DAY 08 - "It's the ATV capital of the world..."

Leaving Salt Lake City under a pitch-black morning, we headed south to the heart of Utah’s red rock country.

Taking a left past Provo, the sun began to rise and we, too, gained elevation…so much that hills were dipped in powdered sugar, the highway shoulders white with snow.

The Volvo smoothly wound its way down The 6 as we sipped our coffees and gazed out the windows, watching the geological landscape evolve from beautiful to magnificent.

As we approached the entrance to Arches National Park, we were pleasantly surprised to see the main Visitor’s Center to be open.  I was absolutely thrilled because uromysitisis was setting in and we were maybe five minutes away from a major emergency situation…

And again, no fees to pay or lifetime passes to scan, no ranger manning the gate, government still shut down, no rules, lawless West.

This also meant that there were no controlled windows of admission, which was great for us because we didn’t have to make a reservation…but neither did the 100 million other vanfuls who decided to show up.

There were people everywhere.  Ew.

We grabbed a map and headed up the switchbacks, vertical red rock walls and dramatic geological wonders welcoming us to this foreign planet.

And Arches National Park is nothing short of otherworldly.

Massive sculpted spires, impossible Jenga-like rock formations, and of course, towering sandstone arches.

Everywhere you look was a reminder to the sheer power and beauty of tectonic influence and the tireless labors of erosion.  Wind, water, and ice…oh my.

We stopped at nearly every viewpoint on the way out to The Delicate Arch and back to The Windows.  Couldn’t get enough of it.  It was stupid.  Stupid beautiful.

Needing to hit the road, we grabbed a bite at The Trailhead in Moab and moseyed on outta town.

The three hours between Arches and our accommodations for the evening (The View) served mostly a reprieve for the eyes…a few mesas, rolling hills dotted with trees, nothing extraordinary and that was okay, we needed a break from amazing.

That is until, just outside of Mexican Hat, the world opened our eyes again as we sped through steeped canyons, unique mesa formations…the silhouette of Monument Valley glowing blue in the distance, the very road on which Forest Gump decided he was tired of running.

Spectacular.

We’re staying at the only hotel in Monument Valley itself and every room has a balcony and a picturesque view of the entire universe. 

Next up, the Monument Valley loop road!

DAY 09_Part One