We stayed at Best Western in the small town Moab, Utah. Moab is a great gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, small town, plenty of good restaurants within walking distance to the hotel we stayed.
Day 0
Fly from DFW to Grand Junction, Colorado (~ 1 hour 40 minute)
Stay at Grand Junction for the night
Day 1
Drive from Grand Junction, CO to Arches National Park (Utah) - 110 miles in 90 minutes
Arrive at Arches around 10am
Drive along the Scenic Drive
Hike at Park Avenue
Park Avenue, Arches National Park |
Visit Windows and a few other Arches along the way
Hike to Delicate Arch - strenuous trail with slick rock and exposure to heights - beautiful view
Stayed at Best Western at Moab, Utah
Dinner at Schequan Restaurant - Chinese food
Day 2
Go back to Arches National Park
Stop at Fiery Furnace - a restricted area which requires permit or ranger guided hike
Hike at Devil's Garden Trail
Balanced Rock at Arches National Park |
Dinner at Zax - American food
Day 3
Drive Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky district (45 miles from Moab) - a wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries.
(see Canyon from above)
Upheaval Dome Trail
Upheaval dome |
Mesa Arch trail
Green River Outlook and Rim Trail
Dinner at Fiesta Mexicana, Moab, UT - Mexican food
Day 4
Drive to Canyonlands National Park - the Needles district - Scenic drive in the canyon - spectacular, awesome view from "close-up" points
Cave Spring Trail
Slickrock Trail
Mesa Arch |
Elephant Hill - should have taken this trail first in the morning to see the needles up close
Dinner at Pasta Jay's, Moab, UT - Italian food
Day 5
Drive along Colorado River, Colorado waterway Scenic Drive 128
Lunch at Subway
Drive through Colorado National Monument to arrive at Grand Junction - unexpected encounter with big horn sheep on the scenic drive road.
Big Horn Sheep at Colorado National Monument |
Leave for DFW in the early evening
Notes
1) no gas and food in the parks - need to bring food and water for lunch every day - we bought lunch at local supermarket
2) Sunscreen is a must at this altitude (5000+ feet)
3) winter cloth and gear will make the trip comfortable
4) Despite all the winter storms in Utah and Colorado earlier this week, Moab was free of severe weather.
5) Leave DFW at night (8pm), and leave Grand Junction late afternoon to maximize the fun time in Utah and Colorado
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