Utah, My Side Chick, Part One

I am so in love with my home state of Colorado but admit with no shame that Utah, well, she's my side chick.   Long before I was able to actually meet her, I would daydream about her rugged beauty.  Her depth and diversity, the curve of her arches, the tightness of her slot canyons, all had me seeing stars.  The photographs in those outdoor magazines didn't do her justice.  There was just something magical that happened when I laid down my first set of boot prints upon her desert soil.  It was spring break of 2017 when I decided it was time to finally let my hair down and have some real fun.  You know what they say, what happens on spring break stays at spring break.  Well, except it didn't.  After experiencing one taste of what the lovely lady had to offer, I was hooked.

March 17, 2017:  My bestie and I rolled out of Lone Tree, Colorado at 5:00 am that day with only an inkling of what was in store for us.  Our destination, Moab, Utah.  Upon arriving there early that afternoon, I was already amazed at the beauty that I could see from the car window.  The landscape was drastically different than that of my home state and the Rocky Mountains that I call my playground.  We found our campground with ease, just off of the main drag, HWY 191.  We had already agreed that we would eat a quick lunch, set up camp, and then head out for a short afternoon hike in Arches National Park which was just down the road from us.  Finally, through the entrance gate, shiny new National Parks pass in hand, we began the drive within the park.  Wow is not an adequate word for what was unfolding before us.  Finding the trailhead, I park and open the car door.  My boots hit the ground and the feeling that I got upon doing this was simply indescribable.  Just a few hundred feet from the car, the Double Arch comes into view and it is a sight to behold.

The Double Arch

We excitedly explore around it, taking photographs and just basking in its glory, thinking about the fact that Mother Nature created this with her own hands.  We quickly locate a real trail on the other side of the parking lot and off we go, both saying our "oooo's and ahhhh's" and "omg's" as we take in the sights from the trail.  After logging roughly 5 miles, we decide that it's time to call it a day and head back to camp.  Grilled veggie burgers for dinner and then we enjoy some Irish Whiskey that we brought with us because it is, after all, St. Patrick's Day.

Over the next several days, we trek all over Moab seeing more of Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park which also included a sunrise hike to Mesa Arch (breathtaking) and Dead Horse Point State Park.  So many trails, so little time but here are some of the highlights and some that I highly recommend:


Arches National Park:

     1) Delicate Arch Trail, 3 miles round-trip:  This is the rock formation that Arches is known for and it is the iconic arch that you see as their "logo".  This trail does get busy and involves a short trek up some slick rock that leads to a ledge area with drop-offs on one side.  The trail is wide enough that you shouldn't feel threatened by someone passing you.  This trail is definitely worth the short hike and fighting the crowds for your chance to get your photo taken under this magnificent landmark.

Delicate Arch

2) Double O Arch Trail, 6.1+ miles round-trip:  This trail is worth the extra mileage and also gets you away from the crowds which is a bonus, at least in my book.  You get to hike along some of the "fins" and see the park from a different perspective.  This trail is more difficult with some rocky areas and ledges that are exposed to drop-offs.  The "+" above in the mileage is due to the fact that there are options.  You must first take the Landscape Arch trail from the Devil's Garden trailhead which is 1.6 miles RT and this will connect you to the Double O Arch trail.  If you decide to take the Primitive Trail, which I highly recommend, then that is 7.2 miles RT.  Dark Angel, a pinnacle rock formation is 0.5 miles beyond the Double O should you wish to explore further.   There are also spur trails that are worth the bit of extra effort that take you to Navajo Arch and Partition Arch.

3) The Fiery Furnace, mileage- just depends... : To hike the Fiery Furnace you must secure a permit at the Visitors Center because the number of people allowed to hike here each day is limited.  There is a short video that you must first watch that goes over the rules that have been put into place to protect this delicate ecosystem.  This area has no real trail and is a maze of towering red stone pinnacles with plenty of slot areas to explore but typically lead to dead ends.  There is a "rough" trail in place if you can find the tiny little markers they use.  They are only about 2 inches long and are brown so they blend in with the rocks.  Oh... GPS does NOT work here.  You will need to know how to use a compass and mark the direction of the parking lot before you start your trek.  This was by far my favorite "trail" in the park and is definitely recommended if you have a sense of adventure and can use a compass.

