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Utah Day 7 – Valley of Fire
Driving back toward Las Vegas was quite uneventful except some snow at the highest elevation near Salina. Since our flight back to PA was not until midnight, we had a few hours of free time and decided to visit Valley of Fire state park. We spent about 3 hours in the park, hiking White Dome and Fire Wave trails in figure 8. The red Aztec sandstone was stunning. White Dome trail was equally pretty, with narrows and arches. On the way out of the park, we encountered a group of long horn sheep. A final look at the state park, the iconic long and winding road cut through the towering…
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Utah Day 6 – Delicate Arch & Canyonland
A trip to Arches National Park isn’t complete without a hike to see the Delicate Arch. Pictures of Delicate Arch can be seen everywhere in Moab. It is an icon of Moab as well as Utah. But as I stood in front of the Delicate Arch after a somewhat strenuous 1.5 mile hike, I suddenly realized none of the pictures successfully depicted the magic and elegance of THE ARCH. I don’t know how nature did this wonder, a perfect arch standing majestically on the edge of the cliff. I also wonder how long this master piece will be standing there for the future generations to admire. The trail began with…
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Utah Day 5 – Arches National Park
Arches National Park became my most favorite national park, I ended up entering it four times in 3 days while we were in Moab. And the hike we did today, Devil’s Garden, became my most favorite trail. Devil’s Garden Trail Devil’s Garden Trail is an 8-mile lollipop trail, which offers incredible views of 8 arches! There was not a dull moment with narrow ledges, uneven surface, rock scrambling and steep exposures. And most of all, the munificent view of giant fins and spires. Both casual sightseers and serious thrill-seekers can find what their heart desire in Devil’s Garden. We skipped the first spurt that leads to Pinetree Arch and Tunnel…
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Utah Day 4 – Capitol Reef & Arches
Capitol Reef National Park is the least popular among the Mighty 5. This is made obvious by the lack of manned entrance station. The park still charges a fee of $20, the travelers will need to put the money in a metal box by the park sign. The Capitol Reef scenic drive will be under renovation and expansion this year between April and October. I suspect a manned entrance will be constructed then. Cassidy Arch Trail This is a beautiful hike with some challenging climbs. The Cassidy Arch can be seen from a distance, but the close up view is so much more grand. The trail started with clear sign…
