Canyonlands is not a place for the casual day hiker. If you're not there for a hardcore adventure, you pretty much just enjoy the vistas. So, this is exactly what I did. I took a short hike to Upheaval Dome and enjoyed a peaceful moment listening to music and enjoying the view. I was really irritated when a loud family showed up and ruined it, but had to laugh- I was listening to the song "Stay Gold" by First Aid Kit. "Nothing gold can stay."
The next hike I did is popular with the Moab locals- a mostly-level stream side hike to Morning Glory Arch in Negro Bill Canyon. There was a lot of traffic, but it was still fun. The arch itself is breathtaking; I wasn't expecting it to be so big.
I ran into a group of people with rope and asked them if there was climbing in this canyon. They said no, they were just rappelling. And as soon as I saw the arch, I understood. There was obviously a canyon above the arch... It would have been so much better to set up a shuttle and do this while canyon from the top and do a simul-rap from the top of the arch. This is what sucks about traveling alone.
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