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01/20/2009 08:25:17 PM · #1 |
Going to be in Utah in April for about 6days. Thinking about spending a few days based in Moab to see Arches and Canyonlands, and then venturing further south potentially staying in Mexican Hat or Bluff to check out Monument Valley and some other locations.
Any suggestions on "must see" places or things to do while there? Recommendations for motels or local restaurants?
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01/20/2009 09:06:24 PM · #2 |
| You're in for a great time! We spent a couple days in Moab this summer, and it was incredible. I'll post some more specific information for you when I get a chance in a bit... but Arches and Canyonlands are both remarkable, remarkable places. You won't be bored :) |
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01/20/2009 09:13:57 PM · #3 |
| I' going in a few weeks and will be staying at gouldings lodge with views of monument valley. I'll let you know how it is as a replacement for Mexican Hat. |
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01/20/2009 09:57:10 PM · #4 |
I was just there this weekend. You'll enjoy it! Many of the great places are shared and linked in our Redrock GTG thread. You'l find much in the 1st post.
Outside of Bluff on Hwy 163 is Valley of the Gods. It was wonderful. The dirt road takes you through the park on a dirt road (17 mi.) that is very nice. It joins the another highway. If you take a right, you'll shortly come to dirt for several miles called the Moki Dugway. This was a dramatic climb up the side of the cliff for a fantastic view of the area. It was well worth the drive.
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01/20/2009 10:59:40 PM · #5 |
Just a few quick thoughts about our trip...
We stayed at the Moab RV Resort. They had little cabins you could rent. They were REALLY little, but if you have just two people, it's not bad. The prices were very reasonable (maybe $80 a night?), and it was a little out of the ordinary after spending several nights in hotels.
Arches is a very short drive north of town. Once you get into the park, you'll be surprised at how large it is! The first few minutes of the drive winds up a rather dramatic hill with a really cool view of the valley from the top. You'll come to Balanced Rock as one of the first, big and recognizable features. It's a nice, short walk from the car.
I was amazed at how you can pretty much climb all around any of the features in the park. There are really no guard rails, or anything to keep you from plummeting down giant cliffs.
There are two main ways of viewing Delicate Arch, easily the most recognizable thing in the park (and featured on Utah's license plates). There's a fairly short hike, something like half a mile, that my wife and daughter endured without too much grumbling. You get a fairly distant view of the arch from there. There's another hike that takes you right up to Delicate Arch. It was 105 degrees out, but I made the 3-mile roundtrip. It's an amazing hike (very steep to hike to the arch, and downhill on the way back). Very rewarding, both just to sit there and admire it, and to photograph it!
I would have loved to have spent more time hiking on more of the trails, but my wife and daughter aren't as enthusiastic about that kind of thing. We enjoyed hikes to Sand Dune Arch, but I would have really liked to have gone further up into the Devil's Garden area to see Landscape Arch, etc. I went by myself for a bit in the evening, but I was running out of daylight to go too far.
I could have easily spent a week or so just hiking around at Arches. It's an amazing place.
Canyonlands is also just amazing. I am not lying about the following: the Grand Canyon was a let-down for us after seeing Canyonlands. We didn't have as much time to explore this area as I would have liked (another week, please!), but Mesa Arch alone was worth the trip. When we got there, we did the short hike to the arch and for about 10 minutes we were the only ones there. It felt like we were the first people to land on a new planet. The view was just astounding. We also gasped at the view at the Green River Overlook. Pictures just don't do it justice.
Moab is a really neat little town. It's amazing how far removed it is from everything else. You can hit "scan" on your radio, and there's just one radio station it'll pick up! We enjoyed a meal at Eddie McStiff's one day. There's also a microbrewery there. I also took a drive along the Colorado River for a bit, approaching it from Route 279 just north of town. There's also a cool bridge just north of town at the intersection of Route 128.
Anyway... I loved that area, and definitely hope to return sometime when I can spend more than two nights! PM me if I can help with anything else. You're certainly in for a treat! |
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01/21/2009 01:30:36 AM · #6 |
You might want to check out this thread from last years Redrock GTG. the last few days were spnet in Moab and Becky did some good research and found us a decent, clean place, the Inca Inn, for $55/night right in town and a very short drive to both Arches and Canyonlands. Had free internet also.
Annual Redrock GTG - 2008 version |
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01/21/2009 09:06:59 AM · #7 |
Been down there about every year at sometime. LOVE IT!! Been going between the Cedar Mesa/Grand Gulch and Canyonlands. Bridges National Monument is a nice drive through, but you can hike down to look at 3 HUGE arches (within the top 10 in the world (maybe top 5)). The Muley Point overlook is cool, but then again, special to me because that is where my Dad's ashes are. Then a drive down the Moki Dugway is quite fun!! I have a Google Map with alot of stuff on it.
My Google Maps
Shot of Valley of the Gods
Angel Arch in Canyonlands (way down the Salt Creek)
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01/22/2009 11:32:40 PM · #8 |
Thanks so much for all the great info.
Apparently, I have horrible timing with my planning. The nights we will be in Moab is their big classic car weekend so the town is going to be packed. I managed to get one night at the Big Horn Lodge for a good rate which looks like a fantastic place, but ended up spending twice what I should have for the 2nd night at a Holiday Inn. It was the best rate in town I could find - all the local properties are sold out for that night.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), I am going to be pushing to see as much as possible in a short trip. I only have about 6days there so we are planning 2-3 in the Moab area and the rest farther south. I did tentatively book a room in Mexican Hat for the remainder of the trip as it seems to be the best "base" location for all the stuff we want to see in the Southern part of the state. I am trying to talk my friend into taking a horseback trip into Monument Valley - but he has never been on a horse so not sure how that is going to work out!
Tickets were issued today - so now to just finalize everything! |
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01/22/2009 11:38:02 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by ArpeggioAngel:
... - all the local properties are sold out for that night. |
Looks like you need one of THESE. Highly recommended too!! :)
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