Moab, UT

Delicate Arch

Along trail to Delicate Arch

It was late afternoon by the time we arrived in Moab and setup at the Riverview Oasis RV Park. The location put us within relatively easy striking distance of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Upon recommendations from Chris and Robyn about “must see” arches in Arches NP, and based on a conversation we had with a couple parked next to us in the RV park, we set out right away for Arches NP and a walk to Delicate Arch, best seen at sunset.

The hike up to Delicate Arch (this is the arch seen on Utah license plates) lasted over an hour and involved a very steady climb. Not technically demanding but definitely not for people with knee or back problems. However, once we were at the arch it became clear that the climb was well worth the effort – it was spectacular. We could easily understand why it was a popular sunset destination. By the time we returned to Moab we were more than ready for a beer and a margarita and dinner at La Hacienda.

Carol and one of The Windows

Trail to Broken Arch

Carol at Broken Arch

Double Arch

The next morning we returned to Arches to visit a number of other “must see” sites. By midday we had managed to see everything we wished to see leaving us ample time for an extensive drive through Canyonlands. We had passed through Canyolands during a visit ten years ago but now we didn’t feel so rushed.

Scenes from Canyonlands

Although we had only planned to stay two nights in Moab, our visits to the parks didn’t allow us much time for other more mundane activities – like laundry or grocery shopping. We opted to spend one more night, which allowed us to get caught up. The weather was also a factor with the forecast for high winds and possible thundershowers. The winds did indeed pickup and thunderstorms rolled in that evening. How fortunate we were able to visit the parks before the weather changed.