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Thur |
Mesa Verde NP to Sand Island BLM, 200 miles. Camp Sand Island BLM |
Cortez has a lot to do on bike, hike, and fish. Also the Ute Indian casino. Pretty much the same terrain as Mesa Verde, very barren and remote. Four Corners is another Indian swap mart. From there heading towards Natural Bridges things are completely isolated. Maybe one car an hour or so. Drove by the Sand Island BLM marina and campground so I pulled in. Only camper thought the boat landing into the very murky San Juan River was busy into the late night and early morning. |
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Fri |
Sand Island BLM to Natural Bridges NP, 80 miles. Camp at NP |
Travel past the Valley of the Gods and then climbed over a high mesa via a very windy, very narrow, and very steep gravel road. Arrived in the morning and went right out on the 9 mile canyon hike through the three bridges. A few cricket sounds at night. |
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Sat |
Natural Bridges NP to Canyonlands (Needles District) NP, 150 miles. Camp at NP |
Canyonlands is a fascinating wonderland of rugged red mountains and canyons all the way to the horizon. The colors are grand. |
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Sun |
Stay at NP |
Hike to Druid Arch, a 17-mile aggressive hike with 25lbs pack through several slot canyons and scrambling up and down traversing through them. No water so had to carry over a gallon. No bugs and silent inside the park by day. Only a couple crickets and other sounds in the evening. Near full moon, so the stars are all washed out. |
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Mon |
Canyonlands (Needles) NP to Arches NP, 130 miles. Camp at NP |
Took a lazy day. Stopped by the Hole ‘n The Rock and ate at a street side café in Moab. I made it to Arches just before the campground got full at 2pm. Hike to Delicate Arch for spectacular sunset, photographers all over the place including a pro with large format and a team. Sunset was near perfect by his admission. I thought so too. I waited for the moonrise that was spectacular over the arch as well. Only one other couple waited after I suggested it to them. Hike back over the cliffs and small canyons via moonlight and headlight was also quite an experience. Beautiful full moon and some cricket sounds not quite as loud as home even though this is the same high desert as Canyonlands. |
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Tue |
Stay at NP |
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Wed |
Arches NP to Canyonlands Island in the Sky District NP, 100 miles Camp at NP |