice. A sunrise after overnight snow on the mountains, and the drive was a 4-hour loop.