We spent the night in Moab, Utah, which put us within minutes of reaching Arches National Park. We won’t go on any spectacular hikes or do a backcountry overnight camping, but we will have had the opportunity to at least once in our life see this landscape with our own eyes.

Hence the name: Arches. Click the image or click here to see a larger version.

I believe this was called Delicate Arch.

We chose a weather-appropriate day to be here. What we didn’t choose wisely was how much time to allocate to being here, only 3 hours.

Route 211 off the 191 is where we have to aim the car to enter the southern end of Canyonlands National Park. Along the way is the Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument which is a treasure while simultaneously being a place that draws in absolute idiots who see no harm in defacing these incredible monuments. This won’t be the first time I ask myself what is wrong with young men. Seriously, the elderly and most women do not have the destructive potential of a man between the ages of 15 and 27.

Route 211 heading into Canyonlands.

Welcome to Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

This is not a park you just drive through or walk up to an edge and feel you’ve seen anything. The depth and breadth of this park are to be seen by foot but be wary of The Maze as it is not unheard of that people get lost in there and die. We should also note that someday we’ll return for a hike out to the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. Click the image or click here for a larger view of this panorama.

On the way to Bluff, Utah, for an overnight at Calf Canyon Bed & Breakfast, we passed through Monticello, where the road sign still reads Highway 666. Religious zealotry and superstition will one day change this Highway to Hell to Highway 491 in pandering to the wacky.