Devils Garden Hike

This week for Travel Tuesday I am going to take you on another adventure up in Arches National Park, Utah.  This is the Devils Garden Primitive Loop Trail.

This trail is about 7.2 miles, although depending on how many or how few of the points of interest you take it could be slightly longer or a bit shorter.
I recommend if it's your first time, doing the entire loop!

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This trail will take you to 8 beautiful arches.
The first arch you will see is Landscape Arch, which if you want to catch my post on it you can HERE.  That first portion is a very well maintained trail, very little to no difficulties.

Once you get beyond Landscape Arch, the trail does get a little more difficult.  You will be doing some slickrock climbing on the sandstone rock.  This next picture, are the rock fins you will begin your climb up, to get up onto the next portion of the trail.

If you are unfamiliar with hiking in the desert, because rock doesn't always show signs of a trail.  Just watch for the stacks of rocks, those will keep you on track and show you where to go.

If you are afraid of heights, you may find some difficulties with this hike.  As their are a few spots where you will be walking along edges with drop offs on both sides of you.  As well as climbing up and down slickrock along edges with long drop offs, further down the trail.

However, with that said I hiked this as a young child.  If you are a parent or guardian who is okay with lifting and directing kids or carrying them down some cliff spots at times.  Especially if your kids are well behaved and used to hiking.  You can definitely take the whole family on this if you'd like.
If you don't think your kids are ready for it yet, save it for them when they get older!

You will definitely want a good pair of shoes.  There are a few very narrow area's, with ledges that can get very sandy at times and good sturdy hiking shoes are best!

There is very little shade on this trail.  I did this hike this year in 100 degree heat in the middle of the summer.  It was hot, but still fine because I carried plenty of water with me.
If you don't like hiking in the heat, I would recommend this as a spring or fall hike.
However, because in the winter with snow and ice, with the ledges and cliffs this may not be the best hike to take during icy times.

There is a point on the hike where you will come to a large bowl of water (usually there is water in it.)  It's just drainage from when it rains, and the rock holds the water in.  I'd say about 10-15 feet across on way and about 8ish feet across between the sandstone surrounding cliffs.
It's not deep you can wade across it.

Or, you can walk along the edge along the sandstone.  However, if a lot of people are on it, it can get muddy and sandy and be tricky, the worst you will just fall into the pool of water:)
Last, if you can climb a little you can take a running (well that's what I did) jump and run up a bit of the cliff reaching into the cracks as you slow and climb.  It's about a 25 foot climb, and I said take a running start just because the momentum helps you.  If you have good shoes, its a pretty easy climb I was up it in no time.  But if in bad shoes, like I saw others the day I did it, well lets just say you might just slide back down and not have the traction needed to make it up!
No matter which you choose, don't let the small pool of water discourage you from getting past!

It's a beautiful trail, lots to see and enjoy!  If you are ever in the park, I highly recommend this hike it is worth it!

Have you taken the Devils Garden Primitive Trail before?  Did you enjoy it?
If not, is this something you are going to add to your list of things to do if you visit Arches in Utah?

Hiking Landscape Arch

This week for Travel Tuesday in continuing with my showing you some of Utah's amazing sights. I am going to take you on a virtual adventure of the longest natural arch in the world.  Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, Utah.

This is actually a very easy hike to do.  In fact it's only 1.5 miles round trip.  You get to it, by driving to the end of Arches National Park, and park in the Devil's Garden trail head.  The trail is paved in some portions and is very wide and easy access for almost anyone.

Years ago, you used to be able to hike up under the arch.  But oddly enough, one year when I was up camping in the park back in 1991 with my family 3 large slabs of rock fell.
They weren't just small slabs of rock either, they were the size of cars.
I didn't see them fall, they fell during the night. I didn't hear the large crack, but I remember going up after and it was clear the thin part along the top, hadn't been so thin the day before.
Because of this, they closed that section of the trail and you are no longer allowed to hike up under it.
I was going to try and dig through family picture's to show a before and after, but I haven't had the time, sorry.

However, there is a viewing area right in front of it, that you hike right up to now.  So you still get to see it, and hike all around the area if you'd like.  I believe last measured the arch spans at around 290 feet.

One thing about Landscape Arch, it's an older arch that you never know how much longer it will be around.  Some speculate it will have fallen away to rubble in less than 100 years.  But while it is here in all it's beauty now, you should consider taking a trip to see the worlds longest natural arch to see it!

Have you been to Arches National Park before?
Did you check out Landscape Arch?

Hiking Delicate Arch

Today for Travel Tuesday I am going to share with you another one of Utah's beautiful places.  Inside Arches National Park is a beautiful trail that leads you to one of the most famous arches, Delicate Arch.

I have been to this park many times, quite a bit in my childhood and many times as an adult.  I don't think I could ever get bored in this beautiful desert playground.

