Wintery Monument Valley, Arches, Goblin Valley, with moderate hikes

In this bright time of the year in Utah we want to explore the colorful valleys, mesas, buttes, hoodoos and arches, while this stunning red-rock landscape got accentuated with snow and sun! In the plan is to visit and hike:

• Monument Valley, one of the USA's iconic landscapes and the most photographed area,
• Goblin Valley, with its bizarre and funny formations,
• Arches National Park, a large concentrations of natural sandstone arches,
• Small authentic towns of the Southeast - Mexican Hat, a flooded ghost town of Hite, Moab.

We will be driving some of the most scenic roads in the country.

Winter weather in this area is warm with day average temperatures 52 degree F and possible light wind. See updates of weather forecasts at: https://bit.ly/39YtERN

Trip's summary:

• 5days/4nights trip for a small group of 6 explorers.
• The starting point is Durango, CO and ending point is Grand Junction Regional Airport, CO.
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.
• Hotel accommodations in Oljato-Monument Valley, UT, Hanksville, UT, Moab, UT. All locations in this event follow safety requirements by the state.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking shoes,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• thermal clothes, gloves,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat,
• for personal protection: mask, carry-on sanitizer, gloves (by your choice.)

Cost $640. What is included:

• 5days/4nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two beds in room),
• Breakfasts at some hotels,
• Transportation by minivan (like Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand or similar) covering approx. 680 mi of road-tripping total,
• Park entrance fees,
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting to Durango, CO and from Grand Junction, CO,
• Meals, snacks, water.

Sunrise: 7:40am. Sunset: 5:20pm. Everyday we want to start off from the hotel at 7 am or 7:30am, or 8am as the latest. If you are a nigh owl, please try to adjust yourself for an earlier getup during the trip - the purpose of it is to use more of daylight for activities.

There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to be connected by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the group.)

Sign up and feel free to comment/message with any questions!

Also, please check on the photo-album from our past trips (in About section) and our future trips to U.S. National Parks and National Parks in Europe and Asia for 2024-2025. Thanks!

UPD. Photo-album from the previous trip with with a similar activities: https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/photos/31731160/

Goblin Valley: https://www.meetup.com/u-s-national-parks-quest-group/photos/32362036/