Moab

Welcome to my first post! It is so overwhelming to begin this journey because there is so much that I want to share, and so I decided that I will start with something recent and fresh in my mind: my trip to Moab, Utah. My college runs on the block program, an academically intensive schedule where students take one class at a time for three and a half weeks, then get a five day break, then start the next class. With my school being nested in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this gives me the perfect opportunity to travel around and explore the outdoor wonders of the West during my time at the college.

During my most recent block break, three of my friends and I decided to drive seven hours and explore Moab without knowing that it would be the experience of a lifetime. We embarked on the trip knowing that we wanted to be outside, hike, and spend some time near the water, and I can confidently say we checked all of these things off of our list. We arrived on Wednesday night, tired from a long drive, to Under Canvas, a glamping site. The camp ground was covered in canvas tents that had humble beds, a fire place, and a porch with access to communal bathroom stalls, grills, fire pits, and a common tent. When we checked into the common tent, we were welcomed by the enthusiastic, well versed staff, who introduced us to the complimentary games, coffee, tea, s’mores, yoga classes, and live music. It was the perfect accommodation: notes of quiet, outdoor luxury that still fit into a college student’s budget. As we promptly went to bed in preparation for our busy day ahead, we made bucket list plans to visit all of Under Canvas’ sites at some point in our lives- it was just that perfect!

We woke up early on Thursday to perfect weather (I really recommend Moab in middle to late April!) and headed to our first hike: North Fork of Mill Creek. As I mentioned, we were dead set on seeing water, and this easy 2.2 mile hike led us to a tiny waterfall where we took a quick dip. The hike was beautiful and relaxing, but it was a little busier than we had expected, so we decided not to stay too long and headed back to the car after only about an hour in search of another hike. We didn’t have much of a plan, so we searched All Trails, and happened to stumble across an absolute gem: Dead Horse Point State Park. We payed $20 (so only $5 each) and entered the park, stopping at the visitors center to see what we wanted to do. With ease, we decided on the West Rim Trail Hike, a 5 mile round trip that allowed us to overlook salt lakes and cannons, genuinely transporting us to Jurassic times. The trail was well marked, easy to navigate, peaceful, and not overcrowded which we greatly appreciated. As we headed back to camp, gleefully sweaty and covered in red clay, we deemed it the perfect day of hiking. Once back at our tent, we showered and grilled hot dogs before heading off to Arches National Park to watch the sunset. Sadly, due to poor planning (a lack of gas), we didn’t get very far into the park, but sat at a lookout point and amidst the clear skies were witness to a shocking sunset followed by an unpolluted view of the stars. Followed by s’mores and a campfire, we once again fell victim to an early bedtime.

North Fork of Mill Creek Waterfall!

On Friday, we woke up sore and seeking relaxation. We consulted a staff member who recommended we check out Ken’s Lake. We drove thirty minutes, and at first glance were disappointed by the man made lake filled with campers. We kept driving up into the rocks and pulled off at a random spot where we heard water running. We quickly parked and scurried down a random path, finding our paradise by luck. We spent the entire day in what we now reflect on as “our special place”. Monstrous clay rocks hitting the starkly crisp blue sky as a backdrop to smoothly submerged rocks cascading to a waterfall, providing a luscious greenery in contrast to the desert climate. As we listened to music, picnicked, and let all worries wonder, I remember thinking that I would never ever leave. Until dusk we sat, admiring mother nature, before we headed into the downtown part of Moab to do some shopping. I left empty handed, but the vintage Western stores definitely held promise if you are looking for a souvenir, cowboy boots, or jade jewelry. We ended the night (shockingly) with s’mores, a camp fire, and an early bed time.

The Sun shown through our canvas walls on Saturday morning as we regretfully realized it was time to go. We checked out of Under Canvas, vowing to return, and decided to fit in one more hike to get our jitters out before the car ride. Recommended to us by a friend, we headed to Grandstaff Trail. This hike was 5.7 miles, but between the uphill terrain and several river crossings, it felt much longer. We plugged it out and finished in about two hours, content after hiking alongside the Colorado River up into the red rocks.

Overall, I have nothing but great things to say about Moab. I truly think that it is a hidden gem and somewhere everyone must visit at least once because I have never experienced anything like it. The best way I can describe it is through Amos Lee’s song, Windows Are Rolled Down: longing, excitement, and new horizons that leave you with a new sense of exploration, mental refresh, appreciation for Mother Nature, and will to accomplish whatever the real world has to throw at you.

Check out the referenced gems of Moab here:

Under Canvas Moab: https://www.undercanvas.com/camps/moab/

North Fork of Mill Creek Hike: https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/moab/millcreek

Dead Horse Point Hike (West Rim Trail): https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/hiking-at-dead-horse-point/

Grandstaff Canyon Hike: https://www.blm.gov/visit/grandstaff-canyon-trailhead

Strawberry Coconut Latte

Wanderlust