We decided to take the long way to Moab so we could see Capital Reef National Park. I had driven through the park several years ago with Erika but we only had time for one quick photo stop. Jim and Brooke were eager to stop at all the interesting rock formations.
It was brutally cold which prevented us from staying outside too long.
We made a long stop for pictures and lunch below the white domes resembling the domes on capital buildings. This was the only lunch of the trip which we ate in the car. It was just too cold out.
It snowed off and on all day as we drove to Moab. Our hope was to be in Canyonlands, Island In The Sky, for sunset but only if the weather cleared. As we drove towards Grand View Point, snow flurries continued but so did periods of blue sky. Would it clear for sunset? Would we make it by sunset?
We reach the Grand View Point parking lot minutes before sunset. It had stopped snowing. The clouds were wisping through the air. Brooke grabbed her tripod and headed for the point. Jim and I followed behind taking in the canyon scenery.
Jim and I were sure we weren’t going to make it to the official view point by sunset but headed out anyway. The canyon wall took on an eerie feel as the sunset over the fresh snow.
We ran into Brooke near the view point. Sunset was over. She had captured several photos. The night was a success.
Our original plan was to camp near Islands In The Sky for the next two nights but with the recent cold snap, we were headed into Moab to find a hotel. Good thing it was low season.
We set an early alarm, 5:45, so we could be in Arches National Park for sunrise. Best thing about a November sight seeing trip is sunrise doesn’t come until 7am.
We were in the Windows parking lot in Arches National Park by 6:20am giving us plenty of time for Brooke to figure out where she wanted to setup her tripod. She picked Double Arch.
While we waited for the sun, Jim and I ran around inside the arch. Jim was eager to climb anywhere his shoes would take him.
It is difficult to capture how large this arch structure is.
Just before sunrise, Jim and I climbed out of the arch so the photographers with tripods could get pictures without the two of us. We headed across the parking lot for the windows or “spectacles” leaving Brooke and the others to capture their photos in peace.
After hiking around the North and South Window, Jim and I setup in the parking lot for breakfast. Just as we were finishing breakfast, Brooke showed up. All smiles. It had been a very successful morning of photography.
As we drove to the end of the park and the Devil’s Garden hike, we stopped at several view points and roadside arches.
Devil’s Garden Loop was a 10 mile hike which would take us past 7 arches. We thought the first two arches were pretty cool but then we came across Landscape Arch, a thin band of rock high on the hillside.
Partition Arch was especially fun because it was on the edge of the wall and provided a fabulous view of the valley floor.
When we came to Double O Arch, Jim was off to explore the lower arch.
After a hike out to Dark Angel tower, we headed out on the second half of the loop which was a “primitive” trail. I think primitive is an understatement. Thankfully we ran into someone who had done the hike earlier in the day and was now returning or we might still be lost.
The primitive trail was worth the risk of getting lost. The views were so different than anything we had scene yet.
After completing the Devil’s Garden Loop, we made a quick stop at Sand Dune Arch before heading to Delicate Arch. We all wanted to be at Delicate Arch for sunset. After missing sunset last night, we were determined to be early tonight. While Jim and I headed out, Brooke waited in the car hoping to hookup with the friend she made on the Devil’s Garden Loop.
Jim and I arrived Delicate Arch Amphitheater with time to run around and check things out.
Brooke arrived a few minutes before sunset. We all enjoyed the evening light. The rock turned an amazing shade of red during sunset.
Once again, we arrived the car in the dark but without need of our headlamps. Good thing we are all comfortable stumbling around in the twlight.
The next day, we loaded up the car and headed to The Needles in Canyonlands National Park. This would be our last national park as well as our last backpacking trip. There is almost no way to experience The Needles without camping in the area.
After spending an hour reshuffling our gear for overnight backpacking, we headed out for Elephant Canyon to setup camp. Each of the National Parks has such different rock formations.
Once we got camp setup, we headed up Elephant Canyon toward Druid’s Arch. None of us had great expectations for Druid’s Arch since The Needles are known for their rock towers.
When we came to the end of the canyon, we looked everywhere but couldn’t see Druid’s Arch. Must be really small. We knew the last 1/4 mile was a scramble out of the canyon. Then we turned around and there the arch was. WOW!
Look how small Brooke is in the photo. If you are wonder why the colors are so much better than all my other photos, it is because I was using Brooke’s camera. It really makes a huge difference in the red rock.
Here is a picture with my iPhone camera…
As if the view of the arch wasn’t enough, we turned to look back down Elephant Canyon and The Needles were amazing.
As we turned to leave, we were treated to a reflection of the arch on the canyon wall.
