Hiking, rafting, canyoneering and, of course, mountain biking. With what should I start with, having just five days? So many options. Moab is a paradise, whose beauty captures everybody as soon as you pull off Interstate 70 and turn south on Highway 191. Here, nature showcases the most spectacular desert landscapes ever sculpted by a creator. Bright red rock formations, thousands of massive, surreal sandstone arches, deep, cool canyons carved by the emerald green Colorado River in millions of years.
I just can’t let go of the camera in my hands!
This is not my first visit to the area. I’ve been here before, just passing through on my way from Colorado to Alaska. It was the end of May, the start of the tourist season, when thousands of visitors flock daily into the small town. Arches National Park itself, at the gates of Moab, draws more than 1,5 million people annually. Almost everybody comes by car or RV, trying to squeeze through the main street during the day. After only a short night camping along the Colorado I fled back then. Now the premises are much more promising. With peak season being over there is still a lot going on, but it feels a little slower paced. However, this week could become quite turbulent again. The annual Moab Ho-Down is set, a colorful festival all about mountain biking. The experts are testing their skills with various races and competitions and fans can try out the world-class trails and celebrate with movies, a community ride and campfires.
But first, I want to explore the canyons. Michelle is my guide. «Those walls over there, gleaming in the sunshine, are called Wall Street. One of the easiest and most accessible climbing areas around here.» She points across the Colorado, where the road worms its way between steep rock walls and the river. «We got some petroglyphs right here to our left.» I can’t really see the paintings passing by in the car but will check them out on my way back later. Shortly after, we are pulling into a small parking area. It only took us fifteen minutes to get here from downtown Moab.
Adventure is within reach everywhere.
Ours for now is called Hypatia Canyon, a four mile long hike through rocky canyons and over petrified sand dunes to three rappels. Michelle has been here many times. «Everytime it’s different. New wildflowers are blooming, something’s turning yellow, leaves are falling off. It has just rained, so everything’s greener. Where the sunlight hits the rock changes with the season. The temperatures change with the season. You notice different colors. Do you see that white stripe up on the rock there? That’s a layer of limestone. Normally this used to be a really dry area with those sand dunes everywhere. And then there might have been a couple hundred thousand years where it was much wetter, there’d actually be a lake here. And then all the animals living in the lake died, creating sandstone at the bottom. Every time I’m surprised by something.»
During high season Michelle guides up to ten groups per week into the canyons. «There are definitely days when you feel tired. The sand feels a little deeper, the pack feels a little heavier», she jokes. But the people often are super-psyched about being out here, and that is contagious.
After one and a half hours we are approaching our first rappel. The trail until there has been steep, rather climbing over rocks than walking on a trail. But now we have reached a high plateau, where the view takes my breath away, even without the physical exercise. The sun beams from the deep blue, cloudless sky onto the red rock fins, that are reaching all the way to the horizon in gentle verves. In all directions narrow canyons are trenching the rock. Colorado mountains are shimmering from a distance. We deeply breathe in the clear dry air, pausing for a moment. Speechless.
«This is a 130 feet drop down there», Michelle breaks the silence. A few wind-beaten junipers are lining the rock edge, where we want to rappel from in just a few minutes. Exactly across, the giant Teardrop Arch swings across the canyon. We can hardly see the shady bottom, where we intend to land on. While Michelle starts preparing the ropes, I take off my backpack she gave me, scratched from many tight canyon walls. I put on the helmet and climbing harness and slip into the working gloves from the hardware store. They will protect the hands from heat caused by friction of the lines while rappeling. Michelle anchors the lines at one of the junipers. «I would guess it’s a couple of hundred years old. Maybe you think it’s not that big, but the root structure is twice as big as what we see here. There are roots growing into all the little crevasses around us. This guy is not going anywhere», she tries to calm me down after the rope is connected to my harness and I slowly start to shift my weight backward, my heart pounding. In small steps I now start to walk towards the rock edge, noticing how all the muscles seem to harden. Weird feeling. And a plea of the basic instinct that I trustfully hand over to Michelle as she secures me while I tumble into the unknown.
I risk glancing down into the deep, unveiling like a scary black throat below me.
Now, I become even tighter and refocus on the rope in front of me. Keep it tight, release it, step by step. The closer I get to the bottom, the more my tightness vanishes. I finally reach the bottom. Made it! The adrenaline still pumping through my veins. I can feel the rush as I look around, watching the play between light and shade in the canyon, observing how the sunrays first graze the arch and then touch the fine, red sand next to me. Let’s do it again! Right away!
«I like the idea that it’s got all these twists and turns, obstacles up and down, you never know what’s around the corner», Michelle raves about canyoneering after rappelling down to me. Next, we slide across the rock into a small, waist-deep pool of ice cold, muddy water. Then the canyon widens, the leaves of cottonwood trees rattle in the breeze as the sun dries us while we continue hiking.
In the next hour we will crawl over a wedged trunk through a small gorge, plunge into another pool and rappel two more times, the last one being a stunning 100 feet drop, levitating. Then my first adventure in the outdoor paradise ends. And I already realize, that it doesn’t take much to hopelessly fall in love with this place.
