Just over a month before I leave on my trip to Moab (Arches, Canyonlands), then Capitol Reef and probably a quick stop in Bryce Canyon on the way back to SLC.

I was in Bryce last year but a friend from Toronto is joining me and he hasn't seen it. So if there's time on the last day (driving scenic route from Boulder and hiking Willis Creek slot canyon first) we'll spend a few hours seeing a couple of observation points and hike down Navajo Loop and up Queen's Garden. I haven't been there since Wall Street reopened.

We'll be in Moab for 4 days. We arrive late in the afterrnon (driving from SLC) on day 0. If we arrive on time (Ha!!!) we should get to Arches in time for either a Delicate Arch hike (earlier) or Wall Street (later).

We leave for Torrey late in the afternoon of day 4. We'll spend a day in/around Capitol Reef and then a day near Boulder.

I'm trying to prioritize and everytime I order things, Canyonlands keeps falling to the bottom. Mesa Arch looks great but I want to restrict the visit to Dead Horse Point and Island in the Sky. I don't really want to drive to Needles.

The original focus of the trip was to be Arches. It still is.

I want to spend time at Delicate Arch (at least once), Fiery Furnace, Park avenue, Windows section and an abreviated Devil's Garden (Not the hard stuff there).

Outside of Arches I'm interested in Dead Horse Point, Corona Arch (Potash Road), half day of rafting (AM only) and #128 (Fisher Towers).

I almost always manage to get everything done on my list and am pretty much non-stop all day.

Do others have the same opinion of Canyonlands?

Hi Myer,

I think a person's opinion of Canyonlands depends on how much time they have and what they want to do there.

Most visitors come and have a short time to spend, do the scenic viewpoints and a couple short hikes. Kind of like visiting Rome on a tour for only 2 days. Nothing wrong with it, for many people that's enough and they've done what they came to do in the time available.

THEN, you have the people who are hard core outdoor enthusiasts. They spend 4 - 7 days mountain biking the White Rim Road, or do a major raft expedition on the river on their own (and have the experience to do so), or they backpack into Chesler Park (Needles) carrying their own water.

Everyone can enjoy the Natl Parks on their own level. I do think people who get to spend more time and have the ability/desire to do more adventurous things like canyoneering, etc. enjoy the Natl parks much more, especially a huge and varied park like Canyonlands. It takes some real time and effort to explore since most of it is very, very remote.

Arches has much to see not easily visible from the car, but you can see lots of the main sights just a few steps from the parking lot. I think it has a lot to do with when the area is designated a park.

Arches has been a park for a long time and the park service used to do things very differently back then. Remember that they actually used to feed human garbage to the bears in Yellowstone!

Canyonlands and Capitol Reef, most recently Escalante Grand Staircase are more recent parks. Not as much pavement to be found there. Preserving the wilderness is more important. You have to hunt out the sights. Not very much is accessible by car.

Just my thoughts, end of lecture!

Mesa Arch and Dead Horse Point are two of my favorite places in Canyonlands. Both are worth the easy access. Enjoy!

I'm heading down to Capitol Reef next week for a few days. Can't wait to do a couple of new hikes. I'll report back....

Dayle,

As usual, thanks for your insight into Canyonlands. My impression is that I'll enjoy the day in Capitol Reef with Grand Wash, Hickman Bridge and Chimney Rock on my list.

If time permits, I'd like to drive partway down Rt12 (late afternoon sun from the west) even though we'll be driving that the next morning toward Boulder, before returning to Capitol Reef for a view from Panorama Point or Sunset point as the sun goes down.

I think a relatively brief morning visit to Canyonlands and some time at Dead Horse Point and then move on to something else by mid-afternoon may be more in line with my interests.

Thanks again.

My daughter and I did Arches last year on Memorial Day Weekend. We didn't find it all that crowded. Don't let Devils Garden scare you, it isn't really that bad. You do cross a couple of fins, but they are really wide. It is possible to fall from one, but you would have to be almost trying to fall. The hike to Landscape is easy and on a path. The rest of the hike on to Dark Angel is filled with a lot of arches and cool things to see. From Dark Angel, the last half of the trip is boring and walking in a lot of sand. You could go as far as you want to and turn around if anything looks to rough to go across. If you make it all the way to Dark Angel, turn around and go back, it is shorter and easier than hiking in sand, rather than doing the loop. Just my opinion. You will have this trail pretty much to yourself. I think we saw less than 10 people the entire time. A deer jumped out in front of us and scared us not to far from Landscape.