One of my favorite hikes is Delicate Arch, it's got everything.  Great trail, with incredible scenery along the entire way.

It's even got Indian Petroglyphs at the very beginning if you want to take a quick side loop trail.

Delicate Arch is classified per the National Park service as a difficult trail.  3.0 miles round trip with about a 480 foot elevation gain.

I actually just visited the park again over the weekend, and made sure to take my camera with me.  I probably have hiked this one at least a couple dozen times in my life and it's awesome each time.  We didn't get on the trail until a little later in the day, it was about 10am.  The temps were about 90 degree's and climbing when we started, so it was a hot one, but well worth it as you will see.

You'll start out on a fairly maintained park trail, easy walking as you head towards the sandstone rock you can see in the distance.

It's here that the majority of all the 480 foot elevation gain slickrock climbing begins.

Climbing the sandstone can be difficult for those out of shape, but can also be a great thigh workout for those who like to power through uphill.  I personally recommend a good sturdy hiking shoe, as it will help you keep your foot grip pretty well along the hike course.

Those afraid of heights may have a difficult time along this slickrock section of the trail.  But the cliff edge is plenty wide, even for when you have those coming down as others are going up to be side by side.  Like I said above, wearing a good sturdy hiking shoe will help both the experienced and inexperienced have good foot holdings even in these sections.

Keep your eyes peeled as you are on the trail, especially along the sandstone wall portions and you'll see this window arch.  It's actually easy to climb up the sandstone and stand right up underneath this arch too.

The famous arch itself isn't the only beautiful view to see from the top.  Depending on where you are standing you have vast views of all around, clear across towards the Colorado Plateau, La Sal's and even Canyonlands.

The only bad part about it, is this is a popular trail and grabbing a picture without tourists in or around the arch can be hard.  Which is why I recommend this hike in the off season.  I've done it in January and found the cooler temps a great time to visit.  However, it's a year round open park so anytime is a good time.

When you get up on top, if you like to be a dork like I do, you can have fun taking pictures as you relax and enjoy the view before you hike back down. (Ya that is me being goofy:)

Depending on where you stand, you can get some great shots of this arch.  One direction you've got the La Sal Mountain range behind it (like in the picture a few shots above.) Others, you have the beautiful sandstone cliffs.

Hiking this in the summer, it can easily go from 90-100+ degree's fast.  So even though it's only 3 miles long.  Bring plenty of water.  This is the dry desert, and there are very few if any portions of shade on this hike, depending on the time of day you climb it.

Yes, you can go up and stand on or around it and have some fun photo opportunities.  But be respectful of it, don't carve into it or leave any trace you were there behind.
(Ya that's me again posing for the camera:)

This is a beautiful hike, and like I mentioned above can be great almost any time of year.  If you visit Arches, I highly recommend you take the time to visit Delicate Arch.
I am very lucky to live in such an amazing state with so many gorgeous things for the outdoor lover in me to see and do!


Have you been to Utah's, Arches National Park before?  Did you hike Delicate Arch?  If you haven't, did you just add this to your bucket list?

Dangerous, Adrenaline Rush, Stunning and so Much Fun

I wasn't going to write up a post for today.  But even though it's extremely late at night and I just got back from a tiring yet amazing trip and 13 miles of hiking today alone.  Of which I finally was able to take a bath 3 days overdue from dirt, sand, river water, layers of sunscreen and visible sweat and discovered what I was sure was mostly dirt and sand is apparently a crazy dark tan, guess spf 30 wasn't quite enough:) oh well.
Since I am still awake and wired on way too much Pepsi that I drank to keep me awake on the long drive home. I figured I might as well write this post!

This week was stock full of adventure, even before I left for my trip to Moab, Utah.  I will have to share some of the other details at a later time.  But for now, to keep the post shorter I will tell you what I just got back from.

I invited a co-worker to go White Water River Rafting, since this gal had never done a single adventurous thing in her life (her words), never been to the mountains or camping...  I decided to take it as an invitation to introduce her to adventure at full force.
Since she knew nothing about white water rafting, I gave her a few details, enough to keep her interested, but decided not to scare her with too much information. I may or may not have mentioned what we were going to do was some of the best craziest  white water rafting in the country.

The particular section of the Colorado river we were going to be doing because of an awesome wet spring and recent storms is currently at an extremely high level.  Because of this, the danger increases like ten fold, or so I was told.
Few days before the trip, I found out that a couple of guys died on one part of the section we were going to be doing.  I thought about it a bit, and decided it would not be a good idea to tell the friend coming about this.  For two reasons, one selfish because  I didn't want her to bail.  But second because sometimes it's just better to not know, so you don't freak out or freeze up if something does happen.  Although, I did have a very loving sister who was freaking out and begging me not to go... I love her, but of course I wasn't going to listen!

