When a friend visits, Joan and I like to play tour guide.
We show the local highlights, some nooks and crannies that others pass by, and tell stories and history to go with our adopted home.
On the recent three-day weekend, Joan’s good friend Kellye from her Atlanta hiking club days visited us here in Moab.
Our first day saw us taking in some Arches highlights.
As many times as we’ve seen the red rock formations, we never seem to tire of them.
The following day, we went to the Needles District of Canyonlands.
It is less visited than Arches, and the “Island in the Sky” district of Canyonlands is a favorite place for Joan and me, especially in the colder months.
On the way, we had to see the famous Newspaper Rock near the park entrance.
We entered the park and immediately went to a favorite overlook that takes in the namesake formations of this district.
Tip—If you go to the Needles and want a scenic view, go to the improved dirt road that leads to Elephant Hill, pull off at the kiosk before you drop into the trailhead, and enjoy what I think is a fantastic non-hiking view of the namesake part of this district.
We continued to take in some of the highlights of the Needles –
Pothole Point
Woodenshoe Arch
Cave Spring
We also went to the newly renamed Stone Storehouse, a name that more accurately reflects the Puebloan people.
Most of these structures we see far into the backcountry. To see such a place, a leisurely stroll from the road, makes an excellent introduction to this vital part of the cultural landscape of the Colorado Plateau.
We saw Kellye off the following morning and then went to Arches again. This time, we took a hike from a well-known landmark and went towards the river to take in views most visitors to Arches do not see.
We found it an excellent little hike so close to our home with its views of the Colorado River below and formed another trip idea for the future.
It’s a local weekend taking in some of the classics. And again realizing what a great place we call home.
