Monday, October 11, 2010

SOUTHEASTERN UTAH’S RECREATION MECCA: MOAB AND ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Beautiful Partition Arch, high above a panorama of Arches National Park After our nine day stay in little Torrey, Utah (population 171, with that many again in the surrounding area), Moab (population 5,100) seems like a bustling metropolis!  Every morning, at appears that the residents fling open their doors, jump on their bikes or into their muddy, tricked-out 4 x 4’s and take off into the great outdoors.  Hikers, mountain bikers, walkers and joggers jostle for space with road bikes, monster trucks, jeeps and motorcycles. 

Of course, the ranks of the full-time residents are augmented by active visitors.  Campgrounds, RV parks and motels are full, with their occupants adding to the crazy activity level we see every day.

This is our third trip to Moab and Arches National Park, and the first time the weather has cooperated perfectly, with highs around 70 degrees and unlimited sunshine.  We’ve hiked in the national park three times, and outside the park once.  The big difference?  The other people on the trail in Arches National Park speak a multitude of languages, including several we couldn’t place, LOTS of foreign visitors; on the Corona Arch hike outside the park, we joined local families on what obviously is a favorite “local” hike.

Odel on Park Avenue


The day we arrived in Moab, we settled in our campground then headed up to Arches National Park to hike the short Park Avenue trail.  Here’s Odel heading down the wash.
LB on the fin
One of the longer hikes in Arches is at the very end of the park road at Devil’s Garden.  Part of the Double O trail past Landscape Arch traverses the top of a “fin”, not for those who don’t like heights!
LB coming up the ladder
The fun hike to giant Corona Arch, off Potash Road – outside the park – includes a couple of safety-cabled stretches and a short ladder up a steeper pitch.  Here I am, climbing the ladder.  We saw a lot of families with kids and dogs enjoying this trail.
OK holds the arch

Photographing Odel in the foreground of Corona arch makes it look smaller than it actually is.  You can find a video on YouTube of a single engine plane flying through this arch!

No hiking for us today: Odel is on the golf course and I’m about to head out to explore “downtown”.  More to come but, for now, the sunny blue skies are calling me.  :)

10 comments:

  1. Great photos! The one with the safety cables reminds me of our hike to the top of Half Dome.

    Can you believe Moab is smaller than Bisbee??? Just goes to show what tourism really does for a place.

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  2. Great pics! The one of Odel holding up the arches is a classic! We love the Arches NP and we were fortunate to get a perfect day like you've just had.

    By the way, if you like pizza, Moab has one of the best pizza places in 'the world'. It's right on Main St. with the rather ordinary name of 'Paradox Pizza'. But, their pizzas are just terrific. It's a sit-down or take out place.

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  3. Gosh I love this area! Thanks for the wonderful pics that are bringing it all back to me! Were you on the 7 mile Primitive Trail in that picture on top of the fin? That was my favorite hike in Arches. Can't wait to go back someday when hubby and I are fulltiming!

    Lisa

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  4. We loved our visit at the Arches National Park, it is a beautiful place!

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  5. Your pics brought back great memories of ourselves in some of the very same places you were hiking.

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  6. It's hard to take a bad picture in Arches, isn't it? :)

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  7. You are definitely in God's country!! Yes, the hike to Double O Arch is not for the faint of heart!! The weather also cooperated when we were there a year ago. One day we woke up to snow, so we hurried into the NP for some awesome photos.

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  8. One of my all time favorite places to visit. I still remember the hike up to Delicate Arch. What a great place to commune with nature.

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  9. Wonderful! I remember my wonder when I've seen the Delicate Arc.

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