The Spirit of Spumoni in Moab will be here for a couple of weeks. After 7 weeks of skiing at Alta, Snowbird, Park City and Steamboat Springs it’s time to warm up a little bit.

The 1^st 2 weeks of March are a wonderful time to be in Moab Utah. The little bit of snow has pretty much melted off and springtime weather is upon us. The red rock scenery is absolutely spectacular this time of year. And tourists are few and far between. This means you don’t have to suffer from the roar of ATVs, UTVs or other types of off-highway vehicles.

If you have never visited Moab it’s hard to describe the rugged beauty that permeates everywhere. There are 2 fantastic national parks Arches and Canyonlands. But you also get a fabulous contrast with the snowcapped LaSal Mountains.  This is a scenic wonder unlike anything else in America. Dramatic snow-covered mountains with green foothills rising up to 12,000+ feet with the red rock scenery below.

This is the time of year when Moab starts to come alive. Many businesses that were shuttered during the wintertime re-open during the beginning of March. Local service businesses are in full swing preparing vacation rental properties for the coming onslaught of visitors. It’s a rare time that I can enjoy the condo in Moab without having to wait in line at the supermarket, gas station or local stores.

I think living with Spumoni in Moab would have been a great experience. He would have really liked living at the condo in Moab. It has all the things that he wanted in a nice home. Big windows with lots of sunshine, stairs to run up and down and a spacious great room to play in. There is also a comfortable king-size bed in the master suite that provides a great view of the red rock scenery.

Thinking about Spumoni in Moab brings back so many good memories. Next week I will go to Canyonlands National Park and do the hike to Spumoni Point. Sitting in that peaceful spot overlooking the vast canyon is a very special place to remember Spumoni and honor his memory.

There are a wide variety of activities in Moab to choose from when planning a trip to red rock country. Many visitors just come to see the sights in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. There are a lot of short hikes you can do to reach fabulous viewpoints. It’s almost a misnomer to call many of these short walks hikes. Because there are a number of places where you can park your car and walk less than 200 yards to enjoy spectacular views.

If you have time, the hike to Grand View in Canyonlands is quite rewarding. It’s a little over 1 mile one-way to the end of the trail. You will be treated to a spectacular birdseye view! This trail is relatively flat and easy to follow.

One of our favorites in Arches National Park is the area called Devil’s Garden. It’s located at the end of the road about 22 miles from the entrance station. You will find a large parking area, restrooms and a handful of picnic tables. The main path takes you to several different arches. You can wander as long as you want but doing the full trip to the end of the trail and back to the parking lot will take several hours.

Many visitors plan their activities in Moab around motorized trips into the backcountry. Whether you have a 4 wheel drive car, SUV, ATV, UTV or other recreational vehicle there are a huge variety of routes to choose. We recommend that you research and plan off road trips very carefully. Some of the backcountry roads are extremely challenging. The best analogy is similar to skiing. You have beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert trails. Please be careful to stay within your skill set and slowly increase the level of challenge. Cell phones don’t always work in the backcountry and you might find yourself stuck in some remote spot waiting a very long time for help.

Other activities in Moab that are very popular include river rafting, zip lining, golf and mountain biking. People come from all over the world to go mountain biking in Moab. Whether you are looking for a casual cruise in the desert or extreme challenges on the slick rock you won’t be disappointed. There are several local shops that provide sales, rentals and service for mountain bikes. They can also tell you about the latest trail conditions and other helpful information.