Southeastern Utah on 5-1/2 days - anyone with great itinerary?
May 11th, 2009 | 01:15 PM
#1
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Joined: May 2009
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Southeastern Utah on 5-1/2 days - anyone with great itinerary?
Traveling to Utah (Moab) from the East Coast in September and would like to know if anyone has a great itinerary I could use to get the most out of 5-1/2 days. I am always grateful for Fodor's suggestions, but would like to hear from others -- my husband and I traveled from Phoenix all the way up to Zion/Bryce last year and we are in love with Utah (I have an excellent itinerary I am happy to share with anyone who would like it)! So please lend me any knowledge you might have in the way of scenic drives, great hikes and places to stay -- we do not care for hotels/motels -- prefer more the inn-type, more unique types of lodging. Also, best place to fly into from Norfolk, Virginia. Thanks for your help!
May 11th, 2009 | 01:57 PM
#2
Joined: Dec 2008
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For flights, the closest is Grand Junction,CO if you don't want a long drive and somewhere I heard it can be no more costly than other options. We have travelled to Moab from Denver and from Las Vegas, with some stops going and coming. There are lots of threads here with information on places to stay and things to do. Great hiking opportunities in both Arches and Canyonlands. Check out www.nps.gov and click on Utah.
May 11th, 2009 | 07:27 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,189
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I agree that Grand Junction is the closest but Salt Lake City might be cheaper. If you do Salt Lake City then Capitol Reef wouldn't be so far out of the way if you decide to spend some time there.
Moab, UT...one of my favorite subjects.
Arches...the scenic drive and stopping at all the turnouts. My suggestion for Park Avenue is not to do it from the Park Avenue turn out. Stop there to get the view then drive to Court House Towers and hike UP the canyon and then on the way back you get to go down hill. Landscape Arch is a must and if you don't mind doing 5 miles round trip then go all the way to Dark Angel. Delicate Arch is my favorite and time it to get there before sunset to get the best lighting for pictures of the arch.
Canyonlands, Island in the sky district. You can rent 4x4 Jeeps in Moab that can go off road. I'd suggest renting one and doing the Potash Road (Hwy 279) past the paved part. Watch for petroglyphs along the paved section. On the dirt section you are treated to some great canyon views. Watch for turn outs that go near the edge of the canyon. This is where the filmed the ending to the movie Themla and Lousie. Once you reach the Shafer Trail take a short detour to the left to go to Musselman Arch, then double back to climb up the Shafer trail into Canyonlands. Once in Canyonlands do the short Mesa Arch trail. You see this view with Washer Woman in the background in many pictures. You have to go to Green River Overlook. This view is one of the best! I prefer the Grand View section to the Upheaval Dome area. The Grandview hike is about 2 miles and I like the views you see from the hike. You might have to make a second trip out to Canyonlands do do all the different hikes, but if you are in your 4x4, make sure you come back on Long Canyon. This is a great 4x4 drive back to the paved section of the Potash Road.
Dead Horse Point is ok in my book, but if you are going to make a second day out to Canyonlands, then I'd stop.
One hike not in either of the parks is Corona Arcjh Hike. It's out on the paved section of the Potash Road. This is SOME hike and don't do it if you are afraid of heights! You have to almost be a mountain goat to make your way around some of the sandstone cliffs, but it's a realy great hike with great views of several arches. http://www.utahredrocks.com/hike_corona.htm
Hwy 128 eash out of Moab goes along the Colorado River to the old Dewey Bridge is a great scenic drive. You follow the Colorado River and will see Fisher Towers.
Even if you don't do the 4 x 4 drive or the Corona Arch hike, make sure you drive out the paved section of the Potash Road. It follows the Colorado River going west.
Another road you might consider taking is the Kane Creek Road which is on the south side of the Colorado River across from the Potash Road. You can find many petroglphs along this side of the road. If you still have the 4x4 vehicle you can go past on the dirt section and see even more.
If you have enought time you might want to make a day trip down to the Needles District of Canyonlands. The drive in on Hwy 211 is very scenic. Make sure you stop at Newspaper Rock State Park. Pothole Trail was a nice hike. We haven't done that much hiking in this area.
Utahtea
Moab, UT...one of my favorite subjects.
Arches...the scenic drive and stopping at all the turnouts. My suggestion for Park Avenue is not to do it from the Park Avenue turn out. Stop there to get the view then drive to Court House Towers and hike UP the canyon and then on the way back you get to go down hill. Landscape Arch is a must and if you don't mind doing 5 miles round trip then go all the way to Dark Angel. Delicate Arch is my favorite and time it to get there before sunset to get the best lighting for pictures of the arch.
