For the second half of our trip, Norah got to stay another week at Grandma and Grandpa Camp in Nebraska and I met up with friends for outdoor adventure in Moab, UT. We rented a townhome just south of Moab and spent the week exploring the national parks, braving a canyoneering trip, and enjoying the sun and company. For me it was my third time in Moab and I loved it just as much as my friends experiencing it for the first time. It was a fantastic week!

This was our final itinerary:

Friday: arrive Denver, overnight Aloft Hotel
Saturday: drive to Moab, including scenic highway 128, grocery shopping and getting settled in
Sunday: Dead Horse State Park and Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park including Mesa Arch, Grand View Point Trail, Aztec Butte, and False Kiva
Monday: Arches National Park including a Devil’s Garden hike to Double O Arch and a hike to Delicate Arch for sunset
Tuesday: Ephedra’s Grotto Half Day Canyoneering trip with Moab Cliffs and Canyons; an afternoon of rock climbing with the same company for several friends and a walk through Park Avenue in Arches for the rest of us
Wednesday: Sunrise at the Windows in Arches, Corona Arch Hike, and a return to Arches for sunset at Balanced Rock
Thursday: breather day - leisurely breakfast, checking out Main Street, relaxing and dinner
Friday: Chesler Park-Joint Trail hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands
Saturday: return to Denver
Sunday: fly home :(

Other: Favorites included the Blu Pig and Miguel’s Baja Grill for dinner; Wake and Bake for breakfast, and Eddie McStiff’s and the Moab Brewery for drinks/gelato.

Useful books and maps:

Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks by Bill Schneider
Photographing the Southwest Volume 1 by Laurent Martres
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Arches National Park Map
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Canyonlands National Park Map (includes all three districts)