Of course, we stayed at Druid’s Arch way to long. We all knew we were going to end up hiking back in the dark under headlamp but our camp was in the canyon and the canyon was pretty narrow. We did leave in time to get through the tricky areas before dark.
The next morning was bitter cold but so beautiful.
If it wasn’t for our morning hike, we would have all stayed in the tent for another hour or so. Frankly, when you are camped in a canyon the sun doesn’t come up any time soon. Our hike today was through Chester Park and the Joint Trail. The Joint Trail was supposed to be a slot canyon.
We got to hike through more of The Needles on our way to Chester Park.
Chester Park had the same Needles rock formations but definitely had a park feel.
We hiked through Chester Park then used the Joint Trail to bring us back to Chester Park then hiked back to Elephant Canyon creating a loop. The entrance to The Joint Trail was fairly narrow. Jim actually had a bit of trouble getting up the rock stairs.
Once inside, the slot canyon widened up a bit.
We thought the slot canyon was going to be a short section but then we turned a corner and the slot continued.
The slot canyon went for 15 minutes before we popped out back in Chester Park.
After hiking through Chester Park, we got a different view of Elephant Canyon.
Once we reached camp, we enjoyed a short lunch before packing up and heading back to the car. We had a long drive ahead. Our next stop was Phoenix, Arizona. We didn’t have to be in Phoenix until early afternoon tomorrow but it still felt like a long way to go.
On our drive to Arizona, we past through Monument Valley. The park was closed due to Covid but the view from the highway was still pretty good.
As we look for a hotel, we all knew our trip was coming to and end. As we filled our hotel room with everything in the car (three baggage carts), Jim and I were glad not everything had to fit in our bags. Brooke was starting her own road trip adventure and could drive the rest of our stuff home with her. We are pretty sure the bottles of alcohol aren’t going to make it back to Seattle but the large roll of toilet paper will.
When Jim and I arrived in Seattle on Saturday, it was cold and rainy. The hiking season was definitely over. We were both sad to have our adventures with Brooke end for the year but she is already planning to come back in July for more backpacking. That gives us 6 months to heal and rest up. It is exhausting running around with a 26 year old.
—————- Photo Gallery —————-
Walls near the entrance to Capital Reef National Park Chimney at the entrance of Capital Reef National Park Jim freezing after taking pictures in Capital Reef National Park 
Brooke and a Rock Formation in Capital Reef National Park 
Rock Formations in Capital Reef National Park White Domes in Capital Reef National Park Sun rays over Canyonlands from Grand View Point Trail Jim on Grand View Point Trail in Islands in the Sky Sunset at Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park 
Eileen looking over Canyonlands from Grand View Point Sunset from Grand View Point 
Jim and Brooke heading out to Double Arch Double Arch before sunrise in Arches National Park Jim climbing in Double Arch Jim in Double Arch waiting for sunrise 
Arches National Park from Double Arch North and South Windows in Arches National Park at sunrise Brooke and Jim at Skyline Arch in Arches National Park 
Eileen in Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park Landscape Arch in Devil’s Garden in Arches National Park Jim and Eileen in Partition Arch in Arches National Park 
Jim in the Devil’s Garden 
Brooke in Navajo Arch in Devil’s Garden Jim in Double O Arch at Arches National Park 
Private Arch in Devil’s Garden Jim and Brooke working their way down the trail in Devil’s Garden Brooke on the “primitive” trail in Devil’s Garden LaSal Mountains above the towers in Devil’s Garden Delicate Arch and the LaSal Mountains Jim in the Delicate Arch Amphitheater 
Jim and Delicate Arch Sunset at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park Brooke, Eileen, and Jim at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park Eileen with Delicate Arch at sunset Brooke heading into The Needles in Canyonlands National Park 
Brooke and Jim hiking Elephant Canyon Jim and Brooke hiking out of Elephant Canyon Sun coming through Druid’s Arch at the head of Elephant Canyon Druid’s Arch in Canyonlands National Park Brooke and Elephant Canyon in Canyonlands Druid’s Arch reflexing on canyon walls Jim and Brooke hiking down the ladder near Druid’s Arch Camp in Elephant Canyon in the Needles Canyonlands Needles Jim with the Needles of Canyonlands 
Jim hiking through the Needles in Canyonlands Jim and Brooke looking over Chester Park Jim getting stuck at the entrance of the slot canyon Entry of Joint Trail Slot Canyon 
Sunlight in Joint Trail Canyon Jim on the Joint Trail in Canyonlands National Park Jim hiking the Joint Trail Slot Canyon in Canyonlands 
Chester Park in Canyonlands National Park Brooke and Jim above Chester Park in Canyonlands Jim and Canyonlands National Park Needles Monument Valley at sunset