normal1983

Hello all

My husband and I will be traveling to Moab during Jeep week for 8 days. Yes, I know it will be crazy full of people but it was the only time we had available. We are active people in our late 50's and this is what I've planned so far. Please let me know if I'm over doing it! I tend to over book activities. :/

3/31 Arrive SLC, (3 am wake up call for flight & 9am arrival) rent car, drive to Arches and do the Park Avenue hike. Stay into the evening to do some stargazing and then check in to the hotel
4/1 Mountain biking and then check out the town
4/2 Hot air balloon ride and then the Double O arch hike
4/3 Drive to Goblin Valley state park and then Wild Horse for a slot canyon hike (weather permitting)
4/4 Fiery Furnace Hike and drive to Dead Horse state park for a look and possible small hike
4/5 Easter Sunday sunrise somewhere and rest
4/6 Horse back riding 1/2 day and possibly some more stargazing at night
4/7 Delicate Arches hike and drive back to SLC
4/8 Flight back home

The only activities that we must do as they are reserved is the hot air balloon ride, fiery furnace hike and horseback riding. The rest are not set in stone. We are taking plenty of Aleve and Ibuprofen with us just in case these older bones start complaining.

Would love to hear some imput from others who have been there! Thank you!

indyhiker

Out of curiosity, where do you plan to mountain bike? I assume you're renting bikes there?

It all sounds fine to me. I don't know how experienced a MTBer you are, but so long as you stay within your comfort zone/experience level you should be good. My husband and I rode the White Rim trail a couple of years ago and then spent the balance of the week hiking. It was the week after Jeep week and it was unseasonably hot. Of course, you may encounter mild temps, but we didn't go anywhere that week without our Camelback and full bladders. Also, you might want to check out the hikes at Fisher Towers. For us, while Arches was very pretty, the hikes were just a little too crowded for our tastes. Fisher Towers was a lot more to our liking in that regard, plus the scenery was stunning. There were some climbers out there that day, too, and they were cool to watch. Remember that Chase ad from a few years back with a woman standing on a spire? That's where the ad was filmed....

And you already know this, but have a good game plan for dinner. The restaurants will be unbelievably packed. We picked up a decent preparted food at the main grocery in Moab.

normal1983

Thank you so much for responding. Actually, I am more of a road cyclist and my husband is a beginner mountain biker. There are a few trails for mountain biking that are easy enough for me to handle. We plan on taking our camelbaks for both the hiking and riding.

I'll be checking the temps before heading out just to make sure we take the proper attire. I am hoping that it is in the upper 60's for our activities but we'll just have to wait and see and hope for the best.

I've not checked out Fisher Towers so I'll look into that as well. And truthfully, I hadn't even thought about dinner. I just figured we'd find something, somewhere! I forget that this is not a large city so I will definitely start looking into where we can grab some food. We are not foodies so the prepared food at the grocery store sounds fine to me. We'll be going there anyway to grab items to eat on the hikes.

tomfuller

Given the choice of the Double O or Delicate Arch, pick Delicate Arch.
Check in to your hotel about 4-5PM and get something to eat before your night stargazing hike.
When you go to Goblin Valley, continue onward to see a small part of Capitol Reef NP.
If the room rate is too high in Moab, there are cheaper choices in Green River including the Robbers Roost where DW and I stayed.

normal1983

Thank you for the info on Green River. Their rates are less expensive but at this point since I've based all the other plans on staying in Moab I think I'll leave well enough alone. I should have posted here before I made my plans! :/

indyhiker

You might look at taking a guided half or full day MTB tour, being clear with your tour guide as to your respective experience levels. I say that because it's really easy to get in over your head on Moab's trails. Having a guide take you out based on your specific experience could be the way to go. Plus, they'll handle the logistics, which is nice.

Our White Rim Trail was with Rim Tours and they do offer half and full day tours for various experience levels. I don't know what kind of bikes they offer for their day tours, but I rented a really nice Yeti from them, as did my husband (minus the fact that the tires weighted a ton). We really liked our guides. There are other tour companies though; just do a Google search and I'm sure you'll find something.

