I’ll say it again – Moab is Marvelous, and the highlight of our Summer Airstream Adventure so far!
We spent several days at the Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway. The sites were a little tight, but the staff was responsive, the facilities were clean , and it was the perfect location. We could access bike trails across the road and Arches was only 2 miles away! On our first day, we drove into town for pizza, one of Bill’s two favorite meals. Canyon Pizza Company had excellent pizza, but no wine or beer! The town is small but filled with restaurants, gift shops, and art galleries.
Moab Bike Trails
There are bike trails everywhere, both in and out of the parks. On Day Two, we took a bike ride that was at least 8 miles. The views were spectacular, and I barely noticed how high we were going since we do have e-bikes! Then I turned around and freaked out! I had to walk my e-bike down at least a half-mile before I was comfortable getting back on. We quickly biked back to the Trailhead across from our RV Park. We packed our bikes up and returned them to the back of the Suburban; not too many level trails out here.
Arches is Amazing!
Arches is Amazing and a must for all RVers and other explorers. The Park is huge and there are so many different trails for all levels. On Day One at Arches, we had an entry pass for 11 a.m., so we took it easy and got the lay of the land. Day Two, we had a 7 am entry, so we headed for Delicate Arch. FYI, many of the most popular National Parks do require a reservation, but there is a loophole. At Arches, the reservation is required between 7 am and 4 pm. We met some young climbers that arranged to get there by 6 am and avoid the crowds.
Get a Lifetime Pass
The best thing I did was to purchase a Senior Lifetime National Park Pass. It now costs only $80, and I noticed that the Day Pass at Arches was $30, so the Lifetime Park Pass is a no-brainer. Also, be sure to purchase the Passport; at each National Park, they have a station in the Visitors Center where you can stamp your passport. It’s a great reminder of your travels to go back and review your stamps.
Delicate Arch
My goal was to hike to the Delicate Arch, one of the highlights of Arches National Park. When I read the description –
“The trail to see Delicate Arch up close and personal is 3 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip and climbs 480 feet (146m). Along this steadily uphill trail, you’ll also pass the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of Ute Indian petroglyphs.
Carefully consider weather conditions (summer heat or winter ice) and your own health and fitness before beginning this hike. Rangers frequently rescue people who underestimated the trail’s difficulty.“
I wondered if I would be able to make it all the way. I saw the last part of the trail described as narrow, with a shear drop. YIKES! But then I asked some other hikers that appeared to be my age, and they encouraged me to go for it. The path was wider than I expected, and it was slanted toward the inside, with a gradually sloped drop, not the shear drop described. I was elated that I made it, as you can probably tell in this photo. It was warm, but by Key Largo standards, it was very low humidity. We carried plenty of water and made sure to stay hydrated.
Monument Valley
En route to Sedona, we had made plans to stop in Monument Valley and take a tour with a Navajo tour guide. This was another fascinating look into the history of our country and how the Navajo lived. The 1 1/2 hour tour took us through the Valley while listening to stories of survival in very challenging terrain. Even though many have now moved to surrounding areas, the Navajo still consider this home and often return for visits to their native land. To the left in this photo is the “Three Sisters” monument.