OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

If you ever want to feel like you’ve wandered onto another planet, Arches National Park delivers. Over 2,000 natural stone arches, fiery sunsets, and enough red rock to fill a painter’s palette. Last April, I hiked Delicate Arch for sunrise and watched the landscape go from sleepy purple to blazing orange. Tip: bring water, no matter how “cool” you think the desert is.

I recommend the Devil’s Garden Loop for a real adventure—double bonus if you hit Landscape Arch before the crowds. The Fiery Furnace ranger tour is part hiking, part obstacle course, and all fun if you don’t mind squeezing through sandstone canyons. In town, Moab’s food trucks are a treat (I’m partial to Quesadilla Mobilla). Anyone else tried night photography here? The stars over Balanced Rock are unreal.

Questions for the group: Favorite arch? Craziest Moab festival? Anyone ever spot a desert bighorn sheep?

Delicate Arch at sunset is something else—stood there with a hundred strangers and felt like we were all in on a secret. Best advice: skip the mid-day heat. Also, Quesadilla Mobilla gets my vote for best food truck in Moab.

One time I got lost trying to find Sand Dune Arch and ended up making friends with a lizard. Pro tip: pack extra sunscreen and a sense of humor.

Took the family through the Windows Section last summer—our picnic turned into a “find the coolest arch” contest (kids still swear Double Arch wins). For night skies, Arches is wild—first time I ever saw the Milky Way clearly. Never knew rocks could look that good under starlight.

If you’re in Moab for the Jeep Safari, Arches is the perfect side trip. My trick: go super early or super late—less traffic, epic light. Caught a sunrise at Park Avenue trail and the whole canyon glowed. Haven’t seen a bighorn yet, but did almost trip over a jackrabbit. Don’t sleep on Moab’s local coffee shops either!