Planning your Desert Adventure

If you're looking to plan a southwest adventure there are many great travel blogs you should probably check out for much more detailed info but I'm happy to share a few ideas to get you started.

I've tried to not be too prescriptive because part of the fun is exploring and finding places on your own. I've also tried to be mindful of time. The drive time between places isn't extreme but you could spend more time exploring each area so you'll have to decide; Do you want to see as many places as possible from the road or do you want to see fewer places up close and personal from the trail?

There are several airports you can fly to as a starting point. The three most popular would be,

1. Sky Harbor Phoenix,

2. Salt Lake City International airport or

3. Las Vegas.

Let's just say you fly into Salt Lake City...

The first place I'd head for is:

Moab (4 hour drive from Salt lake)

On the way to Moab be sure to stop in Helper, a revitalized town popular for its many cool art galleries. It also boasts a great little coffee shop and a craft brewery where I can recommend both the pizza and the beer.

Depending on the time of day you arrive in Moab you'll have to figure out an itinerary that works for you. You can literally spend weeks here but here are a few of my recommendations.

1. Arches National Park (just north of town) Plan to hike out to Delicate Arch for sunset. It's gorgeous.

2. Drive down Shaefer Trail - This drive starts just north of town on Potash Road and eventually turns into Shaefer trail. It's probably best to buy a paper map of the area while fuelling up before heading out. A short way down Potash road you'll see a trailhead for Corona Arch Hike. This is a worthwhile hike (especially if you opt out of going to Arches). When you pop up out of the canyon to the west you'll be on top of a large plateau. Depending on the time of day you could go south to Grand View point overlook or go north to Dead Horse Point (Both offer incredible top down views of the canyonlands)

3.There are several campgrounds out here in the area called Island in the Sky. We stayed at a little one called Cowboy Camp. There is also one called Horsethief. There are also tons of free campsite options on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land along Dubinky Well Rd (Old Dead Horse Pt / BLM 137). BLM sites are first come first served. Use only previously used sites and stay on trails. (Also keep in mind that desert ecosystems are very fragile so it is required that you pack out your poop and dispose of it in town at designated drops. You may want to bring a tightly sealed ammo box and plastic bags for that nasty bit o' business).

Monument Valley (2.5 hour drive from Moab)

You could spend a day here driving back roads, horse back riding etc.

This area has some of the most epic and iconic American Southwest views. Just before crossing the state line into Arizona you'll come down a long hill called Forest Gump hill (made famous in the movie of the same name among many others).

Be aware that Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings time. This might not be an issue for you depending when you visit but now you know.

Page ( 2 hour drive from Monument Valley)

Page has a couple of really cool sights.

1. Horsehoe bend - short hike (1 mile?)

2. Antelope Canyon - (need to book a tour with a Navajo tour guide)

3. You can also get out on Lake Powell or tour Glen Canyon Dam.

4. There may also still be flat water raft trips from the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry. We did this almost 30 years on our honeymoon. Floating down the Colorado under towering red stone walls and cliffs was a very chill way to spend an afternoon.

From Page you'll need to decide if you're going to go 

A. up to the North Rim of the Canyon and on to Zion Nat'l park, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, etc... or 

B. go to the South Rim of Grand Canyon, then on to Sedona, possibly the Apache trail and then head back.

Either way you'll be heading south out of town on #89 and you'll come through one of my favorite rock passes before descending down off the plateau. Great view!

You could also combine options A+B

Drive up to the North Rim of the Canyon ( 2.5 hours from Page)

You'll come through the Vermillion Cliffs area and Marble Canyon - another of my favourites among favourites. I have not yet been to the North Rim but I hear they have a crazy glass walkway out over the canyon (sounds amazing).

Zion Nat'l park, (2.25 hour drive from North Rim)

I’d recommend entering Zion park from the east via mount Carmel Junction. As you enter the park the road enters a long tunnel that eventually empties into a canyon - it's spectacular.  As for hikes in Zion I’d recommend Watchman’s Trail and Angels' Landing (you’ll need to enter a lottery for a trail pass for the upper part of angel’s landing but it’s worth it!!)

Valley of Fire, (2 hour drive from Zion)

Heading back to Vegas see if you have time to swing through Valley of Fire State Park (unless you’re sick of red rocks at that point ;). Lots of places to stop, hike picnic and take pics. Hoover Dam, (1 hour) is also worth a short side trip and visit.

Drive to Sedona, (4 hours)

You could spend days here, hiking and off roading. In Sedona I’d recommend the hike up Cathedral Rock from Back O’ Beyond road but there are many others to choose from too. I’d also recommend visiting the Church of the Holy Cross designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (especially If you didn't have time to tour Talieson West in Scottsdale). There are good restaurants here too. Order me some cactus fries and rattlesnake suasage mmm...

If you can afford a short side trip when you're in Sedona, then Jerome is a cool old ghost town turned tourist trap.

Drive through Tonto Forest to Lake Roosevelt (2.75 hour drive)

Then take the  Apache trail to Phoenix (3 hours of gravel road - Amazing drive but sometimes a bit of a corduroy road). Apparently this trail just reopened after many years of being closed due to weather damage I believe.

You may want to check to confirm that. My Google maps route stops at Tortilla Flat but this website says the whole trail is open again.  Allow a half day to experience it.

When in Phoenix consider a hike up Squaw peak (now called Piestewa Peak )

There are also golf courses and Art Galleries in Scottsdale of those of you who are so inclined.

I also recommend a tour of Talieson West - One of a kind FrankLloyd Wright creation. A little culture never hurts

Finally, If you can head south to Tucson for a day I'd recommend Saguaro Nt'l park (WEST). Drive in from W Speedway Blvd which turns into W Gates Pass road for a great vista as you enter the park. There is an old movie set town in here (Old Tucson) and a little further is the Desert Museum which is great. Enjoy exploring the dirt roads through the saguaro forest before heading home or going to dinner in Tucson

If you have any further questions about anything I've shared above, fire away. I'm happy to help and share what I know.

To be continued.....