Ok, there are some beautiful places on the planet, but then there are places that are over the top beautiful. Moab, Utah is one of those places.
From the red rock mountains and canyons, Arches National Park, complete with stunning hiking, biking and walking trails and its renowned windblown rock arches, to the ever swirling Colorado River snaking through the countryside, the Moab region is a photographer’s dream and an instant postcard in every direction.
The only itty, bitty drawback is, it is hot. Like stinking hot. During our brief visit, the temperature soared past 100 degrees on each day. So, best to plan your activities early morning, or late afternoon when visiting Moab.
Another thing you should know. To regulate the large number of visitors to Arches National Park each year, you have to purchase an online pre-visit ticket to get into the park. Also , we discovered that National Parks do not allow dogs (outside of parking lots and specific areas). This isn’t because they don’t love dogs, it’s because they really love trails and want to protect them and other lands within the park.
So, instead of joining us, Gordie got to visit a lovely veterinarian in Moab, who also does some dog sitting on the side, specializing in big dogs. Gordie loves big dogs. When a giant Doberman followed us into the office, Gordie was the happiest I’ve seem him in weeks. And he quickly ran after that giant Doberman. “Good luck Gordie,” I called out.
So, Bernadette and I were off for our own morning activity which involved a very unique and fun jeep ride. Actually, the word fun sometimes takes on a strange connotation, especially when used to describe a jeep ride through a place called “Devil’s Revenge.” That name usually would scare off a couple of folks like Bernadette and I, but not today.
We were picked up at our campsite by a very talented, and funny driver, named Don from Moab Grand Tours and off we went. It is kind of hard to describe the entrance to Devil’s Revenge. Just imagine you are in a jeep staring at a rock face that seems to go straight up for about 10 floors. “Yep, this is the first leg of our ride,” explained Don. And we just gulped.
Don offered us choice in trails, “We can go three ways. Take the easy route. Take the medium route. Or take the route called, Insane-O Route.” What could possibly go wrong? Of course, we chose the Insane-O Route and off we went. Straight up.
For the next two hours we rolled through the craziest, and most adrenalin-filled tracks we have ever experienced. Even avid off road Jeepers are shaking in their boots after surviving Devil’s Revenge. We, on the other hand, could only laugh thinking about our kids back home and how they would be going nuts if they knew we were doing this in a place called “Devil’s Revenge.”
Make sure you put this thrilling, one-of-a-kind jeep ride on your list while visiting Moab. Our only advice would be to keep your eyes open at all times. Not necessarily because of the exhilarating roller-coaster feel of travelling up and down the massive red rock faces, but because if you keep your eyes looking off in the distance, you will see the most incredible sights you will ever imagine. The giant red rock castles surrounding Moab will just leave you in awe.
