A week in Moab!

I've been in Moab for a week now.... and I'm not sure if I'll be able to leave. Had a friend come and visit for a few days and then I got sick, so I haven't been able to do the longer Canyonlands hikes that I wanted to.... but I guess that just means that I'll have to come back here! And the mountain biking is out of this world.

Some pics from Arches


double O arch


delicate arch, the one on every utah postcard


cool view from the top of a large rock


cool colors


this isn't in the national parks, just a cool little hike outside Moab. little water runoff

and now Canyonlands!!


they call it Utah's grand canyon


sunrise at Mesa Arch


classic Utah


here we see the crowd gathered under the arch




enjoying the view at Murphy Point (super bummed about not going down into the canyons, but those are all 8-10 mile hikes with brutal elevation gains, which I just can't do while I'm sick)

Dixie National Forest / Bryce Canyon / Capitol Reef

In between Zion and Bryce I escaped the crowds for a couple of days in the quiet and peaceful Dixie National Forest, which is a hidden gem. Full of lakes and bike trails.






also in the forest is Cedar Breaks National Monument which is pretty cool




Now on to Bryce! A magical hoodoo wonderland.














you can see the Fairyland Loop trail snaking down into the canyon. great 8 mile hike.

Stayed a night at Capitol Reef National Park. Super cool! Did a couple little canyon hikes and some biking. Wild rock formations...what's new













I'm now in Moab and will stay here for at least a few days... Lots to explore with Arches on one side and Canyonlands on the other! I've set up camp right on the Colorado River.

Zion

Zion looks like another planet... besides the massive hoards of people, it was amazing. Stayed in or near for 3 nights and packed in as many hikes as I could.




Welcome to Mars?






"where am i"


Zion showing off its lovely fall colors


The ledge on the left is part of the Hidden Canyon trail... don't slip now


At least there's sometimes a chain to hold on to


Into Hidden Canyon- "scrambling required"




"look what i found"




lower part of Hidden Canyon trail


wild mineral patterns above upper Emerald Pool


morning light at the start of the hike to Angel's Landing


classic Zion pic - view from Angel's Landing (not to brag but the trail map said the hike would take 4-6 hours and I did it in 2...including dawdling around at the top for a bit and having to fight off the crowds) ((however my legs were very sore the next day))


lower part of the trail snaking up into the cliffs


same view in the late morning light


"whoa this is a short walk from my campsite?! cool!!" the Virgin River

Marble Canyon / Vermilion Cliffs, AZ

These are my pics from Marble Canyon AZ where I explored and stayed for a night. I hiked up into a canyon which went into the Vermilion Cliffs, which I've been wanting to see. The hike was so cool - unfortunately I grew nervous of flash floods when the clouds started to get ominous/dark over the canyon, so I turned back a little early. Still, it was incredible. There wasn't really a "path," it was more just making your way up the canyon and figuring out the best routes around/over/through massive boulders.





Some desert puddles created cool reflections


Rock layering was insaaane


Looking up at the end of the lower canyon




Swiss cheese rock


Photo doesn't even show the bright blues and purples


I like rocks








This was literally across the road from my campsite... That's the Colorado River