«I like the community here, that always supports each other. There’s always somebody ready to climb. There are so many things to do here.» Michelle still sounds excited, even after many years living in Moab.
«And then looking at the scenery around you, the colors, red rocks, blue skies, green trees, the snow on the rock. Out here there’s plenty of open space, that’s part of why I moved here. And I like the fact that it’s a small town. It’s cool that people travel a long distance to see what we have to offer.»
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Readers Mail
Tell us what you think
Gerlinde Schrock on 26. März 2018
Dieser Bericht ist so geschrieben, da bekommt mann sofort lust seine Sachen zupacken .Ein Traum die Natur.:-)
Marcel on 1. April 2018
schöner Bericht. gut geschrieben. Weckt gleich das Fernweh :)
Gruß Marcel
http://www.mein-Mallorca.org
Bodhi Wilczek on 3. April 2018
hervorragend und spannend kommentiert
Stefan on 16. Mai 2018
Ein wirklich toller Bericht! Wir waren letzten Sommer in dieser Gegend und absolut begeistert! Auf unserer Reise von Alaska nach Chile war die Gegend um Moab ein absolutes Highlight!
Herzliche Grüsse aus Mexiko
Walter on 27. Januar 2020
Zooming down a mountain on a bike definitely isn’t for me, but I like looking at photos of it! Nice work!
Samir Sarkar on 10. April 2020
Nice Post, thanks for posting, Very informative post about Arches National Park, Moab. Very nice photography, your post is full of adventure, Keep Posting, I will definitely wait for your next Blog.
hossam on 10. April 2020
epic post thanks for sharing
James Davies on 28. April 2020
Great article!
Mo Othman on 4. Juli 2020
Very pretty post. Stunning photos. Great tips. I don’t what also to say. Amazing
Bhavya on 4. Juli 2020
this is such a fun post, enjoyed reading your journey
Neil Bose on 17. Juli 2020
Very nice post and some amazing pictures I think you can consider to come to India. We have a lot of amazing places here. Sundarban National Park
Karen on 20. Juli 2020
I love this website – such an interesting and beautiful article. We did a mountain biking adventure through Moab over ten years ago and it was one of the coolest things we did in this area. Such a unique place in the world and to get away from the tourist track and experience it with active travel is the best way!
Nil on 26. Juli 2020
omg! I can’t imagine its real! thanks for nice sharing
Tim - Expat Services Switzerland on 19. August 2020
Toller Bericht und traumhafte Bilder.
Viajes Elan on 9. September 2020
Hello,
Great post, I love nature and enjoy landscapes. As for being able to do bicycle routes … I have to get in shape, from what I am seeing it is a respectful option to travel and live the destination you are traveling to.
Thanks for sharing
Nailambi Gpseh on 14. September 2020
Thank you so much for such a beautiful and informative article. Neora Valley Resort you can find about exotic locations of india here.
Spencer on 13. Oktober 2020
I didn’t make it to Moab, but I went to Green River back in 2004. I loved the arid scenery there. I also saw one of the best sunrises I ever saw back then. It was awesome.
Jesus on 16. Oktober 2020
Outstanding article, really inspiring! I loved the pictures! We hope start travelling „normally“ as soon as possible, we need it! Have a great day! =)
Sabah Malaysian Borneo on 27. November 2020
Wow what a lovely travel story to read.. i just arrive here in this blog and found that it’s content is sooo inspiring.
Vegus on 23. Dezember 2020
Thanks for sharing. Good information
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Discover Sundarban on 21. Februar 2021
I can’t imagine its real! thanks for nice sharing thank you so much for this post
Alexa Jordan on 27. Februar 2021
This was a great post on Moab. It is one of my favorite places to visit. I would love if you did a post about Florida!
Steel and Loft - drzwi i meble loftowe on 27. Februar 2021
America is a country of contrasts, there is nowhere more beautiful nature!
MMT on 4. März 2021
Wow, this is a really cool article. Thanks for posting.
Rathish on 25. März 2021
Nice Post :)
Gustavo Woltmann on 30. März 2021
Moab seems a great place to visit.
Bryson Fico on 12. Mai 2021
Nice post two national parks, prime mountain biking and the Colorado River – Moab is the place!
Syde on 17. Mai 2021
It’s really awesome experience in Utah. Thanks for sharing this article, it’s so inspiring me :)
pradeep on 12. Juli 2021
Usually I never comment on blogs but your article is so convincing that I never stop myself to say something about it. You’re doing a great job Man,Keep it up.
Riya on 23. Juli 2021
This is so beautiful.. thank god there’s a little relief from the pandemic right now.. I am going to visit Utah soon!
Stacy on 3. September 2021
Amazing article and beautiful photography! It makes me want to plan a trip to Utah right away!
Dean Smith on 27. September 2021
Wow! I want so bad to make trips like that in my life! Thanks guys!
Stacy on 1. Oktober 2021
Nice post.
Very interesting.
Perfect for keeping a travel journal.
After reading this post, you only need to buy the tickets.
Do not stop uploading posts like this.
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