Landscape Photography Composition Tips and Workshops Moab's Canyonlands National Park

The greatest fact about Landscape Photography in southeastern Utah? The scenery is limitless. Come to snap shots with your i-phone or bring a tripod for more serious photography.

Gavin Hardcastle has these tips about the fundamentals of capturing Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. For a regional overview of tips, check out Moab's Visitor Website, DiscoverMoab, for planning the time of day to be present for optimal lighting.

Join a group of like-minded enthusiasts for a workshop. Find a list of 2013 Photography Workshops for such locations as, Arches or Canyonlands National Parks, and Deadhorse Point State Park.

None of the workshops dates are fitting your travel times? Moab has three photographers providing Photo Tours to help maximize a visit with travel to beautiful scenery at the appropriate time of day to mix dramatic lighting and shadow with the iconic places dappling the Moab area and the method required to photograph these places.

Jon Fuller of Moab Photo Tours

Bret Edge Photography

Eric Odenthall of Windgate Adventures

Happen to be a professional photographer? Perhaps you have designs on setting up a workshop in the area. Moab Meetings & Events, a department of the Moab Travel Council, provides complimentary information about venues for classroom work, group travel and permits for authorization of commercial use of public lands. 

June Artist in the Park Schedule Sarah Hamingson

2013 June Community Artist in the Park Sarah Hamingson

Sarah will share her creative passion with park visitors. During your visit to Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges or Hovenweep, you might see Sarah and her easel set up at a viewpoint or along a scenic trail. Don't be surprised if she hands you paper and colors, and asks you to share your inspiration, too.

June, 2013

Wednesday, June 5: 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Landscape Arch, Arches National Park

Saturday, June 8: 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Double Arch, Arches National Park

Tuesday, June 11: 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Three Gossips, Arches National Park

Friday, June 14: 8:00-11:00 a.m. & 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Sipapu Bridge & Owachomo Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument

Saturday, June 15: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Kachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument

Wednesday, June 19: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park


Wednesday, June 26: 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Devils Garden Trail, Arches National Park

Examples of Motorcoach Tours Including Moab Utah's Arches and Canyonlands Parks in a Group Tour Itinerary

2014 Motorcoach Tours

Departing from various cities across the United States, the following multiple day tours include parks in the Moab Utah area, such as, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and/or Dead Horse Point State Park. Theses group tours cover multiple day journeys either point-to-point or loops from a single city.
Upcoming Tour Dates:


USA Tours
11 Days
May 4th - May 14th, 2014
Sept 17th - Sept 27th, 2014
Round trip from Missouri
Colorado and Utah National Park Tour



Coffee Break Tours
13 Days
May 3 - 15 2014
Round trip from Camden OK
Scenic 2014



Mayflower Tours
13 days
May 17 2014
Round trip from Iowa
National Parks of the Southwest



Green Tortoise Adventure Travel
16 Days
June 6 - June 22, 2014
June 27 - July 13, 2014
July 18 - August 3, 2014
August 8 - August 24, 2014
August 29 - September 14, 2014
Round Trip from San Francisco


Perkiomen Tours & Travel
17 Days
June 11 - 28, 2014
St Louis - Virginia
Canyonlands and National Parks



Atlas Travel
Trafalgar Tours
May 26 - June 1, 2014
June 23 - June 29, 2014
July 28 to August 3, 2014
August 18 to August 24, 2014
September 8 to September 14, 2014
September 22 to September 28, 2014
Denver to Las Vegas
Best of Canyonlands



Fantasy RV Tours
33 days
August 26 - September 27 2014
Pahrump NV to Canyon Village AZ
Western National Parks

Must be a FMCA member

King George Travel
11 Days
May - June 2014
Round Trip Las Vegas
Enchanting Canyonlands

YMT Vacations
14 Days
Round trip Las Vegas
Golden West Tour

Geo Tours
14 Days
 May - October Departures
 Round Trip Las Vegas
Scenic Parks Explorer


Tauck Tours
9 Days
May - October 2014 departures
Grand Junction to Las Vegas
Western USA

The following are College and University Alumni Group Tours.
Fine examples of possible Motorcoach itineraries to include the Four Corners region of Western USA and the rugged National Parks preserved by the Department of the Interior.


McHenry Trips 
8 Days
June 21 - 28 2014
Round Trip Chicago
Trains and Canyons of the West


UC Santa Barbara
11 Days
May 30 - June 9 2013
Round Trip Las Vegas
Southwest National Parks



University of Michigan
May 23 - June 2 2014
Round Trip Las Vegas
Southwest National Parks


Compare the 2014 packages to the itineraries and providers of previous years listed below. All of the group tours will include some part of the Moab Utah region: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park and Moab resources. Among those features are a variety of tour companies, step on guides, and/or three Scenic Byways.

