The Wild Wild West 🏜

During the height of quarantine and the unemployed life, my best friend and I were talking about how difficult this time had been. We were craving a change in scenery but also knew we had to do it the safest way possible not only for ourselves and our families but also for those around us. So we made a spur of the moment decision to jump in the car from my home in Orange County, CA, and visit the otherworldly national parks in Utah that we had heard so much about but had never had the opportunity to visit. So off we went!

Planning beforehand: the biggest tip I can recommend to anyone who is doing this road trip and planning to visit more than 3 national parks is to purchase the National Park Pass. You pay $80 and it is valid for one year, so it saves you a lot of money by not having to pay all of the entrances at each park.

Springdale

Day One: We set off on the strenuous 7-hour journey from Orange County to Springdale, Utah (the home of our first stop, Zion National Park). We drove through Las Vegas and naturally spent most of the day in the car. Before arriving at our Airbnb, we made sure to stop at a store in town that sold liquor and wine (keep in mind that it is much harder to come by stores that sell liquor in Utah than in most states, so you should take advantage of stopping by one when you can). We arrived late at night to our Airbnb so we ended the long day with a quick dip in the jacuzzi beneath the stars.

Day Two: The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast and tea outside of our airstream which was stationed right in front of Zion’s lush green mountains. We got ready for our day full of hiking and packed all the things we could need (snacks, water, sunscreen, cameras, etc) and set off. From where we were staying, we needed to drive through the Zion Tunnel to get to the other side. The windy road took our breath away as huge mountains appeared everywhere we looked. We turned off to the side and were awestruck with the magnificent views. In any tediously planned trip, there is naturally always one thing that gets away from you…. for us it was the shuttle tickets. To access the many trails that Zion has to offer, everyone must purchase a shuttle ticket that lets you into the park and they sell out quickly. We clearly did not purchase one beforehand, however, there is another independent shuttle service that does not sell out as quickly because their prices are significantly increased for last-minute hikers (oops don’t be like us and purchase your daily shuttle tickets beforehand). Anyways, the shuttle drops you off at any of the hikes you may want to visit however many times you’d like. We were lucky to have an expert Utah friend that told us Narrows was THE hike we had to do if we only had one day in Zion (thanks Tatum;). The Narrows is given its name because the trail leads you on the river that runs through Zion’s extremely steep canyon and therefore leaves a relatively narrow trail for you to walk through (keep in mind this hike is primarily a water hike and therefore demands you have good quality water shoes for the sake of your feet). Needless to say, the Narrows was the most incredible and unique trail we had ever been on. You weave past every bend the river takes and each time you are amazed by another different and beautiful thing you see. I highly recommend this hike to anyone who’s visiting Zion for the first time. The park has several other trails such as Angel’s Landing that is more advanced and I would recommend to someone who has already done The Narrows. We ended the perfect day with an adventurous, and at times frightening, sunset horseback ride in the desert - but that’s what new experiences are all about right?

~With more time we would have loved to also visit the Emerald Pools that are in the park and if were more experienced hikers, Angel’s Landing~

*keep scrolling to hear about Arches National Park in Moab*

Moab

Day Three: We spent most of our next day driving from the very Southwest corner of Utah (Zion) for ~4.5 hours to the Northeast city of Moab. After many pitstops, hours of music, and gas station snacks, we arrived at our beautiful Airbnb that was a private cottage located in a private community. We read on the hammocks and enjoyed the sun. We then grabbed lunch in town at Gloria’s (which would end up becoming our favorite spot) and were told by a local that the best place to watch the sunset was at Dead Horse Point State Park. It’s funny how the spontaneous things you least expect end up being the most fun and memorable moments…. We drove to Dead Horse Point and were speechless when we saw the humongous canyon we were atop. During golden hour, the sunlight shines onto the red rocks and lights up the canyon down below you in so many different colors. By far, it was the most incredible sunset I have ever seen.

Day Four: The main highlight and purpose of our time in Moab was hiking Arches National Park. The day after arriving, we made sure to wake up early to avoid the hottest hours of the sun. Unfortunately, in the dead of summer, there is little that can be done to avoid the intense heat. Our main and first hike in Arches was Delicate Arch which is the famous freestanding arch that most people associate with this national park. The hike was challenging to say the least- not only was it very steep for most of the hike but it was also outrageously hot. You hike up a rock and then sand for about 2.5 miles until you come across a deep curved bowl where you see the picturesque delicate arch at the far end of the structure. For someone who isn’t the biggest fan of heights, it’s not the most pleasant experience at first but walking across to the other side and standing underneath the arch is an extraordinary feeling. After we hiked down the mountain, we got lunch and hung out inside the park stopping at some of the other incredible rock formations during golden hour. We first stopped by Balanced Rock which is a prime example of the superhuman power of nature. Due to years of ice, wind, and erosion, the rock has been shaped in such a way that it seems as though the top rock is so heavy and defying gravity by balancing. If that wasn’t a crazy enough example, we went to our last stop of the day at Double Arch where you see, as you would imagine by the name, not just one arch but another one overlapping it. It’s absolutely crazy to see in person and just shows you the sheer beauty of nature.

Day Five: After our strenuous hiking day the day prior and due to the extreme heat in Moab we were desperate for some sort of water activity that would allow us to cool off. We were recommended Mill’s Creek - a local spot. We walked along a path in the sand for some time until we came across a small waterfall leading from a cold mountain spring where young kids were enjoying the day and diving in. It was the perfect activity for us in the extreme Utah sun. We also heard that some people enjoyed the water at the Colorado River and would paddleboard or raft down it. So we drove by the river and enjoyed the views while we read our books. Since we enjoyed the sunset at Dead Horse so much, we decided to return for our last night in Moab and it did not disappoint - again. It’s crazy how you can visit the exact same spot and it can look totally different simply based on the rays of the sun of that evening. Absolutely breathtaking!

~With more time, we would have loved to visit Canyonland State Park near Moab. If we had more time on our drive back we would really have wanted to visit Capitol Reef National Park & Mystic Hot Springs~

*film of Balanced Rock at Arches National Park*

*film of Double Arch at Arches National Park*

*final sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park*

*film of sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park*

Kanab

Day Six: We drove back from Moab to Kanab (which is a city close to Zion) to stay at the most spectacular Airbnb that we had been excited about the whole trip. The home was made of adobe and each touch just elevated this desert oasis. I’ve linked the Airbnb here. We spent most of our time in Kabab enjoying this home to the fullest and resting after our full days of hiking and our long drive the next day. We made a wonderful dinner at home and ended the day just like we had all the other days, by watching the sunset. For the last time in Utah, we went to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and watched the sun set and reflect on the sand. The dunes were illuminated and made it seem as if we were in the Sahara, not Utah! Unlike anything we’d ever seen. The next day we begrudgingly returned home to Orange County!

For us, the beauty in Utah was that for every town and place in the state that we visited, none was like the other. Each National/State park was unique and offered an extraordinary experience for us. Each town had it’s own charm and atmosphere. Even the actual landscape of the state changed right in front of our eyes from lush green forest in Zion to red sandy desert in Moab! I’ve never seen a more picturesque or nature-filled place and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is open for a road trip and is a big fan of nature. During these times, an intimate experience with nature is always a great way to bring us all some extra happiness :)

~With more time, we would have liked to drive through or visit Bryce Canyon~