Canyonlands, Island in the sky district. You can rent 4x4 Jeeps in Moab that can go off road. I'd suggest renting one and doing the Potash Road (Hwy 279) past the paved part. Watch for petroglyphs along the paved section. On the dirt section you are treated to some great canyon views. Watch for turn outs that go near the edge of the canyon. This is where the filmed the ending to the movie Themla and Lousie. Once you reach the Shafer Trail take a short detour to the left to go to Musselman Arch, then double back to climb up the Shafer trail into Canyonlands. Once in Canyonlands do the short Mesa Arch trail. You see this view with Washer Woman in the background in many pictures. You have to go to Green River Overlook. This view is one of the best! I prefer the Grand View section to the Upheaval Dome area. The Grandview hike is about 2 miles and I like the views you see from the hike. You might have to make a second trip out to Canyonlands do do all the different hikes, but if you are in your 4x4, make sure you come back on Long Canyon. This is a great 4x4 drive back to the paved section of the Potash Road.
Dead Horse Point is ok in my book, but if you are going to make a second day out to Canyonlands, then I'd stop.
One hike not in either of the parks is Corona Arcjh Hike. It's out on the paved section of the Potash Road. This is SOME hike and don't do it if you are afraid of heights! You have to almost be a mountain goat to make your way around some of the sandstone cliffs, but it's a realy great hike with great views of several arches. http://www.utahredrocks.com/hike_corona.htm
Hwy 128 eash out of Moab goes along the Colorado River to the old Dewey Bridge is a great scenic drive. You follow the Colorado River and will see Fisher Towers.
Even if you don't do the 4 x 4 drive or the Corona Arch hike, make sure you drive out the paved section of the Potash Road. It follows the Colorado River going west.
Another road you might consider taking is the Kane Creek Road which is on the south side of the Colorado River across from the Potash Road. You can find many petroglphs along this side of the road. If you still have the 4x4 vehicle you can go past on the dirt section and see even more.
If you have enought time you might want to make a day trip down to the Needles District of Canyonlands. The drive in on Hwy 211 is very scenic. Make sure you stop at Newspaper Rock State Park. Pothole Trail was a nice hike. We haven't done that much hiking in this area.
Utahtea
May 12th, 2009 | 02:37 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,204
Likes: 8
Utahtea mentioned Corona Arch. I was in Moab last May and that hike was my only defeat.
I didn't have an issue with climbing up holding onto chains. I was ok when I saw the ladder. However, what did me in was the side slope just before the ladder. I just didn't like the idea of rolling sideways down the rock and over the cliff. There were just too many other things to see on the rest of the trip.
I guess it's just too long a drive (maybe if you're starting from Salt Lake City) to fit in Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Also mentioned is Mesa Arch in Canyonlands. While it's far from the most spectacular of arches, I believe it's the only one you actually approach at the top rather than looking up to an arch. Very neat visual.
In Moab I stayed at BW Canyonlands. It's been recently renovated and I would definitely stay there again.
Also mentioned was Fisher Towers. We hike there and were directly below some climbers who were at the top of the Corkscrew over 900 feet up. They called down their email address for me to send them photos I took.
I didn't have an issue with climbing up holding onto chains. I was ok when I saw the ladder. However, what did me in was the side slope just before the ladder. I just didn't like the idea of rolling sideways down the rock and over the cliff. There were just too many other things to see on the rest of the trip.
I guess it's just too long a drive (maybe if you're starting from Salt Lake City) to fit in Lower Calf Creek Falls.
Also mentioned is Mesa Arch in Canyonlands. While it's far from the most spectacular of arches, I believe it's the only one you actually approach at the top rather than looking up to an arch. Very neat visual.
In Moab I stayed at BW Canyonlands. It's been recently renovated and I would definitely stay there again.
Also mentioned was Fisher Towers. We hike there and were directly below some climbers who were at the top of the Corkscrew over 900 feet up. They called down their email address for me to send them photos I took.
May 14th, 2009 | 01:47 PM
#7
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,597
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I liked staying at the Red Cliffs lodge, a bit outside of Moab but a beautiful setting and I thought the food was very good in the restaurant. It's on the way to Fisher Towers (spectacular at sunset).
Arches has some great hikes, I spent 4 nights there and didn't run out of anything. I also recommend getting the Moab rock art brochure and taking some of the local drives, very scenic (Kane Creek is one of the routes).
I drove in from the north via Torrey and Capitol Arch (which I liked, some nice hikes there also) and left via Blanding and Hovenweep (not croweded and scenic hike around the ruins). There are some other more remote ruins in that area also. I went in October and the weather was good, although some days were too windy.
Don't know if the trip report will help much but here it is
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm
Arches has some great hikes, I spent 4 nights there and didn't run out of anything. I also recommend getting the Moab rock art brochure and taking some of the local drives, very scenic (Kane Creek is one of the routes).
I drove in from the north via Torrey and Capitol Arch (which I liked, some nice hikes there also) and left via Blanding and Hovenweep (not croweded and scenic hike around the ruins). There are some other more remote ruins in that area also. I went in October and the weather was good, although some days were too windy.
Don't know if the trip report will help much but here it is
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm
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May 14th, 2009 | 02:42 PM
#8
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
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We stayed at Cali Cochita Inn, a wonderful B&B. Here is a trip report I did on our long weekend in Moab.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ong-report.cfm
Deb
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ong-report.cfm
Deb
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