Three or Four Nights in Moab?

Old Jul 7th, 2014, 12:39 PM
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Three or Four Nights in Moab?

I am starting to work on the pacing for a 10 to 12 night trip that will include Moab, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon starting in either Grand Junction or SLC and ending in Vegas. We won't be doing Zion and Bryce on this trip.

Moab is going to be on the front end of the trip and I can give it three or four nights.We like to hike, but moderate day hikes are best. It seems like at least a full day at Arches and one at Canyonlands and another for more sightseeing elsewhere would be a good plan so I am leaning towards 4 nights. Is that too many?

Any thoughts? Thanks.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 01:55 PM
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Canyonlands is huge. One day might be enough for the Island in the Sky district, but you would be missing the Needles District, not to mention the more remote Maze District.

Fisher Towers might be a nice place to explore. If you are interested in Native American rock art there are several sites in Moab. Look at Kane Creek Road and Potash road. Some hiking opportunities along there too.

Be sure to bring lunch, drinks, snacks when you visit Arches and/or Canyonlands as there is little to keep one from strarving in the parks.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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It would be easy to spend a couple days in Arches. Also, I don't know if you like to bike, but if so, you could also spend a day biking outside of Arches. My husband and I did a bike ride through the Klondike Bluffs area, and it was (mostly) fun. There were several petrified dinosaur footprints along the route. I was scared a lot of it due to the incline, but that is because I can be a scaredy-cat.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 02:15 PM
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It would be great if you could include some other activities, such as biking, rafting, jeeping, canyoneering. To see the main sites three days is enough- one day for Arches, one for Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point and one for Corona Arch, and the hwy 12 to Fisher Towers, include the hike to Morning Glory Arch, and a look at the film museum at the Red Cliffs lodge. If you want to expand the options then at least one other day. Either taking a sunset hummer tour, or a full or half day raft trip on the Colorado, would be a lot of fun.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 02:28 PM
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I'm not a bog fan of Canyonlands but you've got a day between Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point.

I'd allow 2 days for Arches. Remember you've got Fiery Furnace ranger led hike, Delicate Arch and then several others.

You don't mention when you're planning to go but when we were there we went on a half day ride down the Colorado River rapids.

Fisher Towers is very interesting. You can hike around the bottom and see (if you're lucky) rock climbers up at the top. If you don't remember the Citibank Accessories commercial of a couple of years ago, you might be able to find it on Youtube. I was hiking around the bottom and saw several people way up. I took pictures on them, they yelled down their email address and also sent me pictures they took the next day.

You could go to Goblin Valley (1:45 to get there) and there are a few other places in the area.

We spent part of a day and drove over the La sal Mountains and thru a few snowballs.
So 4 days isn't that much.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 03:03 PM
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Wow! Thanks for your responses so far. Sounds like four nights is going to be it then. We will be in Moab the nights of June 14-17 of next year. We will have a good portion of the day on the 14th to do things and then three full days. Perhaps we can squeak something in on the morning we drive to Mesa Verde.

A river rafting trip or boat ride on the Colorado would be a fun thing to do. I've heard of both a jet boat ride and the float trip. I will look into both.

We are not bikers and both of us are klutzes, but if there's a tour for total green horns where we are covered in pads that might be fun too.

I think the most important thing for me wherever we are is seeing it in the best possible light, whether that be sunrise, dusk or anything in between.

For this uneducated person, Arches holds the most appeal right now, but I am sure that will change as I learn more.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 03:48 PM
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Have you even unpacked from your last trip????? Welcome home and have fun planning your next adventure. If you haven't chosen a place to stay in Moab, here is where we landed. http://www.gonzoinn.com

It was fun and there was a great breakfast diner very close by.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 04:27 PM
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Hi cmcfong!

I need to send you the photos of Italy. Will do that right away.

Thanks for the recommendation. It looks like a great spot.

So far I have put a refundable $50 deposit down on the Paradox unit at Cliffrose Flats. http://www.lodgingmoab.com/Home.aspx
Could be the place, but I not wedded to it just yet. I like the idea of having space.

I am going to count on you to tell me what to see and do!
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 04:36 PM
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For a B&B - we loved:

http://www.moabdreaminn.com/

Places to eat:

Desert Bistro
Pasta Jays

Old TR but hopefully still has a few worthwhile bits:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ong-report.cfm
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 06:48 PM
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Yeah, we wre in Moab 11 years ago, but the Gonzo Inn looked great! We were a block up, but I have kept the Gonzo Inn on a list for a return trip.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 06:57 PM
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Thank you Deb. Desert Bistro looks great.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 07:01 PM
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I really like the look of the suites at the Gonzo Inn.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 03:44 AM
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Don't miss Goblin Valley. Right nearby is Little Wildhorse Canyon and it is a great slot canyon(considered the best non-technical slot canyon in Utah by a lot of websites)

If you are adventurous check out www.deserthighlights.com very safe and super fun!

A fly tour of the area by Slickrock Air is also a good option.
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Old Jul 11th, 2014, 12:14 PM
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Glad you decided on 4 nights!

Utahtea
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Old Oct 23rd, 2014, 03:57 PM
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bookmarking
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 08:29 AM
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>

Maybe not, It's my favourite park and 4 nights is the better choice
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 03:35 PM
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Well...all of this great information about Moab is going to have to wait to be used on another trip. We have decided to spend time in New Mexico instead of Utah. It was a tough decision. Thanks for all the ideas.
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 04:19 PM
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New Mexico? How did that come into the picture? Lots of neat stuff there too, but a completely different place.
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Old Oct 24th, 2014, 04:48 PM
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I really wanted to visit Santa Fe. We are still visiting Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon (both the North and South Rim), arriving and departing from Vegas.
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Old Oct 25th, 2014, 09:50 AM
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wekewoody, we tried to stay at The View but it was full. If you can it is in the middle of everything and every thing else is pretty far away. http://monumentvalleyview.com/
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