Day 46, April 17, 2023, Monday. Moab, UT (149 miles) (elevation 4,026)

We departed Gouldings Monument Valley RV Park headed to Moab. Rosemary found an arch enroute, called Wilson Arch, and we stopped in a pull off to see and climb up to the top.  Great view of the arch from the pull off. What was supposed to be a 5 minute hike did not account for the 500 foot elevation climb at an elevation over 5,000 feet. With a few stops for breathers we reached the arch. Worth the climb! Onward to the Sun Outdoors RV Park (FHU).  Grocery shopping for the first time in awhile at City Market where we filled the shopping cart, then the car, then the coach.

Day 47, April 18, 2023, Tuesday. Moab, UT

Rosemary had her dulcimer class but with the campground wifi lacking, for $8 we upgraded the wifi for a day and had no problems. The afternoon was spent at the Canyonlands National Park about 34 miles northwest of the campground. It was a sunny day with temps around 70 but windy. The district of the park we visited was the Island in the Sky. We headed to the far end of the park at the Grand View Point. And grand it was! We also hiked the Grand View Trail, an easy 1.8 mile out and back following the canyon edge. Spectacular panoramic views the entire trail. Next we hiked the Mesa Arch Trail, an easy 0.6 miles. Next we hiked the Upheaval Dome Trail, a moderate 1.2 mile trail. The trail viewpoints were at the top of rocky edges where the wind was blow you over strong. It was late in the day and the temps became much colder. The dome is a unique geologic feature formed by a meteorite impact 60 million years ago making a crater 1/3 mile across. On the way to the park exit we stopped at the Shafer Trail for a view but did not do the trail. This was the only National Park we missed in our 2015 trip and we were glad to have finally visited the park. A must see!

Grand View Point

Mesa Arch

Upheaval Dome

Shafer View Point

Day 48, April 19, 2023, Wednesday. Moab, UT

We planned to visit the Dead Horse Point State Park which is very close to Canyonlands NP.  The forecast was for sunny weather but on the way to Dead Horse it started snowing on us. When we got to the entrance of the park it was still snowing and visibility was poor. The best features of the park were its views of the canyons. We decided to not go into the park and turned around. As we were leaving we came to the intersection where we could turn to go to Canyonlands. As the snow had stopped and that there was one trail close to the visitor center we did not hike yesterday, we decided to try the Shafer Trail. By the time we got to the trail the sun was coming out. The trail is short and easy and provides a great view of the canyon. So with the weather improving we headed back to Dead Horse and by the time we got there the sun was shining. We drove to the end of the road to the Dead Horse Point Overlook. There was a fantastic view of the Colorado River and canyon. We hiked the Neck Trail which goes along a very narrow part of the mesa with canyons on both sides. We stopped at a few other viewpoints and then headed to Arches National Park where we had entrance tickets for 2:00. We had been to Arches in 2015 but could not see it all as the summer heat limited us to a 7 am to noon visit. We drive to the Sand Dune Arch parking lot. The Sand Dune Trail is a short 0.2 mile hike so we decide we did not need our backpacks (which holds our water). As we did the hike it became a deja vu as we had been there before, in 2015. The halfway on the hike there was a fork to the Broken Arch which we could see in the not too far distance, or so it seemed. We arrived at the Broken Arch and each group of people were cooperative in staying out of the arch to allow others to take photos. We took our photos and walked climbed through the arch to where the trail continued onward to the Tapestry Arch. The trail map indicated the trail was a loop so we proceed. When we got to Tapestry Arch we had it to ourselves. The entry was a bit steep but we made it up to the arch. It would have been a good time for a water break if we had brought water. The day that snowed on us in the morning was now a hot sunny afternoon. We proceeded on the trail which lead us to the Devil’s Garden parking lot. The trail back to the Sand Dune parking lot was still a mile away and we had just hiked about 3 miles. I spotted a car driving towards us and the parking lot exit and I stopped it. The couple (RVers from Salt Lake City) were nice enough to give us a lift to the Sand Dune parking lot.  After a water break, we drive to the Devil’s Garden parking lot and hike to the Tunnel Arch and the Pine Tree Arch. We had both to ourselves. As the day is getting late, we decide one more hike. We drive to the Windows Section and hike to the North Window, South Window and the Turret Arch. By this time it was cold and windy. The North Window is where Rosemary took a photo of me in 2015 inside the arch from a distance which made me look like an ant. So this time I took Rosemary’s photo there. Dinner at Moab Brewery was not great but the Black Raven Oatmeal Stout was very good. Unfortunately, they do not sell it in cans (for my beer can collection). 

Shafer Point Trail (Canyonlands)

Dead Horse Point State Park

Arches

Sand Dune Arch

Broken Arch

Tapestry Arch

Skyline Arch

Tunnel Arch

Pine Tree Arch

Turret Arch

North Window Arch

South Window Arch

North and South Windows

Double Arch

Day 49, April 20, 2023, Thursday. Farmington, NM (229 miles) (elevation 5,395)

Although we planned to head north into Colorado to visit Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park and then Mesa Verde National Park, those parks were closed due to snow. So we departed Moab and headed south to Hovenweep National Monument. The road was rough after leaving highway 191 including a surprise section without pavement. When we got to the visitor center the 3 RV spots were taken so I made my own spot on pavement with room for vehicles to get around me. The ranger said that was fine and apologized for the small lot. The ranger indicated that when it was built, the feds did not think anyone would visit. It is a bit out of the way but it hosts 35,000 people a year now. The park has many structures built from 1100 to 1230 by the ancestral Pueblo people. We hiked the entire park loop of 1.5 miles including going down into the canyon and of course, back up to the mesa. An interesting place and nice hike. Next we went to the Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park, the only place where 4 states meet.  It was cold and windy. After paying the Navajo fee of $8/person, we entered the monument.  There is no hiking, this is just a photo opportunity. It was not very busy but we waited our turn and had others take photos for us and we took photos for them. We continued to Farmington and checked into Bluffview RV Park (FHU). 

Day 50, April 21, 2023, Friday. Taos, NM (219 miles) (elevation 6,969)

After a 28 degree night, we visited the Aztec Ruins National Monument about 15 miles from our Farmington campground.  The ancestral Puebloans occupied this community from the late 1000's to the late 1200's including a 3 story building with over 400 rooms and several kivas (ceremonial rooms). We attended a ranger talk in the reconstructed Great Kiva. A fascinating place where we went into several rooms. In 1987, it was declared a Word Heritage Site. Next headed to Taos. There are no direct routes so we were on a lot of remote 2 lane roads and had to get around some mountains and went through the Santa Fe National Forest.  On the way we had a heard of 8 Elk try to cross the road in front of us. We were able to stop in time but we spooked the elk and the 5 that crossed the road now turned and headed back across the road again. We had to make another hard stop when we went around a curve and came upon a cattle drive in the middle of the road.  We arrived just after 6:00 and checked into Taos RV Park (FHU).

Day 51, April 22, 2023, Saturday. Taos, NM 

The morning was spent walking around the Taos Plaza shops. We arrived at 10:30 but most shops did not open until 11:00 and a large number remained closed. The afternoon was spent grocery shopping and relaxing. Our first day without photos!