Moab, Dunton Hot Springs – Itinerary

We are calling this our “Sand and Snow” vacation as it starts in the deserts and parks of Moab, Utah including Arches and Canyonlands; heads down through the southwest corner of Colorado to Dunton Hot Springs and then on to Albuquerque.

What is really great is this trip allows you to plan a lot of unique outdoor activities while seeing some of the most beautiful areas of the national parks, the Colorado mountains and the Southwest.

A modification travelers might want to make would be based upon the airlines you prefer to fly. For us, we typically take Southwest so travel was into Salt Lake City and then back out of Albuquerque. However, you could also head to other nearby destinations like Telluride, Durango or even up to Denver.

And, of course, you may want to consider different lodging options based upon budgets or destinations and we’ll try to point out a few alternatives where possible.

DAY 1 – TRAVEL TO MOAB

Fly into Salt Lake City and drive to Moab (about four hours)

Eat: Wherever you can, picking up quick meals along the way
Stay: Red Cliffs Lodge – ($$); The Gonzo Inn ($$); Hoodoo Moab by Hilton – Coming Soon ($$)

DAY 2 – ARCHES NATIONAL PARK – HIKING, JEEP SCRAMBLING

Hike to Delicate Arch – Early Morning
Walk to the Petroglyphs
Walk Park Avenue Trail
Arches Visitor Center – Get passes for Fiery Furnace or pre-buy tour (see notes)
Dan Mick’s Jeep Scrambling – Hell’s Revenge

Eat: Eklecticafe – Breakfast ($)
Eat: The Spoke on Center – Lunch ($) – Burgers, Shakes, Macaroni Poppers
Eat: Twisted Sistas Café – Dinner ($$) – Tapas, American Food
Stay: Red Cliffs Lodge ($$); The Gonzo Inn ($$); Hoodoo Moab by Hilton – Coming Soon ($$)

DAY 3 – ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, GOBLIN VALLEY STATE PARK – HIKING

Devil’s Garden Trail – Hike to Landscape Arch or beyond to Double O Arch
Fiery Furnace – Self paced hike or guided tour
Visit the North and South Windows taking the primitive trail around back
Turret Arch, Double Arch, Balance Rock
Goblin Valley State Park – 1.5 Hour Drive each way

Eat: Love Muffin Cafe – Breakfast ($) – Blueberry, Bacon, Maple Muffin
Eat: Quesadilla Mobilla – Lunch ($) – The Dirt Bag (cheese and refried beans) or Enchanted Chicken (with green chiles)
Eat: Desert Bistro – Dinner ($$$) – Fine Dining Southwestern – Bacon, Wrapped Dates, Steak and Antelope
Stay: Red Cliffs Lodge ($$); The Gonzo Inn ($$); Hoodoo Moab by Hilton – Coming Soon ($$)

DAY 4 – BEHIND THE ROCKS – REPELLING, CANYONEERING

Windgate Adventures – Canyoneering the Land Before Time Canyon
Three Repels – 130’, 70’ and 120’
Six Miles of Canyoneering

Eat: Love Muffin Cafe – Breakfast ($) – Blueberry, Bacon, Maple Muffin (Again)
Eat: Packed snacks and lunch on the trip – Lunch ($)
Eat: Paradox Pizza – Dinner ($)
Stay: Red Cliffs Lodge ($$); The Gonzo Inn ($$); Hoodoo Moab by Hilton – Coming Soon ($$)

DAY 5 – CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK – HIKING OR JEEP RENTAL

Potash and Wall Street to Shafer Trail by Musselman Arch – Optional – See Notes
Shafer Canyon Overlook
Mesa Arch
Grand View Point Overlook
Green River Overlook
Aztec Butte
Upheaval Dome
Dead Horse State Park – Dead Horse Point – “Thelma and Louise”

Eat: Jailhouse Cafe – Breakfast ($) – Ginger Pancakes with Apple Butter and Thick Cut Bacon
Eat: Packed snacks and lunch on the trip – Lunch ($) – Picnic Tables at White Rim Overlook
Eat: Dinner ($) – Open
Stay: Red Cliffs Lodge ($$); The Gonzo Inn ($$); Hoodoo Moab by Hilton – Coming Soon ($$)

DAY 6 – DUNTON HOT SPRINGS – RELAXING AND SLEDDING

Three Hour Drive
Enjoy the resort – Checkers, chess, ping-pong, snowshoes, sledding, ice skating
Soak in the Hot Springs

Eat: Dunton Hot Springs – Communal Lunch and Dinner Included
Stay: Dunton Hot Springs – ($$$)

DAY 7 – DUNTON HOT SPRINGS – RELAXING AND SNOWMOBILING

Snowmobiling
Soak in the Hot Springs
Visit the Library, Sample the Whiskey, Build a Fire

Eat: Dunton Hot Springs – Communal Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Stay: Dunton Hot Springs – ($$$)

DAY 8 – ALBUQUERQUE – AZTEC NATIONAL MONUMENT, MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

Five and a half hour drive
Visit either Aztec National Monument or Mesa Verde National Park
Biking, Swimming, Bocce Ball, Alpacas

Eat: El Bruno’s – Cuba, New Mexico – Lunch – Enchilidas de Herrera – Tortillas with red chile and smoked pork – and sopapillas. ($)
Eat: Los Poblanos Historic Inn – Dinner – Casual fine dining ($$)
Stay: Los Poblanos Historic Inn – ($$)

DAY 9 – ALBUQUERQUE – KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS NATIONAL MONUMENT, BREAKING BAD TOUR

Bike the Rio Grande Trail
Visit the Farm Shop and see the alpacas
Visit the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument or Sante Fe
Breaking Bad Tour of Albuquerque – including Heisenberg’s Home, A1A Car Wash, Blue Candy at The Candy Lady
Fly Home

Eat: Los Poblanos Historic Inn – Breakfast ($)
Eat: 66 Diner – Lunch/Dinner – Burgers, Cheese Fries with Hatch Green Chiles, Grasshopper Shake ($)
Stay: Your own bed – (-)

And for more details on surrounding areas see our other itinerary for Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce or destination notes for Arches, Canyonlands, Dunton Hot Springs, Albuquerque, Zion/Bryce Canyon, and Amangiri/Lake Powell.

Moab, Dunton Hot Springs – TRIP SUMMARY – LINKS AND REVIEWS

TRIPADVISOR – THINGS TO DO

• Delicate Arch
• Wolfe Ranch Rock Art
• Park Avenue Trail
• Dan Mick’s Jeep Tours
• Devils Garden Trailhead
• Fiery Furnace
• Windows
• Double Arch
• Balanced Rock
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Windgate Adventures
• Shafer Trail
• Mesa Arch
• Grand View Point Overlook
• Green River Overlook
• Aztec Butte
• Upheaval Dome
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Telluride Outside
• Aztec Ruins National Monument
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Rio Grande Trail
• Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
• The Candy Lady

TRIPADVISOR – HOTELS

• Red Cliffs Lodge
• The Gonzo Inn
• Dunton Hot Springs
• Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

YELP – RESTAURANTS

• Eklecticafe
• The Spoke on Center
• Twisted Sistas Cafe
• Love Muffin Cafe
• Quesadilla Mobilla
• Desert Bistro
• Paradox Pizza
• Jailhouse Cafe
• El Brunos
• Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm
• 66 Diner

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