Moab
Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Eastern Utah. Situated in the heart of Red Rock country, Moab provides easy access to some of the most scenic outdoor activities anywhere in the United States. While the region gets packed to the brim during the summer (Arches even requires vehicle reservations during this time), my visit in winter left large portions of the parks free and open to exploration. Here are my 4 great Moab adventures– 2 in Canyonlands National Park and 2 in Arches.
Canyonlands National Park
Mesa Arch Sunrise
Mesa Arch is one of the most iconic viewpoints across the entire National Park System. A wide arch, overlooking Canyonlands’ famed White Rim creates a composition unlike anything else in the world. Being an east facing viewpoint, watching the sunrise through Mesa Arch is a classic National Park adventure.
My morning began around 6am, which put me in a good position to make a 7:30 am sunrise about 45 minutes away from my hotel. A minor inconvenience on the drive (fyi: be sure to follow the posted speed limits on the outskirts of Moab), had me trail-running the short half mile trail down to Mesa Arch. Luckily, with such a short and accessible trail, the Mesa Arch viewpoint is perfect for bringing a full set of camera lenses and a tripod. I was able to set up my first composition about 10 minutes before the scheduled sunrise.
When dealing with ‘iconic shots’, I always try to envision more unique shots. While millions of people may take the ‘point and shoot’ Mesa Arch photo, not many spend time to look at details and perfect a composition. With that in mind, and the iconic shot taken, I went on the move. Going back and forth the length of the arch, I was able to test out different angles, zooms and focal lengths, creating some unique stills of Canyonlands’ iconic Mesa Arch
The Needles District:
Canyonlands National Park is broken down into 3 districts: The Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. While the Island in the Sky is the more heavily populated area of the park, the Needles and The Maze receive significantly less visitors (The Maze is often only tackled via a multi-day backcountry trip). And, in case my winter and dawn traveling habits don't make it obvious, I like to get away from crowds in nature. For anyone like me, a trip to the Needles District is a must. A 2 hour drive from Moab leads you into the district. While not as panoramic as the Island in the Sky, the Needles provides more intimate viewpoints and allows the opportunity to get up close to red rock features.
The Needles' rock formations appear otherworldly
Arches National Park
The Devil's Garden
The Devil’s Garden trails give easy access to some interesting arches in Arches National Park. I like superlatives, and what superlative is better than the largest arch on the PLANET! Look no further than landscape arch, the first major stop off on the Devils Garden Loop. Continuing past landscape arch had me climbing up steep red rock for a change of scenery. Meandering on the top of the red rock gives a good view of the surroundings on the way to Double-O Arch. Great for photo ops, Double-O arch is a very unique formation and a pleasant end point for the Devils Garden hike.
Landscape Arch and
Double-O Arch as seen along the Devils Garden Trail
Delicate Arch Sunset
Delicate Arch is easily the most iconic viewpoint in the state of Utah and in the top 5 nationwide. As a photographer, I wanted to make sure I could get my iconic, yet unique, chance to photograph the pristine arch. Being winter, I was already confident that the arch wouldn’t be mobbed compared to the summer season. Completing the hike up towards Delicate Arch is no easy feat, and had me climbing up slick snow-covered rock to reach the Delicate Arch bowl. While the view was incredible, the sky was cloudy– seemingly preventing any chance at a classic sunset. But, as I like to say with cloudy skies, high risks yield high rewards. Seemingly out of nowhere, a cloud burned off and gave way to yellow sunset glow. The typically red rock of arches were cast in a deep orange tone and the sky was illuminated with pinks, reds and oranges. Racing around the bowl with my tripod got me 180 degrees of viewpoints on Delicate Arch. Making sure not to overstay our welcome, I hiked back down the slippery trailhead at dusk following a local who was sure to not get lost on the way down.