2013 Group Tours by Motorcoach in Moab Utah

April 7 - 17 2013

World Class Tours presents National Parks of Utah 11 days starting with the Omaha Amtrak to Green River Utah. A fascinating itinerary ending in Las Vegas with the flight to Omaha included to end the trip.

April 27 - May 4 2013

Adventure Bus rolls out the Best of the West out of Salt Lake City. Also available May 4 - 11 2013. Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, hot springs, Colorado River, Moab, Utah. Features hiking, camping, swimming, rafting, jeep tours. This trip is good for all physical levels/abilities.

May 2 -  10 2013

Ryder-Walker begins in Sedona Arizona to finish in Salt Lake City, primarily walking with emphasis on Ruins and Dinosaur relics and arches.

May 6 - 10 2013

Sun Tours has a 5 day round trip bus tour out of Albuquerque, New Mexico to Moab for Arches National Park, a jet boat and Jeep 4x4 combination tour, possible horse back riding during this Moab Adventure held at Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab Utah.

May - October 2013 -- Various and Abundant Departure Dates

Globus Journeys has continuing departures of the Enhanting Canyonlands tours. This is an 11 day Las Vegas to Las Vegas loop to encompass the Grand Circle Region of the desert Southwest.

Tauck Tours also has continuing departures for the Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest. This  is a 10 day trip beginning in Grand Junction, Colorado to end in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Trafalgar has continuing departures for teh 14 day Scenic Parks Explorer. It begins and ends in Las Vegas. Takes in Zion & Bryce, Salt Lake City, Grand Teton & Yellowstone, Little Big Horn & Black Hills, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon.

May - September 2013

Trafalgar has the Colorful Trails of the Southwest tour.  This tour includes Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Arches National Park with a day off on your own to organize rafting, canyoneering, ATV trail ride, horseback riding, 4wheeling, stand up paddle boarding or biking. Then there is a narrow gauge railroad ride from Silverton to Durango Colorado. Finishing with the UNESCO Heritage site in New Mexico and on to Santa Fe. This 9-day trips starts in Phoenix and ends in Albuquerque.

The World Outdoors provides several departures in this May - October time frame for the Canyonlands and Arches Multisport Tour. There is hiking in Arches National Park and Fisher Towers Recreation Area, Rock Climbing on Wall Street, mountain biking in the Klondike Bluffs and Onion Creek Road, Canyoneering in Negro Bill Canyon, Inflatable Kayaking on the Colorado River with either camping or inn stays.

June 4 - 14 2013

Eleven Days with Dan Dipert Tours. Starts in Dallas Texas to roll through New Mexico, Colorado, includes a night in Moab Utah with a drive into Arches National Park continuing to other Utah National Parks, Grand Canyon/Arizona, more of New Mexico to end in Texas.

June 22 2013

Mayflower Tours provides a Trains and Canyons of the West 2013 which starts in Salt Lake City spends two days in Moab to visit Dead Horse Point State Park and Arches National Park, including a Colorado River float trip, then heads into Colorado for the Durango train and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Rarailroad. This tour ends in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This 8 day tour has other departures on September 14 or 22 2013.

June - September 2013

Trafalgar has a 9 day Canyon Country Jamboree itinerary in 2013 highlighting a film on Zion's giant screen, a Hummer ride in Moab, jet boat on the Colorado River and wine tasting. This trip starts in Las Vegas to end in Grand Junction Colorado. Eight departures are listed June through September.

June -October 2013

Trafalgar has a 7 day Best of Canyonlands itinerary in 2013.  Stretch your legs in Vail, Colorado, spend two nights in Moab to see Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Includes Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon. This trip starts in Denver to end in Las Vegas.

Holiday Tours, Inc. arrives in Moab July 7 with a motorcoach full of patrons to enjoy the parks over several days

August 27 - September 11 2013

American West Tour has a southern segment that includes Arches or Canyonlands National Park as well as, Parks of New Mexico and many more Utah parks. It is a 16 day motorcoach tour starting in El Paso to conclude in Grand Junction Colorado. It is also available in reverse, Grand Junction to El Paso October 10 - 25 2013.

September 4 - October 1 2013

Winnebago-Itasca Travelers Club sponsors this classic Grand Circle route. Winnebago owners start in Moab Utah for this Grand Circle Caravan journey covering 1,200 miles

September 14 2013

Owen County State Bank explores Trains and Canyons of the West. This 8 day trip begins in Salt Lake City, featrues 3 days in the parks of Moab, then hops into Colorado for the Narrow Guage Railroad to finish in Albuquerque.