The Fiery Furnace

Canyonlands National Park:

1) Mesa Arch (Island in the Sky area), 0.6 miles round-trip:  If you're wanting a gorgeous sunrise, this is the place to see it but be prepared, there will be lots of other people waiting to photograph it as well.  Get there well before sunrise to ensure that you get a comfy spot and have a clear shot of the arch when the sun starts to illuminate the area.  It is breathtaking.

Mesa Arch at sunrise

2) Grand View Point (Island in the Sky area), 2 miles round-trip:  This is an easy trail that follows the canyon edge, leading you to the end of the Island in the Sky mesa area.  This trail is exposed to the sun with little shade so be prepared for this.  The panoramic views of the canyon here are worth it. 

3) Aztec Butte (Island in the Sky area),  2 miles round-trip:  If you're looking for a bit of history with your hike, this short (but steep in some areas) one is it.  This hike takes you to ancient Puebloan granaries and also the ruins of a stone dwelling.  There are some excellent views of Taylor Canyon from here.  There are a couple of areas along this hike that require you to make your way up some slick rock or a quick scramble so make sure you come with good traction shoes. 

4) Cave Springs (The Needles area), 0.6 miles round trip:  This trail also offers some history of the area with your hike.  There are a couple of places that have petroglyphs that can be seen up close.  The trail takes you right by an old cowboy camp.  While it is all seen easily from the trail, access to all of the camp artifacts is blocked off to ensure that it is protected and stays around for others to see. 

     ** Note **  The Needles area is about an hour drive from the main Island in the Sky area.  Seeing the different geological features of this area was worth the drive for us.  Most of the hikes in this area are longer and it is definitely more remote here which is a plus if you are looking to get away from the crowds. 

Dead Horse Point State Park:

I am not going to bother to break down the trails for Dead Horse because I suggest doing it all, as we did.  Roughly 7 miles of trails navigate the rim of the canyon here.  It connects all of the overlooks and it is easy hiking.  Even though this trail is easy, it is completely exposed to the sun with very little shade along the way so please be prepared for this.  However, if you only have time or stamina for 3-4 miles, my suggestion would be to take the East Rim Trail from the Visitor's Center to Dead Horse Point.  This hike will pass "The Neck" and get you to the overlook area that the park is named for.  It is about a 3-mile hike roundtrip.  You can add on the Basin Overlook for an additional half-mile. 

"The Neck"

Just a Suggestion

In all three of these parks, you can see some amazing sights from your car or with a short jaunt of 500-1,000 feet from the parking area.  However, even if you are not a hiker, I would highly recommend committing to at least one real trail in each park.  There are just some things that demand to be viewed that can't be from the comfort of your vehicle.  If you are going to make the journey to see the beauty of the area, make sure that you are actually seeing it.  Go outside of your comfort zone and there will be some amazing things waiting for you!  I promise you that it will be worth it.  That being said, do your research and go prepared.  Learn about the trails and what they offer in the way of scenery.  Make sure you have plenty of water for the hike.  This is the desert people.  I can't tell you how many people I saw out there that didn't have the proper attire (including footwear), water or snacks for the trail that they were on.  Here's a list of things you should have in your pack for anything over 1/2 mile trek:

     * water, 1 liter per person for each hour you plan to be out, preferably with added electrolytes  

     * sunhat

     * sunscreen

     * snacks- consider things like grapes, watermelon, carrots, and cucumbers that will also help to                           keep you hydrated since they have a high water content.

     * lip balm with sunscreen

     * wear sturdy shoes with good traction

Of course there are other things to bring or consider if you are doing long treks or backpacking.  

If you get the chance, the Moab Brewery is a great place to grab a delicious brew after a day of hiking.  It's a fairly large establishment that offers a variety of foods as well.  Ask about their beers that come in the bombers.  They are not on the regular menu and if they have it, I recommend the Belgian Tripel.  Yum!

Utah is such a wonderful place with some stunning scenery.  Being able to adventure there was a privilege and such an amazing experience that it will stay with me forever.  These few trails are just a glimpse at what awaits you.  Stay tuned for Part 2 of Utah, My Side Chick, where I will discuss my time in Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  

Happy Adventuring!

Peace, Love, and Light