Day 7: Moab UT to Rifle CO

Moab has two national parks so we could not leave town without at least stopping by Canyonlands National Park.  It took more time to get to the entrance of the Island in the Sky Visitor Center but very few visitors were out exploring.  We stopped to get a Junior Ranger book and headed out to do a hike on the Mesa Arch Trail . . .

It was a nice short hike and amazingly I was able to take photos of the arch with no people around!  We continued to drive around to several other places.  I really thought the Green River Overlook was amazing!

Colin earned Junior Ranger badge #3 and back on the road to Colorado we headed.  It was a much quicker drive than I expected but there was not much along the drive as far a 'services' along I-70 until we arrived in Fruita, Colorado.  We needed this exit for a detour to Colorado National Monument so took a quick lunch break.  We were way ahead of schedule so I decided to cancel our hotel in Grand Junction and drive farther down the road tonight to shorten the drive tomorrow.  I made lodging arrangements and we headed to the monument to explore.  I had read in a book that it was one of the under appreciated and least visited of the national sites so knew we should check it out.  WOW, the views were amazing and very few cars or people.  We grabbed a map and set out on the Canyon Rim Trail . . .

Junior Ranger Badge #4 earned and back on the road for a short drive to Rifle, Colorado!  It was the first Hampton Inn that I have stayed in that offered free dinner and adult drinks!