Ocotber 3-10 2013

Fantasy RV Tours promotes teh Western National Parks 33 day tour. The Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) also used this exact itinerary for an August 2012 tour for members. Starts in Pahrump, Nevada, ends in Williams, Arizona, spedning days 13-16 in Moab Utah. It encompasses the Grand Circle in total.

October 9th or 15th 2013 Departures

Utah's own, Western Leisure, offers The Canyon Country Experience featuring the Classic Grand Circle Parks in Utah and Arizona, looping the itineray out of and back to Las Vegas, Nevada. Western Leisure provides a full range of receptive cervices for foreign traveler from all around the globe too.

October 9 - 15 2013

Fancy Free Holidays spends 7 days of the Grand Circle immersed in Native American Culture from Chicago to Las Vegas to begin the loop by motorcoach to include Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, sunset jet boat & BBQ dinner of the Colorado River in Moab then onwards to parks between Moab and Las Vegas.

Experience Plus has 7 days tour round trip from Grand Junction, Colorado with no specified departures. It focuses entirely on the Moab area in Arches and Canyonlands National Park hikes and a Colorado River day trip rafting or paddling an inflatable kayak.

Bike Month in Moab Utah

 

Free Bikes for Moab Kids Monday April 29^th at HMK Elementary 4-6PM @ Bike Rodeo

Bike Donations are needed. Western Spirit Bicycles will pick it up 435-259-8732.

 

Bike Rodeo will get kids ready for Bike to School Day May 8.

Volunteer to chaperone kids to and from school. To participate phone 435-259-5884 to arrange.

 

Free Cup of HOUSE Coffee to locals during Bike to Work Week May 13 – 17

Moab Locals on Bike --

Bring your own coffee cup for a free cup of house coffee between 7:30 AM & 9 AM.
Monday: North and South Maverick Convenience Stores
Tuesday: Sweet Cravings and Chili Pepper Bike Shop
Wednesday: Wicked Brew and Brewed Awakenings
Thursday: Love Muffin and Chevron Convenience Store
Friday: Moab Coffee Roasters in Lost River

 

Moab Museum is putting on Bike Prom May 18

Convene at HMK at 2:30 PM to promenade to Moab Springs Ranch for dancing, exhibits, silent auction of Classic Bicycles to benefit Museum of Moab. Dress up in Taffeta and Tuxedos. Founder of Rim Cyclery lead the bike ride to the party. It is Rim’s 30^th anniversary in 2013. 2:30 -5:30 PM

Skinny Tire Events also has a special $35 Moab Local Price for the Moonshadow night ride May 18, pre register with Beth Logan 435-259-8889. Check in is 4-6 PM at Aarchway Inn. Light Dinner at Dead Horse Point State Park. Course closes at 10 PM. Part of the registration fee benefits the Museum of Moab.

Sunday Kid Fun at the Moab Bike Park on 500 West 2-4 PM. Bring helmets and Bikes.

https://www.facebook.com/MoabBikeMonth?

And http://i28366.wix.com/moabbikemonth for those who do not use Facebook.

 

 

Trail Backpacking Utah's National Parks Near Moab

Moab Utah Backpacking Places

Moab Utah backpacking places include trail backpacking of Canyonlands National Park, as well as, backpacking locations resulting in use of map and compass skills through other public lands surrounding Moab Utah. Lightweight shoes are preferred over the heavier hiking boot in the desert, but heavier hiking boots will provide the support for rugged alpine trails in Moab’s La Sal Mountains. All of the backpacking places require strict adherence to the Leave No Trace principles.

Canyonlands National Park 

Canyonlands National Park in the Needles District has a system of trail backpacking, designated campsites and permits to reserve camping sites for hikers in the backcountry. Water for hydration in the desert is an issue. Distances and duration will be limited by how much water can be carried. The Maze District of Canyonlands has limited permits. A visitor may hire an outfitter to base camp, car camp and commit to longer day trips to remote walls of rock art tucked away in the labyrinth known as the Maze. Planning is required to secure permits for these two districts out on your own. Twenty dollars reserves your backcountry park use, when you can get one. These backcountry National park permits are popular. Utilizing an outfitter creates a guaranteed opportunity to enter these fantastic hideaways. There are limited backcountry outfitters too. Contact the National Park Service for a current list of concessionaires.

Arches National Park

In Arches National Park, a backpack permit is also required, but does not cost anything extra than the park entry fee.  Because the trailheads to the hidden arches are largely along the 18 mile paved access road, many visitors are content to explore with day trip hikes in Arches National Park. Camping must occur out of sight from park view points, trails, roads, parking lots and the public.

