Week 37: Telluride to Moab

Week 37 was the start of exploring the incredible national parks of Southern Utah.

Mancos State Park, CO
I left Telluride on Saturday, 9/6 and continued on highway 145 south into San Juan National Forest.  I had several packages being delivered to the Durango Post Office and needed to kill a few days.  I spent Saturday night next to a river just outside Stoner but after a restless night with trucks going up and down the road, I decided to move to Mancos State Park on highway 184.  

Mancos State Park reservior

First sign of Fall

Great campsite at Mancos State Park

Trooper and I had the entire campground to ourselves, with the exception of horseback riders from a nearby dude ranch.  It was a wonderfully quiet and peaceful place to spend a few days.  We stayed until Wednesday, 9/10 hiking, writing and enjoying a great Colorado State Park.

Enjoying a little outdoor time

What dirt?

Durango, CO
Wednesday afternoon, we drove into Durango and spent the evening at Alpen Rose RV Park to shower, do laundry, and take care of the typically RV to-dos. The RV park was a nice surprise being tucked into a red canyon with a 2-acre dog run, which is the best I’ve ever seen.  We got a shaded spot helping us to escape the 90 degree temps in Durango.

Not a great pic with the Android but great little RV resort outside Durango

Thursday morning, 9/11 we walked around Durango for a few hours where I stocked up on treats for Trooper and purchased my third pair of hiking boots (and returned my second pair, the Ahnu Nubuck, which blew apart after 7 months).  Durango is a nice town with an authentic southwest feel.  After picking up my packages, it was time to say goodbye to Colorado and head west.

Canyonlands National Park, UT
I picked up highway 491 toward Monticello, UT with Canyonlands National Park as our destination.  Again, it was very hot making me question how long our journey through southern Utah would be.  I decided to head to the southern part of the park referred to as The Needles.  The drive on 211 west into the park is tight with one jaw-dropping view after another.  It felt as if the Grand Canyon was blown apart into thousands of pieces and I was driving through the scattered remnants.  

Interesting landmark at the intersection heading into the park

Drive into the park

The National Park campground was full due to their 50-year celebration so the visitors center suggested a privately-owned campground located just outside the park entrance.  I pulled in and met the owner Traci who graciously gave me the entire group site because it offered the most shade.  For $20, we had an awesome campsite tucked into a red rock formation and filled with juniper trees for shade.  We arrived around 4:30 and I kept T under the shade, but it was hot, hot, HOT!  I’m not sure what I expected but September in the high desert is not only the busiest tourist time but also still very hot.

The Needles Outpost... one of the best campsites in my journey

But Trooper probably wouldn't agree with that

A refreshing dinner in the desert heat

Sun starting to set and temps starting to drop

View from climbing up the rock to watch the sun go down

This is the color of desert heat

Not a bad place to watch the sun go down

And down...

And gone

We headed out early Friday morning, 9/12 and drove through most of the Needles section stopping at many of the photo spots like Wooden Shoe, Pothole Point, and Big Spring Canyon Overlook.  The southern portion of Canyonlands is beautiful and the drive into and out of the park rivals the beauty in the park.  After several hours of touring and getting photos, I decided to head north toward Moab.

Can you see the Wooden Shoe?

Now?

Sleeping on the job!

Moon still shining bright

View of the Needles in the distance

Nature's sculpture

Not sure what kind of pose this is but nice background scenery

Perspective shot

Pothole Point

New hiking boots... hopefully these will last longer than the last ones

Big Spring Canyon

Only place he's allowed

Moab, UT
I arrived at the Moab Visitor Center late afternoon to find out that most places were booked.  The woman suggested River Road just north of town where there are several first-come campsites.  I drove along the Colorado River (which was an unappealing brown color) and stopped in several places, but it was over 90 degrees and there was little shade to be found.  I tried five RV parks before finally finding Spanish Trail with one open night.  I was grateful to get a spot where I could get the A/C going for Trooper.  I was struggling with the heat but he was completely miserable.  Spanish Trail is a great RV spot with views of the canyons outside Moab.

Drive into Moab

The Colorado River

Spanish Trail RV Park with welcomed shade and A/C

View from the RV Park

With the sun starting to set

Arches National Park, UT
In an attempt to beat the heat and crowds, we left the RV park at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning, 9/13 and went into Arches National Park.  The park is located just north of Moab and although smaller than I anticipated, it lived up to expectations with the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world.  It was a gorgeous morning and we spent three hours driving through the park stopping at all the roadside attractions.  Even though the high desert is not my preferred environment, the beauty and energy around southern Utah is undeniable.  It was a bit overwhelming because everywhere I looked, it was one amazing view and red rock canyon or spire next to another.  And of course, the arches themselves were a unique sight.  

Early morning over Arches 

But not long for the sun to warm things up

Just after the entrance

Red rock spires all around

Balanced Rock

Turret Arch from North Window

View from standing inside North Window

Moon shot looking back through North Window

South Window

View of Delicate Arch from a distance

Devils Garden from afar

Parked next to this and got a good chuckle

As noon approached, the roads became busier with vehicles and tour buses, so it was time to exit the park.  I drove back into Moab to walk Trooper and grab lunch at Love Muffin (another delicious BLT followed by a mocha for some much needed caffeine).  Moab is a lot smaller than I expected and appeared to be surviving based on Jeep and ATV rentals.  One thing is certain, it’s not a glitzy town but rather a raw, hardcore outdoor town.  And did I mention HOT?

My journey through southern Utah is going much faster than I planned but with the heat, a 100 lb Mal, and limited A/C options, I have accepted the weather as my driving force.  I am; however, determined to visit all of the Southern Utah National Parks that I have heard about for years.

Final Thoughts
Where Adventure Begins.  This is Moab's moto and I found it perfectly fitting for this week.  Going from the cool Aspen forests of Telluride to the red rock landscapes of Southern Utah, I was once again in awe of nature's beauty that surrounds us.   Someone describes Southern Utah as "it's as  if you left planet Earth and arrived on another planet".  Regardless of your definition of "adventure", there is something for everyone to explore and enjoy... so get out and find your adventure!

Thanks for reading and until next time…