Martian Matter

Sandstone Slide- Hiking  outside Landscape Arch (Picture credit goes to Pete for this entire post)

After spending time earlier this year enamored by South East Asia I returned home with some ambitious plans in mind. I’m not the type of person to sit around too frequently, so when the idea to head west was tossed around I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Friends of mine, equally as tenacious to visit Americas finest suggested we head to Moab, UT. The rest was history.

I had been to Moab only once before, back in 2021 when Covid-19 was still a major question mark. I visited Utah with a purpose to explore Arches National Park along with Canyonlands. Three years later i embark on a similar expedition with a revamped crew to join. Those joining this expedition included Myself and Pete (My roommate, the one who ends up on all the adventures. You guys picking up any trends here)? It also featured three of my best friends in Denver, Jared, Annie, and Kayla. These three were some of my very first friends starting as coworkers in Centennial Colorado and we have shared in a handful of blockbuster moments. I can confidently say i’ll have them by my side for life, which isn’t something you come by often. Anyways, the five of us left Colorado on a Friday afternoon working our way west roughly six hours to Moab, UT.

The Town of Moab & Getting There

How do I get There?

For those who don’t know Moab, is a town located on the eastern side of Utah roughly 40 minutes south of I-70. From downtown Denver a drive to Moab should take you roughly 6 hours but that number can vary depending on your captain of choice. I’d say it’s imperative you chose wisely what time of year you’d like to visit as well. My first visit to Moab was in January which scared off the majority of the tourists. However, this second go we traveled late April in the spring and encountered some really nice weather, none of which was overbearing. I haven’t been during the summer months but keep in mind this area is desert bringing unrelenting heat.

The town of Moab is quaint, and a bit quirky to say the least. Everywhere you look you’re engulfed by massive rock formations and some reference to aliens. If you’re traveling from the east I also highly recommend you visit Papa Joes Gas and Go. I’ve seen go by many names but the station sits at the fork of I-70 and 191 South. This pit stop has every child’s wildest dreams when it comes to their candy selection/ beef jerky. Throughout the town of Moab you’ll find souvenir shops, campsites, local dive bars (Woody’s), breweries, and a handful of great restaurants. For our weekend expedition we chose to find a campsite on the outskirts of town and it proved to be perfect for our needs (Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown). The campsite itself was simplistic and central to everything we had planned.

Space Cadets - Dead Horse Point for sunset (Jared and Annie) 

Adventuring:

What Should I do While Visiting?

Park Pass: $80 annual

I’d recommend you factor in at the minimum one full day to explore Arches National Park which is located on the outskirts of town. Arches is known for it’s otherworldly rock formations and home to over 2000 sandstone arches. It really follows the theme of an alien inhabitance, or what I’d picture one looking like. The park itself hosts hoodoos, red spires, arches of course, and expansive plains. Some of the most notable features in the park include Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch. All of which scatters across the 76,000 acres that make up this beautiful park.

Top Hikes?

I’d highly suggest you and your accomplices plan for a sunrise hike to Delicate Arch (This is the one you see on all the Utah license plates). Otherwise, you’ll face the masses of people swarming like zombies to get their picture in front of the iconic rock formation. We arrived prior to sunrise which I’d recommend. This not only sets you up for a killer shot, but helps you avoid the chaos that ensues soon after. If you’re not a morning person not to worry this hike suits all, and is a perfect way to conclude your day as the hike is doable for all skill types with a length of 3.2 miles, and 629 feet of elevation . All trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/delicate-arch-trail .

I’d also recommend Devil’s Garden Loop for those wanting to explore off the beaten path a bit. This section of the park includes Landscape Arch, Black Arch, and many more with freedom to roam as you wish, so take advantage and wander a little. For those who aren’t as hike oriented the park does have sections that you can drive by and still bask in its glory. For shorter and easier hikes, the windows section offers leisurely strolls while in converse the fiery furnace section is noted as a more challenging labyrinth requiring a permit in advance.

Whats the Best Time of Year to Visit?

I’d highly recommend you visiting on the edges of summer to avoid feeling like you’re in an easybake oven. For us, we ventured in April which honestly was perfect conditions where daytime temps ranged between 60-80 degrees F. Summer temps often exceed 100 degrees (30 C), while winter days can drop significantly averaging between 0-20 degrees F. The best times to enjoy Arches would surely be between March - May, or September - November. Traveling through the offseason also gives you a better chance to avoid the larger crowds, and escape the congestion on trails. If you’re someone who isn’t deterred from snow then I’d suggest the possibility of venturing during winter months. The red sandstone clashing against the white wonder- wall of snow sets you up for an exceptional backdrop.

Upon the Perch - Early morning at Delicate Arch

What’s Around Arches?
Visiting this National Park will have you busy, but in reality it can be explored in a day or two. However, that doesn’t take away from what the park, and it’s surrounding features have to offer. The town of Moab sits at the edge of the park and truly has a vibe like no other. The towns character is unmatched; I’d say steam punk meets alien resident infused with a splash of mad max. As mentioned earlier the town has your typical stores/ restaurants but is more widely known as an adventure enthusiast hub. It offers Mountain Biking (Rentals in town), Jeep Tours, Rock Climbing/ Canyoneering, Skydiving, White-Water rafting, Base Jumping, and much more.

Those seeking adventure: https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/

Outside of Moab there’s still plenty to explore. I would highly recommend spending an evening out at Dead Horse Point; from town this may take about 45 minutes. The park does require a pass, but well worth it. The five of us took advantage of the viewpoint by sharing in takeout pizza from Moab Canyon Pizza taking in the many miles of outstretched craters. This may truly be my favorite sunset spot i’ve ever been to. Driving to Canyonlands National Park from Moab is reasonable in under 45 minutes considering Dead Horse is a peninsula above the outskirts. There are multiple parts to Canyonlands which I won’t be covering in this post. But my overarching point is that this park is much more expansive and could require extended time to see in total (food for thought if you’ve got extra time).

Pizza: https://www.canyonpizzaco.com/moab

The last thing I’d detail here, and possibly the most important. Bring your A team (This should be a given). Bring some incredible people along for the ride/ adventure and it will surely make this trip that much more memorable. The group I traveled here with was and always will be exceptional, and I hope I get privilege to do another trip with them in the future.

The Gang - Delicate Arch (Pete, Hunter, Kayla, Annie, Jared)

Cheers,

- Hunter