Southern Utah Xmas Ventures - Day 1 - Arches National Park and Moab

It has been quite the adventure since arriving in Salt Lake City yesterday. Polly and I made it to Price last night via a mountain highway route in deep darkness (very precarious) and then onto Arches National Park and Moab this morning.

It was easy driving with spectacular views changing from grey mountains, to grassy plains and views of low lying clouds on the horizon below the rising sun and eventually on to red rock country.

It is Polly’s first visit to the southwest and my forth visit, but my first time to the Moab region. Polly didn't know what to expect and has found it quite surreal and difficult to put into words. I love this part of the country, it is very other worldly with strange geological rock formations and beautiful colour combinations of orange, red, white and blue rock , surrounded by muted yellow and green grasses, all sitting below a deep blue sky. Arches National Park itself is vast, quite unfathomable, breathtakingly beautiful and quite beyond your imagination.

The photos below capture a few of the spectaular views from our hikes and drive throughout day one of this very exciting adventure. We will return to the park in the coming days to take in a few more arches, but tomorrow it is off to Canyonlands.

Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trailhead

Double Arch

Double Arch with views to La Sal Mountains beyond

Landscape Arch along the Devils Garden Trail

We will continue to post photos of the trip, but for now I will leave you with my favorite shot of the day!

See Polly's Instragram page grief_clouds