Canyon-Arch-Bike Lands

I camped in Moab overnight and got an early start in the morning. The city of Moab felt a bit like Key Largo (except no ocean) it that its a tourist town feel with lots of locals "work'n it.  I didn't spend much time there except at get maps at the visitor center. With so much to see and do I had to pick and choose so this is what I ended up doing.  It was Easter Sunday morning so there wasn't much traffic to start and I headed up to Canyonlands National Park (only 30 mile away).  It was similar to Bryce Canyon in that it's a drive along the plateau above the canyons.  The payoff is Grand View Lookout.  It's the point where the Colorado and Green Rivers meet.

Grand View Point Canyonlands road end.

Edge of the plateau and looking towards the Colorado River.

The other side and looking over the edge to the Green River.

After checking out a few other lookouts I left the park and headed towards Arches National Park (10 miles back towards town).  Moab is down in the valley and the road into the park climbs up onto the plateau again.

The "Courthouse" entrance to Arches.

Arches NP had a very 'other world" feel.

By this time it was noon and traffic was picking up.  The 'arches" in Arches are spread out in different areas.  Some site were more popular and the lots full.  So I drove past to an almost empty lot, parked and went for a short hike to the lookout.  After the first place you can see the arch people turned around.  I kept going and walked up the ridge line. As I got further up you could begin to see though the arch more and more.  What's hard to see in the picture is that at the arch there had to 50-100 people around and under it.  Maybe next time I hike over there but I was having fun not being with the crowd.

Delicate Arch from across the canyon.

Spring wildflower.  It was 70 degrees.

I hiked up the ridge as far as I could go and went a little further.  A little scramble on the rock.

A little different angle view to the arch and a view up the canyon.

The little spire in almost the center of the photo is where I was standing for the precious picture.

I couldn't go to Arches and not get up close to one.

Crazy rock formations everywhere.

I wandered around Arches for most of the afternoon and headed back into Moab.  Just up out of town is another BLM area with hiking,  camping, 4x4 trails and home of the Slickrock Bicycle Trail.  What would Moab be without mountain biking so off I go.

An easy part of the trail.

I quickly learned many things.  Luckily not the hard way.  Bicycling on rock is different.  I took the two mile "practice" loop instead of the 10 mile real trail.  Overall it was fun and as I went along some spots were fun.  I also walked some steep areas up and down.  I like having my bones intact and lack the reckless abandon that seems to be require to get through parts of the trail.  My $400 Seattle Hybrid hardtail bike was probably not the right gear for this either but it was fun to try.

The view out into the main area of the bike trail.

I felt like I got to see and do a lot without being rushed.  I left some things undone for another visit.  Time to head east.