Pets 

The National Parks do not allow pets in the back country. Backpackers and hikers with pets may cross the Bureau of Land Management grounds dappled with State Lands around Moab. Keep in mind the Bureau of Land Management still issues licenses to trap. Visitor services advise to maintain the lease law required in the city of Moab in the backcountry for the protection of your pet. Moving across the land requires strong ability to use map and compass and understanding of the complicated passages of cliffs, fins and canyons.

Search and Rescue 

Be sure to create an itinerary and leave it behind with instructions of what to do should you fail to check-in on schedule from your backpacking jaunt. Dialing 911 can kick off the emergency system to include the Grand County Search and Rescue’s billable services for backcountry recovery. Please travel conscientiously and stick to the itinerary.

La Sal Mountains 

The La Sal Mountains have streams for sufficient hydration. Just as one would in the desert, a means of treating found water to rid it of micro organisms for consumption must be carried and used. An understanding of traveling in bear territory is necessary for the mountains in order to avoid wildlife mishap. There are about 18 developed trails on the La Sal Mountains. The Forest Service office in Moab has a trail guide, map of winter Nordic trails and driving routes. For backpacking, the detailed USGS quads, for Mt. Waas, Mt. Mellenthin, and Mt. Peale, will be beneficial.

Fishing

There is fishing in the mountain lakes. Fishing permits can be purchased in Moab at the City Market grocery store and Walker Drug Store. Fishing supplies are available at these stores and the ALCO store. Other backapacking/camping gear can be purchased at Walker Drug Store, ALCO store and Gearheads.

KlonZo Mountain Bike Trails of Moab Utah Open - New Map for 2013

Get your ride on in Moab in 2013.

The Mountain Biking Opportunities 

Keep Growing in Moab!

(Thanks Moab Trail Mix and the many Volunteer Hours that have completed these trails.)

Disney? Boundary Waters? Green River Canoe Camping?

A quick calculation of a five day vacation itinerary Canoe Camping reveals a canoe camping trip is a good deal, especially for budget-minded vacationers. Disney World ($560 per person) compares to Green River ($264 per person) canoeing and Boundary Water ($340 per person) canoeing. (Camping trip prices include pre and post trip accommodations, fully outfitted rentals, shuttles and required permits.) The environment of canoe camping is going to be intimate compared to a Disney vacation.

Canoe Camping, is it car camping or backpacking? A river canoe trip is similar to car camping. Canoe camping requiring portages needs to pack lighter, similar to backpacking. So let's examine river canoe trips compared to lake canoeing.

Boundary Water permits can be reserved starting in early January of the travel year. Green River Canoe Camping trips can be reserved earlier, starting the second week of July for the following travel year. There is no portaging in Utah’s Green River corridor. Typical Boundary Water Canoe trips are 5-7 days. Routing is a big responsibility. Upon the Green River paddle 4-10 days downstream with the current.

The longer Green River itinerary requires a jet boat shuttle from a road-less region of Canyonlands National Park. Rendezvous there with one of two authorized companies to roof rack the canoe, stow gear in the jet boat and up-run the Colorado River to Moab Utah to conclude this quality expedition canoe camping trip. Reservations will be required to determine the date for pick up by jet boat.

In the Boundary Waters, a Forest Service permit limits group to nine people or fewer to a private permit. Group size on the Green River may not exceed 40 adventurers on a private trip. Boundary Water permits cost $16 per adult and $8 per youth 17 and younger. For the Green River, fill out a free permit with the Bureau of Land Management for the Labyrinth Canyon section. For trips concluding in the heart of Canyonlands National Park, pay $30 reservation fee, plus $20 per person on the river permit. This permit fee system has been revised as of July 9, 2012.

Both trips specify archaeological, historical and rock painting sites are to be left undisturbed. Campsites are to be kept free of litter. It is mandated: do not build structures, cut live wood, carve in wood or write on rocks. Both places can expect to have astonishing afternoon winds. Both canoe camping trips can have mosquitoes, although the Green River has more predictable seasons of the pests. The Boundary Water mosquitoes are incessant. Both trips can experience rain. Rain in the Boundary Waters can be daunting, seemingly endless and causing mildew. Rain in the desert can also wreak havoc for the unprepared. Watch for flashfloods in the desert. Take advantage of the arid environment to dry everything out. In the boundary waters single serve beverage containers are prohibited. For the Green River, glass must be left behind, cans are acceptable and to be packed out as trash.

Now apply imagination. Be removed from the stimulation of video, long lines, mechanization, and staged entertainment of other vacation choices. Interact with earth and one another. Manifest memories spotting wildlife rather than hurrying to meet a character from someone else’s imagination. Determine the kind of camping that is suitable, car camping versus backpacking, and retro fit it into a canoe camping trip.

Continued details for Green River outfitters can be found on www.DiscoverMoab .com.

For Boundary Water details http://www.bwca.com should help.