Moab, Arches & Canyonlands Escape

A once humble railroad hub and ranching outpost in western Colorado, Grand Junction has flourished into an agricultural center and vibrant university town renowned for its farm-to-table fare, abundant microbreweries and nearby Palisade wines. It’s also a gateway to adventure, especially for Utah's famous redrock desert landscapes that lies nearby. Our adventure begins this evening with a welcome dinner with our Expedition Leaders and fellow travelers.

From Grand Junction, we drive west to explore the Colorado National Monument, one of the state’s best kept secrets. Although it is filled with stunning red rock canyons and monoliths like the better-known national parks in the region, the monument remains less visited than its more famous neighbors. Following the scenic 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, we climb more than 2,000 feet in elevation. Completed in 1950, the winding two-lane road features three historic tunnels carved through solid rock, with scenic pullouts and commanding views of sweeping canyons, the lone sandstone tower of Independence Monument, and the distant peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Continue to Moab, Utah for lunch and a chance to explore this small town that has become a popular recreation mecca on the edge of several prominent parks. It’s an optimal base for exploring more of the Colorado Plateau, a vast landscape covering 130,000 square miles across parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The high-desert terrain is characterized by elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet and its distinctive geology of deeply eroded canyons, flat-topped mesas and colorful rock formations. We stop at a dinosaur track site where we encounter ancient history etched into rock. On a scenic hike, walk through a rugged landscape of slickrock and juniper to encounter fossilized footprints left by long-extinct creatures, offering a glimpse into a prehistoric world. By late afternoon, arrive at Red Cliffs Lodge, peacefully located outside the adventure hub of Moab. Perched on the edge of the Colorado River beneath imposing canyon walls, the lodge is our comfortable base for exploration over the next several days. Once we’re settled in to our riverside rooms, we head out to explore more of our scenic surroundings, including nearby Castle Valley and the Fisher Towers, imposing sandstone spires visible for miles.

Covering more than 300,000 acres of the Colorado Plateau, Canyonlands National Park is a vast red rock wilderness carved by the Colorado and Green rivers over millions of years. Its varied geography spans four distinct sectors, and our focus today is the less-visited and remote Needles District, named for its dramatic spires of Cedar Mesa sandstone—colorful, banded rock pinnacles that rise like sentinels on the landscape. On a hike, explore at closer range, following a winding trail across slickrock expanses and past ancient rock art, offering an intimate connection to the park's dramatic geology and cultural history.

After a picnic lunch, continue deeper into the park for magnificent views of the Colorado River as it carves its way through the layers of sandstone that comprise this landscape. As the day winds down, return to Red Cliffs Lodge for a sunset toast on the banks of the Colorado River. The fading light bathes the canyon walls in warm, golden hues, reflecting off the gleaming water as the desert transitions into twilight. After dinner, head out to experience one of the region’s most awe-inspiring spectacles: the dark night sky. Far from city lights, the inky black tableau reveals a glittering expanse of stars, planets, and the ethereal glow of the Milky Way, and our Expedition Leader helps us spot constellations rarely seen in more urban realms. With the silence of the desert as our backdrop, we spend meditative time taking in the grandeur of the cosmos, a timeless reminder of nature's intricate beauty and mystery.

More of Canyonlands awaits as we explore the Island in the Sky district. This large sheer-walled mesa rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, offering jaw-dropping vistas over the desert landscape below. From park roads and trails, survey panoramas encompassing both the Colorado and Green rivers from vantage points over the canyon depths. A highlight is the hike to Mesa Arch, an easy loop that leads to a famous cliff-edge span framing iconic views of Buck Canyon and the La Sal Mountains. Continue to a rock art site near Seven Mile Canyon to see the famous "Intestine Man," a pictograph that actually depicts a human who has swallowed a snake. Nearby are other petroglyphs that show bighorn sheep, among other images.

This afternoon we visit Dead Horse Point State Park, an immense expanse of layered canyons, mesas and high-desert woodlands that is every bit as spectacular as its national park neighbors. The view from the point is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world, and it has been featured in many films. Two thousand feet above the Colorado River, the overlook surveys a dramatic view of Canyonlands' sculpted pinnacle and buttes, with the river twisting below. Legend holds that Dead Horse Point got its name because of its use as a natural corral by cowboys in the 19th century, where horses often died of exposure.

Few geological phenomena are as emblematic of a place than the 2,000-plus sandstone arches within Arches National Park. These rock formations are the physical evidence of the power of erosion, as wind, rain, sun and time converge to shape the malleable landscape. The Entrada Sandstone, which comprises most of the park’s arches, is particularly susceptible to erosion due to its composition. Water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands, breaking the rock apart, while wind carries away loose particles. The result is an intricate tableau of stone shapes that evoke wonder and whimsy at every turn.

Our day dawns in Arches National Park, where we witness the first rays of sunrise transforming the landscape with a shifting palette of warm hues. The sandstone formations seem to glow from within, their red and orange tones becoming more vivid as the sun emerges. Shadows stretch long across the desert floor, creating striking contrasts that highlight the textures and contours of the rugged terrain. We're on the trail early for the classic hike to Delicate Arch, the most recognizable arch in the park and perhaps the world. The play of light on rock showcases nature's geological artistry in new and shifting perspectives. Witnessing this icon up close, we'll surely concur with Edward Abbey who wrote in Desert Solitaire, "If Delicate Arch has any significance, it lies, I will venture, in the power of the odd and unexpected to startle the senses and surprise the mind out of their ruts of habit, to compel us into a reawakened awareness of the wonderful—that which is full of wonder.”

During the remainder of the morning, we see more of the park's natural arches as we explore trails with our Expedition Leader, who excels at finding moments of solitude to contemplate the marvels before us. In the afternoon, we stop to view ancient petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls by the ancestral Puebloan people who inhabited this region 2,000 years ago. These rock carvings offer insight into the lives and worldview of the area’s early inhabitants, depicting animals, human figures and geometric patterns.

Rise early to witness the sunrise this morning on a quiet walk along the Colorado River. Given our lodge’s prime location, we don’t have to go far to experience this daily splendor. After breakfast, we start making our way back to Grand Junction along the 44-mile Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, a winding two-lane road that traces the river’s path through a dramatic gorge. Passing through Castle Valley, look for the famous profiles of Castleton Tower and Fisher Towers, observing how the gleaming light of morning transforms them from maroon to vermillion, then rust and gold. The surrounding terrain has been featured in many movies, including famous westerns, which are remembered at the Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage located at Red Cliffs Lodge. Cross the Colorado River at the site of Dewey Bridge, which was the original wooden span carrying Highway 128 over the river. Built in 1916, the famous suspension bridge was the second longest west of the Mississippi and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places until it was destroyed by a fire in 2008. Once we’re back in Grand Junction, there may be time to explore this lively western town on your own if your flight schedule permits.