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Topic: Arches NP/ Grand Canyon, etc on the fly, Where to go ?< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 14 2012, 10:11 pm  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
My wife and I are driving down to my mothers house in Phoenix, AZ for Thanksgiving, in a few days, but I have a day or two to spare going and coming.

I'm hoping for one full day at Moab and Arches, since I've never been there, for a drive through, and short 1-2 mi hikes.

I've never been to the Grand Canyon, as well, so I'll be trying to at least drive in to see the S Rim

What else is along the way between Moab and Phoenix that is a "Must See" and would only involve an hour or 2 detour ?

I'm looking for easy photo ops that are either drive up or at most 2-3 mi hikes since this is going to be a pretty rushed trip.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 14 2012, 10:27 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Delicate Arch hike.
Edge of Cedars Museum in Blanding, UT

Check out http://www.bogley.com/   lots of local info.
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 14 2012, 11:04 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
If you can work it in, I wouldn't miss Zion (easy to at least drive through on the way to the GC).  Bryce Canyon's on the way as well if you have time.  Both are very nice, but nothing compares to the Grand Canyon IMO.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 14 2012, 11:07 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
If the rangers are still doing the Fiery Furnace guided tour at Arches, try to sign up for that.  They take you down into a labyrinth of sandstone fins.  Arches has a ton of short hikes to Arches right off the road, too.

In Arizona, we enjoyed our stop at the Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments - they are both interesting stops right next to each other.
http://www.nps.gov/sucr/parkmgmt/flag_parks.htm

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 14 2012, 11:16 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
What is the weather like on average on the South Rim in December and January?
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 1:52 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
See you there! We will be hiking the Murphy Trail (Island in the Sky) on Friday and renting a jeep Saturday to do Chicken Out and Hurrah Pass.

Try driving out to the Needles Overlook and/or Anticline Overlook, both can be done in a car on good gravel roads.
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 7:43 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
How many days do you have between Moab and Phoenix?  If you have time, I would visit Page (Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Water Holes Slot Canyon, the Toadstools, Glen Canyon Dam are all things that would fit in your time criteria). If you don't have time and go straight to the Grand Canyon (which I agree is a must), I would stop by Coal Mine Canyon outside of Tuba City then go through the east entrance of the south rim (Desert View).

There are several options between the Grand Canyon and Phoenix depending on your route and time: Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monument (outside Flagstaff), Montezuema's Castle, Sedona, Tuzigoot National Monument, and Jerome (nice museum in the old mining town).

Bryce and Zion are both fantastic, but not really on your way to Phoenix from Moab.
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 10:38 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Since you ask about spots between Moab and the Grand Canyon, I'd vote for Monument Valley. Especially, if you're a fan of western movies...

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 12:28 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Most of anything I consider unique in Monument Valley requires a Tribal Permit. If you can do it I'd hit Arches for some of the shorter Arch Hike, and then hit Natural Bridges NM heading farther Southwest. I personally think Natural Bridges is "better" than Arches.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 2:24 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Oh, if it's a choice between Arches and Monument Valley, there's no contest. Arches has numerous, fantastic short hikes, with the Devils Garden loop one of my all-time favorite hikes.

I haven't visited Natural Bridges yet, though always wanted to. You might go there instead of Monument Valley. It's not that you can you go wrong in that area...

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 7:52 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Weather on the South Rim.  We've spent the last two Christmas's there visiting our son who works for Xanterra.  I've seen it mild with temps in the 50's during the day, I've seen two snowstorms, and I've seen the temperature below 0 on my car thermometer as we left one morning.  So, it's a crap shoot on weather.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 9:39 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Thanks for all the great ideas !!

We'll be driving S down 191 through Moab, all the way to 160, then west to 89 and south to Phoenix, Sun-Tues/Wed. The weather sounds gorgeous.

On the way back, we want to head back N on 191 again, to 262 then east to Cortez past Hovenweep/ Canyon of the Ancients/ Mesa Verde. Then back up 285 to Denver and north. Weather permitting of course.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 10:08 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Given your route, you should make the short detour to Coal Mine Canyon. It would be about a 30 mile detour, but the canyon is not far off the main highway (you just need to know where you are going because there are no signs). You drive right up to the canyon. It's really pretty!

If the timing is right, enter the Grand Canyon through the eastern entrance and hit Desert View in late afternoon/sunset (great light this time of day). It's one of my favorite spots at the Grand Canyon.
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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 15 2012, 10:45 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
If you end up anywhere near Page, AZ definitely hit up Buckskin Gulch!  Buckskin Gulch/The Wave

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 10:59 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Another first, first time using free wifi !

Arches was beautiful. We spend all day yesterday exploring, lingering there until well past sunset .

Can't post any photos until I get home and my computer. All I have is a little netbook here.

Heading to the Grand Canyon in a couple of minutes.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 27 2012, 9:46 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
We just got home tonight. Thank you for all of the advise, we needed 4-5 more days just to fit in all of the options so we'll just have to plan on visiting my mother more often.

I'm still downloading the 32 GB's of RAW's from my camera.

This is one of the first images on the first card.

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PostIcon Posted on: Nov. 30 2012, 1:17 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Sweet.

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PostIcon Posted on: Dec. 02 2012, 10:12 am Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE
Island in the Sky - Thanksgiving

Long Valley

Murphy Hogback

Murphy Trail

Not Impressed
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