I think I mentioned canyoneering to you before, and I think it is probably a little much for you. However, the same company I used for canyoneering does guided hikes in the fiery furnace. That way you wouldn't have to worry about securing a spot. You could get lucky and get one of the spots (i think they allow 80 per day or something). Get there first thing in the morn and you probably won't have a problem getting to go. They make you watch a 30 minute film. Do be aware, that it is very very easy to get lost in Fiery Furnace.

We did go to Deadhorse Point. We didn't really do anything there, but it is very pretty. I have a picute of us from there for my desktop on my computer.

We did a flyover in a small plane of canyonlands, that wasn't too terribly expensive. We saw a lot in an hour. Many arches, choclate drops, etc.

The one thing that I am upset about missing was Mesa Arch. I think it would be great at Sunrise. We did Delicate Arch at Sunset, but I wonder if wouldn't have been better at sunrise, and less people there. Delicate Arch in the evening was the only place where there was a crowd. It is somewhat of a tough hike up, but worth it. Coming down is a breeze. Carry a flashlight if going in the evening.

We also rafted the Grand Canyon last summer. Both were great. My 13 year old daughter would tell you she enjoyed Arches over the rafting. You'll have a great time. I may have mentioned some of this to you earlier, and I am sure you have read plenty about it, but just wanted to throw my two cents worth in again.

I would like to take my wife, sometime there and maybe do a day or two on the Cateract rafting, as well.

Myer,
You have some great activities planned. Sounds like a wonderful trip.

The hike into Mesa Arch is only 1/4 mile or so - it take just a mere 5-10 minutes and it is a stunning view. Really worth your time since you enjoy photography so much. Early am is best for photos. The trail along the rim in Islands area of Canyonlands is also an easy but rewarding one. We also hiked to some really interesting ruins (granaries) near Aztec Butte.

There are much better hikes in Capitol Reef than Grand Wash. Highly recommend Cohab Canyon hike instead. Park Ranger Cyndi suggested it to us on our trip to Cap Reef this past fall. We only made it part way in due to storms but the trail was so scenic. Worth a few hours. Cohab Canyon trail starts right across the road from Hickman Bridge. I think you'd enjoy Cohab a lot more than Grand Wash. Besides, the GW trail might not be do-able in May if it's wet. Well, just a suggestion. Are you staying at Austin's? How about Boulder Mtn Lodge?

Sharondi,

Thanks. I never thought of Cohab Trail. I'll look into it and try to find some photos.

We're staying at the Best Western Canyonlands in Moab for 4 nights, BW Capitol Reef in Torrey for 2 and then 1 night at Boulder Mountain Lodge in Boulder before returning to SLC.

I expect we'll have about 3 hours on the last morning to see some SLC sights before going to the airport for the return flights. With that in mind I booked a hotel downtown since it's only a few minutes to the airport.

Sounds like a wonderful trip.

I suggest NOT driving down HWY 12 partway toward Boulder in the evening. After leaving Torrey, HWY 12 goes up and over the east facing side of Boulder Mountain so you'll be in shade. You won't see sunset from there and the best scenery is south of Boulder IMO.

Instead I'd suggest an evening drive down the scenic drive in Capitol Reef at dusk. The road is on the west side of the cliffs and the late sun will be lighting them up for you.

peter,

Actually, I think I wrote that I'd like to drive partway down #12 between Torrey & Boulder late afternoon (somewhere between 4 & 6PM with the sun more to the west). Not in the evening around sunset.

I think we'll be back in Capitol Reef for sunset. Panorama Pt and/or Sunset Pt.

Thanks. Still something to keep in mind.

We'll be going down #12 the next morning but the sun will be facing us in the east and we'll want to get to Lower Calf Creek Falls.

If you are going to make the drive to Dead Horse Point, then make time for Mesa Arch and Green River Overlook! WHAT A VIEW! And if time allows Grand View Point.

My favorite hike is Grand Wash. I didn't think much of Cohab Canyon the first time I did it, but enjoyed it a little more the second time. Grand Wash is a lot easier hike..if that makes any difference.

Sounds like you have a lot of great things planned!

utahtea

Thanks all.

I feel a bit better about spending time in Canyonlands.

I knew some of the sights were there but I was just wondering if the drive is worth it. Looks like close to an hour each way.

Dead Horse Point, Mesa Arch, Grand View & Green River Overlook appear to have made the cut.

For Caiptol Reef, I think I may leave the plans as is.

I called the Park for some advice and they said Hickman Bridge is in the same area and somewhat similar as Cohab Canyon and that Chimney Rock, Hickman Bridge and Grand Wash was a good and varied combination.

While I'm training for the trip as I did last year, I'm a year older and don't want too many strenuous hikes in one day.

Has anybody gone to Willis Creek just south of Cannonville? Looks like a very nice slot canyon from the photos I've seen.