Finally Made It to Utah!

Utah has been on my list for YEARS! I had read all about the state and all the National Parks and was ready to hit the ground running. I remember crossing into Utah thinking, okay I’m really doing this. I’m in the van and in Utah. I have made it.

I had about a month to spend in Utah and could already tell it wasn’t going to be enough crossing into the state. Utah is wild and each corner of it is a little bit different. First stop was Moab. Now if you are like me, you have seen hundreds of pictures of the red clay and desert in Moab but what I hadn’t been prepared for was the mountains! To the east of Moab are the La Sal Mountains that tower over the town. In April, there was still snow at the top of the range and it was truly baffling to me. I imagined that it was all just desert which is not true at all. Moab is also a paradise for people with ATVs, side by sides, and mountain bikes. I had no idea.

I spent the first week exploring Arches National Park. The park had enacted a reservation system that started in April so I was lucky enough to grab one of the passes that the park released the night before.

Tips: Go early. See the sunrise at Turret Arch then hop over to Double Arch to see a truly incredible formation. Hike Delicate Arch - there will be a LOT of people and this trail is fully exposed so bring plenty of water and take your time. There is a beautiful bowl near the top to take a break and eat lunch or a snack. Then if you feel up for it, add on Double O Arch on the north side of the park. This trail is a bit longer than the others and requires a bit of trail finding and a stretch that is a bit scary if you are scared of heights! But you will not have the crowds of the more popular trails in the park and will get to enjoy some really great views of Double O. Download trail maps ahead of time because there is no service in much of the park. Always bring more water and snacks than you need in case you get lost!