The one and only Delicate Arch. Good enough to make into the family Christmas card this year.
There’s something I never really realized about Thanksgiving until this year: it’s a four day weekend.
Now, before you judge that comment as being on the same level of stupidity as anti-vaxxers, shutting down the national forest for the sake of keeping skiers off of Loveland Pass, getting arrested at a Costco for not wearing a mask, or any other related absurdities of 2020, allow me to explain.
Under normal circumstances, Thanksgiving consists of a bit of a ‘wasted’ weekend. As in, you never get to use the full four days. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching football and dual family feasts as much as the next guy, but a few days of the weekend are always reserved for this stuff. Plans are just sorta made for you rather than revolving around what you’d actually like to do.
Not only that, but Thanksgiving also falls in that weird time of year where there’s not a ton to do on the outdoors front. The hiking is uninteresting, the skiing sucks, and the featured football game is some sh*t hole NFC East Divisional matchup. Not a great combo.
But in this unprecedented year (sorry), the family gathering part wasn’t happening for us. So, about a week before Thanksgiving we realized that we had the whole four day weekend to do whatever we wanted.
“Want to go to Moab?” I asked Katie.
Given the VRBO credit we had from cancelled plans earlier in the year, plus the prospect of the desert in general, it was an easy “yes” from her. We had both been to Moab a number of times before, but never with the boys and never family-styled.
And so, after an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs where we had the unenviable task of telling a 4 1/2 year-old he couldn’t swim at the hotel pool because there were 45+ overweight humans jammed into a large conference-sized room all without masks on during a pandemic, we rolled into Arches N.P. the day after Thanksgiving, eager to make the most of our four days.
Arches National Park
It might be gaper-central in Utah, but Odie and I still had to take the mandatory pic. I’m more than pleased with the result.
What can you say about Arches? Aside from all of the obvious amazing things to see and do, we found it to be an absolute paradise for two young boys. The prospect of getting to climb on an endless supply of rocks more than made up for missing the hotel pool.
We arrived early in the morning and spent a full day on mini-hikes to all the popular spots, with a few hidden gems thrown in there as well.
Gotta avoid the crowds and start early, so stop #1 was up to Delicate Arch.
Wally walked at least half the way up to the top. The red rocks of the desert are good for just about everyone, including toddlers with awesome ‘grip shoes’.
And of course, getting tired is what dads are for.
“Cheese!”
Pro Tip: For those traveling with children, the absolute BEST spot in Arches in Sand Dune Arch. This quarter mile trek from the parking lot has it all: a sandy bottom, easy hiking, rocks to climb on all around, slot canyon-esque features, and a super cool arch. This was the sneaky surprise of day #1, without question.
Sand Dune Arch.
Evidence of said sand.
Wrapping up the first day at Turret Arch.
Parenting success.
Grandstaff Canyon Trail Run
One of the things I was most excited for on the trip was to get a good trail run in. As much of a mecca as Moab is for biking, it’s quickly becoming somewhat the same for trail runners. I had a good tip from a buddy about Grandstaff Canyon, so that felt like the perfect place to get a few miles in on the morning of our second day. It wasn’t until I got to the TH that I realized I’d be going up to Morning Glory Arch as well. Perfect.
The trail up to Morning Glory Arch weaves through the stunning Grandstaff Canyon. Soaring red walls rise above the sandy creek bottom on the decent, gentle trail. Water crossings can be an issue here, but for our time of year, it was all negligible.
Hard to put into words just how stunning this canyon is. I won’t even try. (click to enlarge)
Reaching Morning Glory Arch. As always, the benefit of getting up early was I had the whole thing to enjoy to myself.
Morning glory indeed.
I made it up and back to the arch with no issues; just a whole lot of fun. I can’t even imagine how amazing it would be to spend an extended period of time here to run all the trails. But to end this particular morning, I had to make my way back into town (Katie had dropped me off in the morning at the TH). The bike path along the River Road leading into Moab was yet another all-timer.
Looking over the Colorado River a mile out from town.
Dead Horse Point State Park & Canyonlands National Park
With the long run in the bag, we spent the next few days in Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands.
Dead Horse was the real surprise winner of the trip. 5+ miles of trail 3,000 feet above the Colorado River with an endless supply of boulders and rocks to explore was more than enough to capture the imagination of two young boys for many, many hours worth of climbing around.
Dead Horse was basically a prolonged series of vistas and terrain just like this. This slightly less popular attraction in the area was worth every penny in our opinion. Just keep those kiddos close.
Like that.
Looking down to the Colorado River and the White Rim trail far, far below. (Click to enlarge)
The final stop on our itinerary was Canyonlands. Katie has fond memories here from past backpacking trips, but the short day adventures which we did were just as good. We hit a lot of lookouts and quick hikes, with our favorites being Mesa Arch and Whale Rock.
A top moment of the trip for us was the half mile hike up Whale Rock. The gentle sloping rock was perfect for the boys to climb (mostly) and offered stunning sunset views.
With the solstice less than a month away, the low angled sun took its time to slip below the horizon, providing a long-lived pink glow over the evening.
The terrian got a bit technical for a toddler at the top, so it was back into the pack for Wally. Amazing where you can haul kids when they’re stowed back in the pack though.
Katie always sniping for those sunset shots.
The successful one make it all worth it.
I’ve purposely not used too many words in this report, because how can you even hope to describe the beauty of the desert? I won’t even try.
But what I will say is this: it felt incredibly refreshing and surprising to feel so captivated by a landscape that isn’t mountains. Obviously the mountains are, and will always be my favorite, but the desert is just as good in so many unique ways. To be reminded of that, and to feel the enchanting call of the desert, is a special thing. This is a place that is about as unique, stunning, and precious as anywhere on the planet.
That’s no surprise at all to anyone who has spend much time out there, but it was still a great reminder for us, nonetheless. And is was the perfect place to enjoy Thanksgiving 2020.
We’ll be back soon.
Until then, so long, Moab!
Looks like an awesome family trip!