This morning I left my hotel in Moab and it was in the high 40s. I stepped outside dressed for chilly weather, convinced I had finally figured Utah out. By noon I was changing into a t-shirt in a parking lot. Utah weather is basically the Wizard behind the curtain just pulling random levers. Colorado was the same with cool weather, warm weather, snowstorm, warm and sunny. Make up your mind!
Today’s adventure took me through Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
As soon as I entered Arches National Park, I immediately thought, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” Giant red rock formations rose out of the ground everywhere. Massive arches appeared in impossible places. Balanced rocks looked like they had been placed there by a giant with too much free time. It truly is an engineering miracle!
Every turn in the road revealed another incredible formation. The arches were just amazing. The scenery was so unreal that it almost looked fake, like a Hollywood movie, except way bigger and without a guy holding a microphone nearby.
The colors were unbelievable. Bright red rocks, deep orange cliffs, blue skies, and snow-covered mountains in the distance. I later found out these were the LaSalle mountains. They could be seen from both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
Then I headed over to Canyonlands National Park, and that place was absolutely enormous. Arches is impressive because of the rock formations. Canyonlands is impressive because it makes you feel like a tiny little ant standing amongst humans. Yesterday, I said the Colorado National monument was like a mini Grand Canyon. It cannot hold a candle to the canyons of Canyonlands. The overlooks stretch for miles and miles with giant canyons carved deep throughout the park. It was difficult to process how massive everything actually is.
The views were breathtaking. Layer after layer of cliffs, canyons, mesas, and rock formations stretched into the distance.
The drive through southern Utah all day long was spectacular. Every few miles I wanted to stop for another picture. The entire ride from Canyonlands to my hotel about an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park was littered with red rock formations. Had I stopped to take pictures, I would have never made it to my hotel. Eventually I made my way to the town of Torrey, Utah, near Bryce Canyon National Park. When I arrived at my hotel, there was a gigantic red rock formation sitting right outside my room. Apparently Utah does not believe in average views. The last few pictures are from outside my room.
Another thing I noticed about Utah, the speed limits out here are absolutely wild. Through a lot of the state the speed limit is 80 mph, which basically feels like Utah saying, “Listen, we know you have another national park to get to, go ahead and speed on through.” It definitely helped me get to my hotel quicker, although at times it felt like I was qualifying for NASCAR while surrounded by giant red cliffs.
One really bizarre thing I kept seeing near Canyonlands and on the drive toward Torrey were cow crossings, some with flashing lights. Very unusual and except there were no fences. The cows were just casually hanging out near the road like they owned the place. Nothing gets your attention quite like driving 80 mph through the desert and suddenly seeing a cow standing nearby looking completely unbothered. Meanwhile I’m gripping the steering wheel wondering if Utah has free-range cattle and free-range insurance claims.
Tomorrow I head to Bryce Canyon National Park and maybe part of Zion National Park.
At this point I am just following the red rock road. 😎
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