3 DayArches -Winter Escape

Una Wirkebau
19 hours ago
5 min read

The red rock canyons of Utah, are second to none. Arches, is one of my favorite National Parks, visiting during the Winter, is the best time to visit Moab and the surrounding area. Sure, there are a number of local stores and restaurants which are closed for the off season, and yes, it's going to be cold, but the incredible scenery is yours to enjoy, practically alone.

Granted, you may still encounter a number of other folks out enjoying the fabulous views, but compared to most of the year, November to the end of February, are going to offer open parking spaces and less lines for that insta snap.

I suggest flying directly into Canyonlands Airport via Contour Air, which offers connections from Denver and Phoenix. There are heaps of car rental agencies in town, most of which are going to offer jeeps to take advantage of the plethora of off road options in the area. There are also a ton of accomodation options, winter is going to offer great rates, with most hotels within walking distance of the historic downtown, which is all of 5 blocks long. Arrival day, get yourself situated in town, buy some snacks for your next few days adventures, and fill your waterbottles. There is a lot of sun here, and it can be intense, but once it dips behind the red rock walls surrounding town, the temps will plummet quickly, layers are best, including a good puffer, hat and gloves.

Your first full day of adventure should begin with a good breakfast, as services will be none existent once you drive into Arches. Remember to bring sunglasses and to wear "grippy" shoes - I like Blundstones or New Balance trail runners, you will be encounering slick rock, sand, and pebbles on trails, with some steep slopes. I suggest getting to the entrance by 8, the longer you wait, the longer the lines and the more people you will encounter, even if town seems quiet. Once inside Arches, head directly to the Delicate Arch parking lot. This will take 30-45 minutes from town. By far the busiest trail, even this early, and during the winter, parking spots may be limited. If you have brought small children with you, this is a tough hike. I have seen countless families end up turning around or carrying thier kiddos. Neither a good option. This is a strenuous 3 mile return trail, with a small portion where those with hight issues, may be challenged. I am inclined to hug the wall during this ledge section, as it has a 100 foot or more drop off. There will most likely be a line forming for photo ops under the arch, but this tends to move quickly. Plan on 3 to 4 hours between the hike, photos and returning to your vehicle. There are pit toilets at the trail head, and a side trail leading to some petroglyphs, if interested.

Next up, head back the way you drove in, but once you have crested the hill leading towards the entrance, take the left turn to the Windows. This is a great spot to bring your lunch, with several great short hikes and lots of arches to enjoy. A larger parking lot, with ease of access to much easier view points, including Double Arch. By the time you have enjoyed this area, it will be late afternoon - heading back towards town, there are a number of other view points to stop at, which you passed on the way in. There are not a lot of evening activities in town, but getting a resort pass to use the heated pool and hot tub at one of the local hotels (if not already staying here) is a great option, as the night skies are incredible in this Dark Sky City. Another option is the Blu Pig, which has great BBQ and live music every night of the week.

Day Two - Same m.o. as yesterday, hit the park early after filling your belly. Bring snacks and plenty of water. Today you are heading to Devils Garden. Portions of this area are easy to access, and others are very difficult - in fact many folks will not get to several of the arches ( I am talking about you Double O and Navajo!) as the loop route includes very steep and precarious inclines and if rain or snow has been recent, an area where water crossing is a must. You can easily spend 3 or 4 hours here, bringing a picnic is a great idea. Once you head out, be sure to stop at Sand Dune Arch...this is another fantastic stop with easier access and great photo ops. The arch can be climbed into, with trail access also leading into a cavernous, sand filled maze of red rocks,

There are a ton of other incredible hikes and viewing areas left to discover, and one day is simply not enough to cover the rest. You could go back into Arches National Park, and continue exploring, but you could also use your Parks Pass to go into Canyonlands, and visit Mesa Arch - which is a superb option for sunrise. Regardless of when you head in, be sure to fill your gas tank, as it will take just under an hour to get to the trail head. So if sunrise is at 7:30, but sure to leave no later than 6:15, to provide enough time for the short hike as well. There are a ton of trail options on this entrance to Canyonlands, which is North of Moab, called Islands in the Sky District (there are other entry points South of town, which you will not have time to explore during this short visit, a reason to come back, for sure). You also have Dead Horse Park you can explore, offering more great views and trails into the canyon, which has a seperate entrance fee of $20 for a day pass.

Additionally, there are Gemini Bridges (high clearance , 4 x 4 vehicles only - I went with my subaru, from the Canyonlands entry, which was fine, but the route off of Hwy 191 is best left to off road vehicles only) ....and we haven't even brought up the spectacular Potash Road, the La Sal Loop, or Hwy 128, all of which offer stunning scenery, and a myriad of trails with additional arches to enjoy.

Bottom line, 3 days is not nearly enough, but a great taste of SE Utah. There is so much more here to explore, as well as a number of other amazing national parks in the State, where you could spend months exploring. Summer temps, can be brutal here, though people still come in droves. Spring and Fall tend to be the busiest seasons, where accomodation can be difficult to find. There are also a plethora of options from rock crawling tours to skydiving, mountain biking, fishing, river rafting, hunting, birding and more, outside of the quiet winter months. If you travel with your pup, remember dogs are not allowed on trails in the National Parks, but there are heaps of other super dog friendly options, just be sure to be careful of their paws, as the rocks can be super hot and abrasive.