MOAB UTAH
Arches • Canyonlands • Dead Horse Point
Moab
Moab Utah is a small resort town appx 230 miles south-east of Salt Lake City. It is best known for being the launching point, or “base camp” for those who plan to visit the famous national and state parks that are all within easy driving distance; Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. Together these parks offer some of the most breathtaking red rock formations and landscapes in the world. Because of the close proximity of these parks, I decided to build a collection of images named after the delightful and friendly town of Moab in which I always stay when visiting this area.
All images are ©Copyright: Rich Rijnders Photography
Ghosts of Moab
Arches National Park
In addition to the amazing red rock “arch” formations that the park is famous for, Arches National Park also contains amazing formations known as “hoodoos”. These tall, free standing spires can be hundreds of feet tall and are formed after all the surrounding rock has been weathered away by wind and rain erosion.
On this mornings sunrise, a cold drizzle of rain blanketed the area and the low clouds shrouded the top of these hoodoos in mist giving them a ghostly feel that I tried to capture in this image.
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Balanced Rock Light Trails
Arches National Park
After the rains and after the sunset, Balanced Rock and the surrounding area at Arches National Park is underscored by the lights of cars moving along the access road.
Balanced Rock Misty Blue Hour
Arches National Park
Sometimes shooting after the sun goes down can be more interesting than the sunset, itself. The mist and rain creates colors and contrast in the rock that isn’t apparent during the day or at dryer times.
(click image to enlarge)
Delicate Arch Sunrise
Arches National Park
Normally Delicate Arch is about a 60 minute uphill hike from the parking area. But if you want to be there at sunrise, you should give yourself an extra 30-40 minutes on top of that because you will be making that hike in the pitch black of night! Our small group, led by people already familiar with the trail, picked up several lost hikers along the way who did not realize how difficult the trail was to follow in the dark.
The difficulties and effort are quickly forgotten, however, once you reach the arch and the rising sun reveals the amazing hues of the red rock and the huge structure that is Delicate Arch.
To the left is another shot of Delicate Arch later in the morning with me standing underneath it to give a sense of the size of the structure.
Windows and Turret Arches at Sunset
Arches National Park
For the most pristine view of the rock formations that make up the Windows and Turret Arches, you can take the longer trail that runs around to the rear of the formation – and then keep hiking off the trail. When you get about a half mile into the desert, turn around and you will be treated to this fabulous view!
View from Mesa Arch to La Sal Mountains
Canyonlands National Park
When visiting some of the main attractions, like Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, don’t miss some of the other amazing vistas by failing to take some time and look around. Just a hundred yards or so from Mesa Arch is this spectacular view looking east across Airport Tower to the La Sal Mountains. The formation closest to the center of the image is known as “Washer Woman Arch”. If you look close, it does resemble a person doing the washing.
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Turret Arch Viewed Through Windows Arch
Arches National Park
In this image, you can see Turret Arch in the distance as it is framed by Windows Arch. You might also notice a fellow photographer standing in Windows Arch, offering an excellent scale as to the size of these amazing formations. The black streaks you see on the arch are actually just the natural color of the stone as the rainwater streams down from the top.
Most people, including those who visit the parks, will only see this particular view of the two arches in photographs. This is because the climb around the back of Windows Arch to get this viewing angle is quite harrowing and not for the faint of heart!
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Dead Horse Point Sunset
Dead Horse Point State Park
A deep bend in the Colorado River makes for a spectacular view from Dead Horse Point State Park. If you only go to the main viewing platform from the point you will miss this view. Walk a bit down the lesser trail to west of the parking area and you will be treated to these spectacular colors at sunset. But take care: there are no safety barriers along the cliff there and if you stay to watch the sunset you will be walking that trail back in the dark!
(click image to enlarge)
Mesa Arch Glow
Canyonlands National Park
One of the most popular and most photographed of all the arches, Mesa arch is an easy 10 minute hike from the parking area. It is also one of the smaller arches in the park, only about 30ft from bottom to top and about 60ft left-to-right. When the sun hits the cliffs below the arch at the optimum angle, an orange glow appears on the inner arch that really captures the eye of the visitor.
You will never see a photo of the arch with someone in the frame because it is forbidden to walk on top of any of the arches and underneath this arch is a shear cliff drop of several hundred feet!
(click image to enlarge)