Moab's an interesting place. It's gorgeous for sure, but it attracts a really diverse set of people. We enjoyed people watching in town. I can only imagine what Jeep Week will be like! Have fun! Oh, and I sure hope you're right about the weather. When we went (a week after you're set to go) the daytime high was 90+. It was kind of brutal as we hadn't had any hot weather yet back at home and were not at all acclimated.

normal1983

I will check with Rim Tours to get information. My husband insists that we can do a trail ride ourselves but I think I'll have all the info on hand just in case!

We're from Central Florida so heat and humidity isn't new to us but I know I don't want to over extend myself if the weather is going to be very hot. We'll adjust our plans accordingly if that's the case.

People watching..my favorite activity!

utahtea

I'm going to disagree with staying in Green River vs Moab. Why spend two hours a day going back and forth to Moab when you can be just 4 miles from Arches if you stay in Moab. Moab is in a more scenic setting, there's more to see and do in Moab and it has more variety in restaurants and the drive between the two towns is not all that impressive. Stay in Moab!

I'll second the vote of Delicate Arch over Double O. Landscape arch, double arch and the windows are easy to reach so make sure you get those in.

I'll tell you our little secret for doing Park Avenue. Go to the Park Avenue overlook to view first, but then drive to the Courthouse Towers view and do the hike from there. This way you are going up hill first and then coming down hill. Lots of times we even skip that last climb up to the Park Avenue View because it's so steep and we've already seen the view.

While there check out the Potash Road hwy 279 which is scenic and there are petroglyphs and if you go to Fisher Towers you will be driving on scenic Hwy 128. Keep going until you get to the Dewey Bridge.

Utahtea

sandragoodlife

We visited in 2011 - great trip. Too bad it's jeep week because the highlight for us was a jeep rental for the day and a trip down the Shaeffer Trail - DH loves to drive (and is excellent with a racing background) and although I had my eyes covered on some of the curves - it was really a great experience.
On a quieter note - we loved a 1/2 day raft trip. Relaxing with an informative guide.
enjoy

kureiff

normal, my husband and I did the Klondike Bluffs Trail on our own. It was an intermediate ride; although, I thought it was kind of steep coming back down the hills. You ride into Arches Nat'l Park, and it's all slickrock. There are marked petrified dinosaur footprints along the trail, too.

Dianedancer

Smart going in March. We went at the end of September and it was 94 degrees!

Dayle

Hi normal,

I live in Utah and Moab is one of my most favorite places (hard to choose with all the wonderful places we have here).

Going during Jeep Week is going to be a real challenge. I hope you DO have your reservations already. I also would never recommend staying in Green River. Moab is definitely where you want to be. The difference in motel prices would be eaten up with gas and time back and forth. Very inconvenient and Green River is not special at all. I've stayed there 1 night prior to a Desolation Canyon rafting trip and 1 night was plenty!

You really should hit a large grocery store before getting to Moab. Stock up with things you can have for a 3 meals and put in a cooler. You will have a very difficult time getting near a restaurant.

i'm a little puzzled by the long detour to Goblin Valley and Little Wildhorse. Great areas, but a very long drive from Moab!

I would suggest booking a canyoneering trip with Desert Highlights instead. Very adventurous and you will see some great canyons. Check them out. One of our regular posters, Spirobulldog who is a huge Utah fan, has gone with them a couple time and recommends them highly.

Have fun, but brace yourself. If you haven't actually experienced Jeep Week yourself, it's hard to comprehend the thousands upon thousands of people and vehicles of every type - most you have never seen before and won't ever see anywhere else!

Dayle

PS- where are you going for your 1/2 day horseback ride? If you are planning on going out of the Red Cliffs Lodge, just know that it's geared to people who don't know how to get on a horse. Nose-to-tail, plod, plod. Even though the scenery is beautiful, the ride is a major bore.

RVvagabond

4/2...the Double O arch hike - Rather than return via same route, take the slightly longer primitive route back. Double O arch - best photographed about 1 hour past noon from the back side - crawl through hole and then up and left.
4/4 ..............to Dead Horse state park for a look and possible small hike - It is a State Park and you'll have pay to get it. I prefer the Grand View Point over ALL others. Hike - short hike to Upheavel Dome is fascinating view of a geologic aberration. The other is Mesa Arch best view at sunrise. Google both for pictures. All of above are on the Island In The Sky
4/7 Delicate Arches hike - there two routes. Insure you take the one that goes past Wolfe Ranch. Sunset is the best time for fotos, but you will be driving by that time.

