Roaming Along the Redrocks

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” -Edward Abbey

Throughout the years I’ve shared my hiking misadventures with you all, and I have to admit that the tides or should I say, trails, are slowly starting to turn. I once looked at hiking as a sweaty, dirty, and exhausting activity; however, over the last few years I’ve found myself “all in” when it comes to any opportunity to get outdoors for a day of adventure, fun, and incredible experiences — not to mention some pretty epic photo ops.

Our first hiking adventure of 2017 came just a few weeks ago. We were excited to get out into the sunshine and spend the day hiking along some of Utah’s finest trails, so we packed up the car and drove three hours south towards the desert playground of Moab, Utah.

And the best part about it was that our three best friends were joining us on this adventure.

Unlike any other place in the world, Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches within its 76,000 acres. Dramatic views and incredible rock formations can be seen throughout the park, and you’ll find hiking trails of all kinds — from 100 yard jaunts, to half-mile paved loops, to a 7.2-mile adventure near Devil’s Garden at the north end of the park. Last year I explored both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park with my big brother and sweet sister-in-law, and I’ve been looking for an opportunity to take Cody to this Red Rock Wonderland ever since.

With temperatures in the 50s (perfect hiking weather in my opinion), the five of us started our day at the Delicate Arch trail-head. One of the most famous hikes in the park (not to mention one of the most beautiful), the Delicate Arch trail is three-miles (round-trip). We decided to start with this particular hike because it would be our longest of the day, and we wanted to get the hardest one out-of-the-way first. That way we could plan the rest of the day according to how we felt. 🙂

As this was my return visit to the famous arch, I appreciated the opportunity to see it again for the first time through the reactions of Cody and our friends. And their expressions said it all. In total, we spent about an hour at the arch itself. We relaxed, people watched, took photos, and fueled up with some snacks before heading back to the car.

After a delicious picnic, we spent our afternoon roaming along three additional (and much easier) trails: Balanced Rock, The Windows and Turret Arch, and Double Arch. And by the end of the day we had logged over 4.5 miles that day. Not too bad for an afternoon hike.

At this point, it’s no surprise that Cody and I love adventure. And while we indulge our wanderlust and enjoy globe-trotting to faraway lands, we’re also loving the time spent exploring more of our own backyard.

Where’s your favorite local vacation destination?