Katie on a hike in Canyonlands

Moab, Utah

My favorite National Park has always been Canyonlands.  Since High School, my friends and I would go on roadtrips during breaks.  We’d always drive west and always end at (or near) Canyonlands in southeast Utah.  Since moving out here though, I haven’t been back.  With Katie’s PhD nearing its end and a departure from Utah on the horizon, we decided that she should see the Moab area.

Justin in Canyonlands in 2006
Justin in Canyonlands in 2006
Justin on a hike in Canyonlands
Justin on the same hike in 2015

We started with an 8-mile loop hike near the Needles district on the south side of the National Park.  Although it started with great early summer weather, it rained on us for the last hour.  We weren’t worried about the rain, but the entire area is in danger of flash floods so we picked up our pace for a couple miles at the end.

Katie after rainstorm in Canyonlands
Katie after rainstorm in Canyonlands

Adjacent to Canyonlands, is the more widely known Arches National Park.  The iconic Delicate Arch is featured on the license plate and is considered a landmark of southern Utah.  It was hot and crowded so we didn’t stay long.

Katie in front of Delicate Arch
Katie in front of Delicate Arch

However, on our way out of town and back to Salt Lake City we stopped by the Island in the Sky overlook at Canyonlands.  This is definitely one of the best views I’ve ever seen and I recommend everyone going.  In High School we had been here as well.

Justin at Island in the Sky overlook in 2006
Justin at Island in the Sky overlook in 2006
Katie overlooking Canyonlands from Island in the Sky overlook
Katie overlooking Canyonlands from Island in the Sky in 2015