Wednesday Afternoon
Leave Salt Lake City
Drive to Arches National Park, Delicate Arch Trailhead. (236 miles- 4 hours)
Evening hike to Delicate Arch
Meet at the trailhead at 5:00. (If you stop in Moab first, plan for 40 minute drive to trailhead.) Early evening hiking is magical! This famous hike is 3 miles across red rock and takes 2-3 hours. It’s listed as “more difficult” but our little kids have done it without any problems. Bring a head lamp for the hike back.
Late dinner in Moab (8:00)
Thursday
Departure 9:00 AM
Drive to Arches National Park
Start at Landscape Arch.
This arch is more than a football field in length. It’s super cool! The trail is 2 miles and relatively flat- probably one hour of hiking.
Hike to Sand Dune Arch.
This is a super short (15 minute, ½ mile hike) We’ll spend some time here playing in the sand. You might want to bring a little towel to wipe down sandy bare feet. Get ready for an epic long jump contest.
Lunch- Head to the picnic area near Balanced Rock
We’ll eat sack lunches and have a game of Ultimate Frisbee
Afternoon hike to Windows and Turret Arch– 1 mile loop.
The rest of the afternoon can be spent wherever you want. You can go back to Moab, conquer another hike, explore the Visitors Center, or take a scenic drive.
Dinner in Moab
Friday
Departure 9:00 AM
Drive to Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky Entrance is 21 miles from Moab)
Hike Grand View Point Overlook
This is 2 miles along the canyon edge. Hold on to your hat and your small children! You’ll be humming the song “I’m On Top of the World.”
Drive to Whale Rock Picnic Area and eat sack lunches.
Hike to Whale Rock
About 1 mile walk to the tail of the whale. The kids will love climbing all over the whale.
Drive to Mesa Arch for final hike. Less than a mile.
Check it out- http://backcountrygallery.com/mesa-arch-sunrise/
Saturday
Drive to Corona Arch Trailhead 20 minutes from Moab via US-191 and UT-279 in Bootlegger Canyon. This will be our grand finale. It’s a 2.5 mile hike with a few cables, a ladder, and some natural stairs through steep parts. We’ve never done this one, but it sure looks fun and should be less crowded than the national parks- especially on a Saturday.
Lunch: You can bring sack lunches again or pick up something on your way home.
Arches National Park entrance fee $25
Canyonlands National Park entrance fee $25
If you have a 4th grader, make sure you get your free NP pass!
Cooler full of food for 2-3 lunches.
If we get to have tin foil dinners in Canyonlands, we’ll join forces to pull that together.
2-3 dinner meals at restaurants and possibly lunch on the drive home