Moab, UT - Nov 2009

This wasn't our first time to visit Moab, Utah, but on our previous visit we didn't have time to visit Arches National Park so we wanted to stop here for a few days and go exploring. Driving through Moab gave us this great view of a huge tree with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.We stayed at the OK RV Park just south of Moab and had a nice view of the bluffs to the west of town. It's a Passport America park, so the rates were a reasonable $15/night. The sites would have been unpleasantly close had the park been full, but there were only a handful of other campers, so it felt roomy.
The next two days we spent in and around Arches NP. The park is huge and we could have spent several more days here, but a cold front with snow/rain/ice was in the forecast so we cut our visit short to move along south. During the two days spent here, we had great weather -- sunny and not too warm. Here are a few photos.

The first formation that you come to as you enter the park is called "Park Avenue." So named because of the tall fins (thin walls of rock) that look like New York skyscrapers as they tower above you.
A formation called "The Three Gossips" -- I would have called it "The Three Wise Men."
A distant view of "The Windows" region with the La Sal Mountains in the background.
A closer view of the North and South Windows.
A short trail leads to the base of "The Windows."
We walked the trail and got a close-up view of the arches.
The "Garden of Eden", "Elephant Walk" and "Petrified Dunes" with the La Sal Mountains behind.
A distant view of "Delicate Arch" - there are people to the left of the arch.
A close-up view of "Delicate Arch."
There were plenty of rock formations that looked like a boulder was precariously perched atop a pedestal. Here are a few of my favorites:

The upper part of this one looked like it was small jolt away from sliding off sideways.
I called this one "About to Roll Off" rock.
This one is famous and has a name, it is called "Balance Rock". It is almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
Although there weren't many trees in the park, a few cottonwoods lined this wash and added a bright spot of color with their golden leaves.
Just beyond the entrance to Arches NP, as the highway enters Moab, there is a bridge that crosses over the Colorado River. The view of the water, canyon and footbridge that are here makeup the most picturesque setting. I tried to capture the beauty of it, but the shadows in the canyon made it difficult. Here are a few of my attempts.





After three days in Moab, we continued our trek southward into New Mexico. Here's the famous roadside tourist trap called Hole 'n the Rock. We didn't stop -- maybe next time.

Just beyond Hole 'n the Rock is Wilson's Arch -- as seen from the highway.