The secret is out on Arches and Canyonlands NP. They have some truly unique arches and vistas. Both are also highly accessible given the close proximity to Moab. The combination makes for a pretty trafficked experience. To escape the crowds, grab your beanie and headlamp for night hiking. Head out around an hour or so before golden hour and you'll get to experience the vibrant Utah skies change colors in way that seem unearthly. The crowds will slowly thin out, which will leave you with some solitude and a magical walk back under the night sky.
Hikes
There are plenty of hikes to do around Moab between Arches and Canyonlands. Dead Horse State Park also looked fun to explore but didn't make it there this trip, next time!
Rating: 🥾🥾🥾🥾🥾
Park: Arches NP
Hike Length: 3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 610 ft
Difficulty: Easy
This was my favorite hike near Moab. It was pretty easy to climb up to the arch around the back (north) side for some stargazing and night photography! We spent an hour or so hanging out under the arch and trying to get the camera to focus at night.
Rating: 🥾🥾🥾🥾
Park: Arches NP
Hike Length: 3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 610 ft
Difficulty: Easy
The most famous and crowded hike in Arches. It really is quite delicate! Definitely worth the short walk. There's a good place to relax below the arch to the right for sunset. You may even be serenaded by a violinist!
Rating: 🥾🥾🥾🥾
Park: Technically just outside Arches on BLM land
Hike Length: 3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 440 ft
Difficulty: Easy
This was a fun solo birthday hike. Check out Pinto Arch and Bowtie Arch along the way. Walk past the arch and sit behind it while you wait for the crowds dissipate. If you dare, can also try a slingshot. I most certainly did not.
Rating: 🥾🥾🥾
Park: Canyonlands NP
Hike Length: .7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 85 ft
Difficulty: V Easy
This hike may be better at sunrise but we jogged it out quickly on the way to Grand View Point Trail (below). It's very short and worth the stop as it's on the way.
Rating: 🥾🥾🥾🥾🥾
Park: Canyonlands NP
Hike Length: 1.8 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 173 ft
Difficulty: Easy
This hike was awesome. It's about an hour from Moab so give yourself enough time for a pitstop at Mesa Arch and the mile walk to the viewpoint. From there, you can watch earth turn into Mars and decide which is more beautiful, sunset or moonrise.
Other Activities
Frolf, disc golf, whatever you want to call it... way more fun than you think it's going to be! We picked up discs at Gearheads Outdoor Store. First couple holes were a little rough with some cactus encounters. Luckily, we met Alan, a disc golf pro who showed us the proper technique. Finally got the hang of it on the last hole.
Food
A few solid spots below:
Giliberto's Mexican Taco Shop - Fast/easy carnitas burrito 🌯
Love Muffin Cafe - Coffee & breakfast burritos 🍳
Doughbird - Coffee & donuts ☕️ Known for fried chicken sandwiches but didn’t go during lunch
Quesadilla Mobilla - Looked good but didn't make it, you can guess what it's known for
Trip: 10/25/20 - 11/1/20
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