by Bette Erickson
My fabulous and athletic, recently single girlfriend wanted to get away to Moab, Utah, so of course I obliged. As she explains, in Moab it's all about YUMMIES: Young, Urban, Macho Men Into Extreme Sports. Although she's about ten years younger than me, I was still able to keep up with her - the hiking part of the trip, that is.
It's hard to identify and single out my favorite hiking routes in and around Moab, so I'll offer a couple of the areas we hiked and other trails that were available to us while enjoying our four-day weekend together.
If you're not wanting to pay an entrance fee into one of the dedicated areas, check out the trailheads framing Moab. Free trail maps are available at the Moab Information Center located at Center and Main streets.
· Portal Overlook gains about 1,000 feet in 2 miles
· Corona Arch is ideal and gains 440 feet in 1.5 miles
· Fisher Towers Trail is some 2.2 miles one-way gaining 670 vertical feet
· Negro Bill Canyon is 2 miles one-way and climbs just 330 feet
· The Moab Rim Trail rises 940 feet in 3 miles
· Hidden Valley offers a 680 feet elevation gain in 2 miles
· Hunter Canyon is the easiest with a gentle incline of 240 feet in 2 miles
Now, the Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky District Trails are not to be missed while in the Moab area. This cliff-sided plateau, named for its spectacular canyons of all shapes and sizes, was carved by the mighty Green and Colorado Rivers. Here are a few good hikes:
· Upheaval Dome offers an 8.3 mile loop
· Mesa Arch is just a half mile loop, ideal for youngsters
· Murphy Point is 1.3 miles one-way, offering good photo opportunities
· The aptly named Grand View Point Overlook is 2 miles out and back, and so is the White Rim Overlook
· And my all-time favorite Neck Spring route is a cozy 5.8 mile loop
The Moab and Canyonlands area in southeastern Utah, an easy drive from Broomfield, is home to an Indian Tribal Park, two National Parks, three National Monuments, a National Forest, four State Parks. Plus, there are plenty of restaurants, tourist shops and hotels to choose from near the soaring arches and rolling sandstone landscape.
Bette Erickson is the author of "Best Boulder Region Hiking Trails" (Westcliffe Publishers, $19.95). Contact her at
bette_erickson@hotmail.com.
IF YOU GO
To Moab: Access westbound I-70. Take I-70 about 320 miles, then go south at exit 182 (US-191). Continue south on US-191 about 30 miles into the city of Moab.
Distance and Difficulty:: Varies
Elevation gain: Varies depending on route selected
Dogs: No
Information:
www.canyonlands-utah.com and
www.discovermoab.com or 800-635-MOAB.