I am an adrenaline junky who doesn't get stressed or freak out about things, the the extra danger and knowledge that the absolute worst bad possible thing to have happen to me could happen, should of scared me.... But it actually just made me more excited to do it.

Anyhow, we scored this amazing beautiful campsite right along the Colorado river.  (Picture to the right. Stunning huh! This particular calm section was about 56 miles from where we would be going the next morning for our adventure.  Which would NOT be so calm.

Late the night before our river trip, I visited the grocery store to grab some ice.  When you're dealing with 90-100 degree temps, you need to keep the ice coming:)
I happened to be alone when I was standing by two search and rescue men, who were talking about a couple of other people who were lost on the river that day.  One guy said, the river was just to crazy dangerous, and even they wouldn't be on it if they didn't have too.

But I realized I better let my friend know a tiny portion of what to expect to prepare her so it wasn't such a shock the next morning.  I did NOT tell her about the deaths, but I reminded her that death could happen and we talked about how to relax and use a clear mind in high stress situations just in case to increase your survival chances.

Next day, was super fun and just awesome, the river was amazing and scenery absolutely stunning!  I am not going to go into the details, I will wait until I get the pictures developed (water proof camera:)

However, I will say we had extremely very dangerous moment that occurred near the section that took the lives of a couple others a few day's prior and almost took a few more just the day before. We had what our guide said after was way too close of a call.
I'll tell you about the awesome details another time.  But I am not going to lie, even knowing and experiencing how intense and dangerous it was to have a brush with the absolute worse case scenario. (We had an amazing guide that worked himself to exhaustion to save us.)

That one moment, was seriously the absolute best thrill of the entire white water rafting that day!  I could have done it a dozen or so more times, the adrenaline rush was great. I don't think I was the only one on the raft that would agree, but I am pretty sure the guide was praying nothing else like that would come up again!

What else did I do on this trip?  Well I visited Dead Horse Point, one of the most photographed vista's in the world.  I just wish it was a little less cloudy the evening I took this photo.  But it was still beautiful to see again.

Also visited Arches National Park and hiked 13 miles yesterday in 100 degree temps in some of the most beautiful spots in the park.  (Ya my co-worker who came loved it, but she was out of shape. But she did it, and I am pretty sure when she goes to get out of bed in the morning, she's going to want to kill me, LOL.  But on the plus side, she should thank me, I hiked her to exhaustion so she should sleep really well tonight, LOL LOL.
Also finally hit my first 30,000+ Fitbit Step Count day:)  Woot Woot!
I'll share details on the hiking adventures another time too.

On one hike, I even took a running start to get a good jump to then free climb scale a 28 foot sandstone vertical cliff, but I will mention I only made it up ten feet before a very nice man from France climbed down to give me his hand and help me get my foot holes wedged in a crack so I could make it up the next bit.  I was slipping on the sands on the rock from a recent rain.  Falling would have meant a very big plunge into a bowl of unknown muddy water and depth below.  I may or may not of made it on my own, but I won't lie I very much appreciated his helping hand as he almost did the splits to keep his hold and grab my hand at the perfect moment to give me the leverage I needed to do the rest.  Even more appreciative because there were about fourteen strangers below watching to see if I could do it, or give them a great laugh if I plunged to the depths below.  Luckily I wasn't their laugh, but as I continued to hike on, I could hear that the next hikers to attempt it weren't so lucky.
See girls, chivalry is not dead!

The last night of the trip we were walking to the outhouse around midnight and 2 jeeps full of cute guys who were camped just down the river from us pulled up and had two spots left inside one of the jeeps and they were heading out for a midnight jeep trail ride on one of the most hazardous 4X4 Jeep trails in Moab called Hell's Revenge.  They invited us to come.
I have to admit, this is partially my only regret in the trip.  But, I turned it down, I still can't believe I did, I have always wanted to ride this trail and it would have been awesome!

My stupid common sense kicked in, and I thought, 2 jeeps full of cute guys whom I only met a second before, midnight 4X4 trail driving in an area that ruins many vehicles who attempt it during the day, unknowing if they were experienced or just first timers, miles away from anyone else...  Well ya, so I said no.  In my younger years I would have probably hopped in the backseat and said "drive" without a second thought.  Looking back at it, I am pretty sure it would have been fine, I saw their jeeps in great condition the next morning, and they seemed pretty decent. Oh well... That is what I get for using my common sense, LOL

Okay, so this post is probably way to long already and despite the overflowing caffeine in my system right now, I think I am finally tired enough to fall asleep pretty quickly so I'll end it.  But I will say, even though I have been in this part of my state dozens of times.  I never get bored with the deserts beauty.  I seriously live in one of the most beautiful states in the country, ya I am prejudice!
Now that I have the adrenaline adventure bug in me, I am already trying to decide what/when my next adventure is going to be!

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park

So tell me; have you been to Moab or Arches before?  Have you been White Water Rafting in Class III-V rapids before?