Making Memories
My dad has been in town for over a week now and we had already made so many memories together. He had the “Huster Tour” of Salt Lake City, got a taste for local life by hiking, jeeping and visiting some of our favorite parks and now it was time for some adventure with a weekend in Moab!
If you missed the previous posts from my dad’s trip, click on the links below.
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Weekend in Moab
Once again we had a visitor who had heard us talk so much about Moab that he wanted to see it for himself! Keith and I absolutely love Moab and enjoy taking our visitors for a weekend away to this adventurous town. We were planning to do some of the usual highlights; Arches, Canyonlands, Sand Flats Recreation Area, and so much more.
Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands
Dead Horse Point State Park is located right before you enter Canyonlands National Park so it’s a no brainer to hit these two at the same time. The vast open space and contrast between the red/orange rock with the bright blue sky is sure to impress. You gain some perspective for how small we really are in this great big world when you visit this location. It’s hard to imagine that for as far as the eye can see there are just layers upon layers of rock, sand and dirt.
Dead Horse State Park
What a view!
Colorado River
Visitor Center at Dead Horse
Canyonlands is massive!
You can gain some perspective here!
Arches and Sand Flats Recreation Area
This is another great combo that you can hit in a busy day. We like to arrive to Arches National Park early in the day and get started with the viewpoints first. We feel like the key is to keep ahead of the crowds so that parking and viewpoints are more accessible. This trip was in September so we knew the crowds wouldn’t be too bad, but it’s always more enjoyable if you find yourself alone (or close to it) at a site.
For us, a trip to Moab is not complete unless you visit the Sand Flats Recreation Area. We have done the sunset tour with Moab Tour Company several times now and each time it’s amazing! The tour guides are each unique and even though it’s a very similar tour each time, you do get a variety of differences. Those differences (and the people we are with) make each tour unique and very special!
Arches National Park
Balanced Rock
picnic area
visitor center at Arches
Sand Flats Recreation Area
Abyss Canyon behind us
slickrock park in Moab
these trick shots are so much fun!
adventuring in Moab!
Sunset Tour with Moab Tour Company
The guides are always so amazing!!
La Sal Mountain Loop Drive
Keith and I had done this drive once before when Yi was in town and I knew that my dad would love the scenery along this drive. While driving the La Sal Mountain Loop, you get yet another perspective of the area that is quite different than the others. I knew my dad would especially enjoy the evergreen trees and the look into Castle Valley. Driving along the Colorado River is always spectacular and impressive.
La Sal Mountain Loop Drive
Looking into Castle Valley
just a snake on the road!
gorgeous drive
More from Moab
Hole N’ The Rock
Look closely to see what the jeep is made from
“alotofbull”
the details!
Hole N’ The Rock – roadside attraction near Moab, UT
nicely displayed
dinosaur track site along the La Sal Loop
good informational signage
hard to see in the pictures, but easy to find when you are there
dinosaur tracks can be found in several locations around Moab
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Unfortunately, this would be wrapping up my dad’s trip to Utah. We drove back to Pleasant Grove that evening and he flew out of Salt Lake City the next morning.
Although we were super sad that he was leaving, we are so grateful that he was able to make this trip and spend so much time with us. Once again, we know it isn’t easy for our loved ones to drop everything they have going on in their own lives to make the long trip to Utah. We appreciate my dad’s time and everyone who helped make this trip possible for him!