Trillcation: Utah To Colorado 2020 Day 4

Thursday, August 27 (PST):

5:45 AM – Arrive at Delicate Arch Trailhead

6:45 AM – Arrive at Delicate Arch

8:05 AM – Arrive at Courthouse Towers Viewpoint

9:00 AM – Breakfast at Under Canvas

10:00 AM – Arrive at Canyonlands National Park

10:00-11:30 AM – Mesa Arch, Buck Canyon Overlook, Orange Cliffs Overlook

3:00 PM – Check in at Stay Wise Inn Montrose

5:30 PM – Arrive at Black Canyon National Park

7:30 PM – Return to Stay Wise Inn

There were quite a few cars there already at 6 AM, but only 2 other groups starting their hike at the same time we were. Since we were slightly traumatized from the day before, we were fully loaded with water and mentally prepared for a strenuous hike because an older couple told us it was steeper than Double O’ Arch.

It was pretty steep, but in no way was it harder than Double O’ Arch and since it was morning time, we weren’t phased by it at all. I had no expectation of what Delicate Arch looked like because I think I was confusing it with something else, so this one was a major highlight for me. I was pleasantly surprised, feeling good, and witnessing the sunrise really set this hike off. We took off right after because we wanted to avoid the crowd that had gathered up there and the way down was just as pleasant because of that. 

We got back in time to get one of the prepared breakfasts offered by Under Canvas. Not the worst, but not the best meal. Thank goodness we had Queso Ruffles to round it out. And then we were off again. This time, it was a mere 30 minutes to Canyonlands National Park.

We were in one of our moods again and after a very fulfilling morning hike, we were bored with what could be at Canyonlands before we even got there. After back to back longer than we normally do hikes, we were really amped to get to Rocky Mountain National Park to prepare for our big hike so that’s what was occupying our thoughts.

We breezed through Canyonlands only stopping at 3 viewpoints, which were all epic so in hindsight, we should’ve spent a lot more time there, but I was ready to depart the desert and any temperature that reminded me of Dallas, Texas. So we hit it and quit it and started rolling towards Colorado.

Driving from Vegas to Utah, though in the dark this trip, we had done before (when we went to Zion from Vegas) is very cool. Bryce Canyon to Moab is pretty scenic too. As soon as we got into Colorado, I got real sad because it became very commercialized real quick. Chain restaurants and strip malls were prevalent and I immediately missed Utah. It started getting a little better as we got closer to Black Canyon National Park, but then we pulled into Stay Wise Inn Montrose and I was a bit bummed about being back in civilization. I was not in the mood to venture out in this tiny and slightly depressing at first glance town, so I ate leftover Fritos and canned cheese dip and took an hour long nap. Since sunset had been close to 8 PM the last two places, we knew we had time to knock out this whole park before then the way we’ve been doing it. Turns out, we were right, and we didn’t even miss a sight.

Because lo and behold, Black Canyon is freaking awesome. Not crowded, not fully developed, so it felt rugged and like a true national park. The pictures online and even the ones you take do it no justice and I had pretty low expectations for this one, but it was definitely the sleeper hit. Actually, it quickly became one of my favorite national parks ever. I have not stopped thinking about it and I really want to go back and explore even more.

We stopped at every view point, and apparently you can drive a very sketchy road down into the canyon, but we skipped that. You see, Black Canyon is the least “developed” national park we’ve been to which means that it’s not all blocked off like most parks are. Which means that I get to go to the very, sometimes sketchy, edge of most of the lookout points, which Zach hates me doing. He literally starts sweating at the hands and gets really uncomfortable. Which ironically happens to me when he drives, so I guess at least we know how the other is feeling in these situations even though we don’t understand why they feel that way. That just occurred to us on this trip and really helped our relationship, I think. Common ground is good.

But even I got a little dizzy at times staring down into these chasms because it’s unlike anything I have ever seen and it is a little disorienting even for someone who is not afraid of heights. But it’s epic AF and I just can’t wait for you all to go there for the first time because no one can hype it up as much as it deserves. This definitely put a huge pep in my step and I was cured from my “back to civilization” blues. 

To top it off, we ordered Domino’s (probably their only late night option in Montrose, CO) and ate a medium two topping thin crust each in one of our two queen beds while watching Total Recall and I could not be happier. I ended up really enjoying our stay in Stay Wise Inn. It was incredibly clean and I felt like I was staying in a time capsule in the best way possible.

Once again, we were going to get that free breakfast at 6:30 AM, but since we had originally planned to explore Black Canyon on the morning of the 28th, we were well ahead of schedule, so yay, free breakfast! This way, we would get to Estes Park in time to have dinner with Zach’s grandma (she’s 92 by the way and rode in a car/actually drove some of the way to Estes Park from Dallas with Zach’s dad and cousin) and get to bed in time for an early hike on the 29th.

It’s a 6 hours drive to Estes Park from Montrose, CO so that was pretty much our day. We stopped in Boulder, CO to get food for the weekend at Trader Joe’s, which we had not been to since the pandemic shut down. At this point in our trip, I didn’t care if it all went downhill because everything previously had been incredible. Things were just aligning for us, and it’s pretty cool to hit 4 National Parks in that amount of days.