Sights Surrounding Moab: Unlimited Beauty

There is so much beauty around Moab that if it was anyplace else it would probably be designated a national park; at the very least a state park. There is a state park and two national parks within minutes of Moab, and yet many of the most breathtaking places are not located in any type of park. To convince you how strongly I feel about the extreme beauty of Moab and the surrounding country, on the left side of this page I've included a photograph of my Texas license plate. Probably the crowning glory of Moab and vicinity is Kane Creek Canyon, just three miles southwest of Moab. Head south from the center of Moab and turn right on Kane Creek Road at the "Golden Arches". After three miles the asphalt road changes to a good graded road. For the next eight miles the views are truly outstanding. First you climb about seven hundred feet and then drop down eight hundred to creek level. At the bottom be sure and stop at the world's finest natural spring, and fill your canteen with cool water. As you proceed, look for numerous abandoned uranium mines high up on either side. It’s a steep and fun hike up to the mines, but remember that entering can be genuinely dangerous.

If you have a 4WD, there are two challenging, but fabulous Jeep trails leaving the graded road, the first is on the left, Pritchett Canyon (rated 4 1/2, see below) and the second is on the right, Cliffhanger (rated 4). After going through the narrow canyon for a few miles the canyon opens into a fabulous amphitheater. Eight miles after leaving the paved road, the gravel road changes into a good Jeep road, or even high clearance trucks. So if you have the equipment, continue on up to Hurrah Pass, about three miles. The view will astound you, but do not go beyond the pass without a Jeep. We have fifty fabulous pictures of Kane Creek and regret there is only room for a couple on this Web Site.

In the spring of 1998 we convinced twenty-two of the thirty-four descendent of my parents to meet in Moab for a first ever family reunion, which lasted a full five days. We assembled from such diverse locations as Tampa, Seattle, Toledo, Harrisburg, Austin and Cody Wyoming. Two days were spent Jeeping, a first for most everyone except Sandy and I, two days hiking, and a day of white water rafting. Jeep trails in Moab are rated from 1 to 4 1/2 in difficulty. For our first outing I chose one rated 4, called Cliffhanger. The photo at the left shows my brother, seventy-five, doing his first ever Jeeping, up a steep rough climb. My grandchildren, five and seven, loved the experience. If the photo just showed six feet further to the left, you would know why the trail is called Cliffhanger. It was a typical Jeeping day, we ruined one clutch and twisted off a transmission shaft. But everyone swears this was by far the best vacation of their lives.

There are numerous outstanding drives in the USA. To cite a few: Route 9 in Vermont during early October; the Going To The Sun highway in Glacier NP; the road through Yosemite Valley; the million dollar highway through the San Juans of Colorado; Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado; and following the Virgin River up its canyon in Zion NP. Yet none of these can prepare your senses for what youll experience when you drive three miles north of Moab, turn right on route 128, and follow it east for twenty-five miles along the Colorado. If you like to hike, there are plenty of places to do that; white water raft, you can do that also. The canyon here reaches 2500 feet, only half that of the Grand Canyon. Yet in terms of sheer beauty and color, it exceeds its down stream big sister. Gawk at the Priest and the Nuns, marvel at the Fisher Towers, enjoy an evening picnic along the river, and walk across the Colorado on the historic Dewey Bridge; the only way across the river on this road until 1986, when a beautiful new bridge was built to go with the new highway. Don't rush, see if you can get an afternoon picture of the river and Fisher Towers similar to the one you see on the left. My picture was taken in 1959, and it was scary back then driving that narrow dirt road high above the river. Upon reaching Moab, the inside of my trunk looked like a child's sand box, albeit, coral pink sand.

Enjoy cooking breakfast out? Take your food and cook it at Dead Horse Point State Park, twenty-two miles from, and twenty two hundred feet above Moab. Go early and watch the sun rise over the La Sal Mountains. Much of the year the mountain snows will turn coral and dazzle you at sunrise. Cook your bacon and eggs at the lovely picnic area, and then sit a spell at the southwest corner of the park. You’ll be sitting at a spot rated as one of the five most beautiful viewpoints in the United States. You'll see a second of these famous viewpoints, if you make it to Zion in Southwestern Utah.

Ever been Jeeping? Moab is probably the four wheeling capitol of the world. I've never owned a Jeep, but I've been Jeeping many time around Moab and the Needles. At Sliprock Jeep you can rent a Jeep for $79. Then start with one of the easy Jeep trails around Moab. The Monitor and the Merrimac is an ideal trail for the beginner. You enter this trail sixteen miles north of Moab, three miles beyond Route 313. This trail takes off to the west, across the RR tracks, just after the uplift on you left ends. One of the great sights on this trail is the Determination Towers which are shown on the left. Any beginner can drive this trail, but all bets are off if you decide to try Wipe Out Hill. Most of the formations in this area are in the Entrada Sandstone. The Monitor and the Merrimac are buttes which resemble the ironclads of the Civil War. Your trail will take you around the base of these large buttes, as well as between them. Have fun!

There is just one thing wrong with Moab; you could write forever and ever about things to do and see around the area. For instance, there are dozens of fabulous hikes within twenty miles of Moab. However, needing to be mindful of bandwidth, and maybe hot air also, I'll close this section with a suggestion. Let's hope it never happens to you, but should you have only one day to spend in Moab, forget the national parks. Instead, take in the three scenic areas described above. And then if the evening allows, drive down river on route 279 to the potash mine.

ENDLESS BEAUTY SURROUNDING MOAB

NOW VISIT THESE RED ROCK AREAS

(Also By The J&S Fun Company)