Utah: Wilson's Arch & Monticello Temple

We passed through Moab on our way from Nashville to Provo, but didn't see much as it was mostly dark. I was really excited when our friends Makenzye and Peter asked if we wanted to join them in a small trip to that area to go to the Monticello temple and to explore Moab a bit. 

Because of the temple session times, and because of our late start, we ended up not going to the actual national park in Moab, but we did explore Wilson's Arch. 

Also, the Monticello temple is beautiful. It was Makenzye and Peter's last Utah temple to visit (until the next one is dedicated) which is a major feat considering there are eighteen temples. You can take a closer look at seventeen of them here. And also see pictures of the Monticello temple below.

Matt was a little tired...

After the temple, we stopped at Wilson's Arch. I didn't even know about it before our little trip, but it's hard to miss as you're driving south of Moab. It's 91 feet wide and 46 feet high, and all made of sandstone. It's truly incredible. 

It's also a pretty easy ten minute or less trek to the top. It doesn't feel dangerous and there's multiple ways up. It's just a perfect stop along the route.

There's also a "Hole in the Rock" with a store nearby (in-between Moab and Wilson's Arch). It was closed by the time we headed back up toward Moab, but it's definitely on the list to check out next time. 

Although we didn't get to go into the national park, we did have time to drive through a canyon and watch the sunset from a spot in Moab I couldn't tell you how to get to. A nice lady we met at the temple told us about it. Past the high school. Left at some street. Up toward where the dirt bikers go? That's all I remember. The view was incredible. I don't think we even went up as high as we could go, but watching the sunset over the mountains is always a joy. I've been repeatedly telling Matt when he says the sun has already set, that my favorite part of the sunset and what I really mean by "let's watch the sunset" is the part after the sun has technically set, and the colors are the most vivid. 

We got to our campsite in Green River after dark. I reserved the cabin through Reserve America, and it worked out SO WELL. I mean, this cabin had electricity, and it had a queen size bunk bed! Plus a refrigerator and room enough for four more people! Our view in the morning was this golf course plus the river nearby. If you're going for a day trip to Moab, I highly recommend staying here. It's about an hour on your way back so you have less driving the next day. And splitting a cabin with that many people makes it really cheap.

Excited to go back to this area in the future and get into some of these incredible national parks Utah is so well known for!