Vaga

utahtea

Vaga,

I'm not clear on what you meant about two routes to Delicate Arch and I've been there many, many times.

There is parking for the Delicate Arch hike at Wolfe Ranch and the hike is a three mile round trip and you can get up and under Delicate arch if you want to. If you drive past Wolfe Ranch there is parking for a path to the Delicate Arch overlook but you only see the arch way off in the distance. In this area is also another hike that takes you a little higher to see Delicate Arch but it is still off in the distance. If you're going to bother hiking up here you might as well have done the 3 mile one to the arch.


Utahtea

normal1983

Oh my! So much new information to digest! I was out of town and didn't see these ideas!

Dayle, we were thinking of Wild Horse so that we can hike a slot canyon, if the weather is good that is. And Goblin just looked like an interesting place to hike through. A grocery store stop is a good idea and we've already considered doing that. Just have to find one! Planning on going to Hauer Ranch to ride horses. Is this the location you were referring to? As far as canyoneering is concerned, I don't know that we have the courage to attempt that! The most we've done is climbed indoors on a rock wall! I'm not sure we would survive real mountains!

Utahtea, since we have two tours booked close to our hotel in Moab we definitely want to stay there to avoid too much unnecessary driving.

RV, we are thinking of doing a bike ride in Dead Horse State park on our own. I'm a bit slow and I don't want to slow a group down with my plodding along on the bike. I've bookmarked the info on the Grand View hike to look into it.

We still have time to tweak our itinerary so I'll do some more research and see what I come up with! Keep the suggestions coming!

normal1983

Less than a month til we leave! Getting excited and a bit concerned. I've been checking the weather daily and it is quite cold (high 20's) in the mornings and then warms up to the 40's or 50's during the day. That's quite chilly for this Florida girl. We don't have anything too warm to take with us and are planning on taking plenty of layers. We'll be doing lots of hiking so I know we'll warm up as the day progresses. Any advice as to what to take for those cold mornings? We'll be there the first week of April.

Virginia1990

May want to try the Devil's Garden hike one late afternoon/evening. The sunset is really pretty on the rocks there. Just be sure you know where you are going, this one is kind of easy to get lost on if you're trying to hike back in the dark.

Dayle

normal,
Moab in April can bring every kind of weather imaginable. Snow, wind, sun, hot. You really must invest in some appropriate layers. Go to REI (yes, they have them in Florida). You need a fleece vest, a warm wind/water proof jacket that can pack down into your pack (longer hikes), warm hat (ski beanie) and gloves. I usually take fleece gloves and they are warm enough for a cool spring hike.

On the warm side you need a wide brim sun hat, preferably with a strap, lots of sunscreen, and more water than you could ever imagine drinking. Our climate is extremely dry and you won't even notice you are sweating because it evaporates so fast. Lots of moisturizing lip balm and hand lotion.

Arches and Canyonlands have very few places to get water. Arches only has water at the Visitor's Center and up at the Devil's Garden, which is clear at the far north end of the park. You need to have gallons in your car. Take a lunch and snacks, there is no food service of any kind in these parks.

Listen to the weather report at night and that will help you know how to dress for the day. In April I take short and long sleeved tee shirts, fleece vest, hats (both kinds), gloves, wind/rain jacket, ski parka, jeans and short lightweight pants for hiking. I will often have all this in the car if weather is uncertain. It can change FAST. Check also at the Visitor's Center for the daily forecast.

Moab is high desert and Canyonlands Island in the Sky District and Dead Horse Point are higher. You may find yourself really puffing on your bikeride if you are coming from Florida. Best save that for one of your last days and give yourself a little chance to acclimate a bit.

Come prepared and you will have a great time! Shops in Moab do have all of the above, but during Jeep Week finding your size during a sudden shift in weather could be tough.

normal1983

Thank you for all of that wonderful information, Dayle! Just a couple of weeks away from our trip and I've been checking the weather daily. It seems that there will be quite a warm up for the next couple of days and then cool down by a few degrees for a few days. I'm hoping that it doesn't get too warm during our visit. 60's and 70's would be perfect! But the weather is doing funny things these days so I'll be checking up until the day before we leave to see what we'll be packing.

So many places to go hiking! I want to do them all but time is limited. I think I'll take plenty of ibuprofen as well as extra water!