Metehan Erdogan

Utah – Part 3

January 14-18, 2026

Grand Junction, Moab, Dead Horse Point SP, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Hanksville

January 14 – Arrival

Flight to Grand Junction, CO (GJT) via Denver.

  • DEN
January 15
Dead Horse Point State Park
Arches National Park
TrailLengthDifficultyCell CoverageShade
The Windows, Double ArchShort walkEasy3/5Limited
Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint20 minutesEasy with continous light incline2/5None
Delicate Arch Trail1 hour one-wayEasy with continous light incline, narrower and exposed towards the end3/5Limited

Tips:

  • No running water anywhere in the park except for the Visitor Center. Bring lots of water. Only vault toilets at trailheads.
  • Roads are paved and well-maintained.
  • Good ranger presence.
  • Limited cell coverage, good connection where La Sal Mountains are visible.
January 16
Canyonlands National Park

Mesa Arch:

me

Green River Overlook:

Grand View Point:

Needles District:

Tips:

  • No running water anywhere in the Island In The Sky District, not even in the Visitor Center. Needles Visitor Center had running water in the restrooms. Bring lots of water. Only vault toilets at trailheads.
  • Roads are paved and well-maintained.
  • Limited cell coverage in the Island In The Sky District, good connection where La Sal Mountains are visible.
  • No/limited cell service in the Needles District between the northern part of the park and US-191.
  • Not many rangers were around in the Island In The Sky District. Needles Visitor Center was closed, no rangers. Just a landline phone by the restrooms to call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office.

Wilson Arch – outside of the park:

I was trying to take a long exposure pic of the arch with the Orion constellation, then a truck with a bunch of bright lights drove by.
January 17
Capitol Reef National Park

Definition of “middle of nowhere.” Didn’t see any cars for 20 minutes in the morning, and for more than an hour in the evening.

Tips:

  • Absolutely zero cell service in the park. No coverage between a few miles west of Hanksville and Torrey (about 45 miles). The Visitor Center has Wi-Fi but no cell coverage.
  • No running water anywhere in the park, except at the Visitor Center. Only vault toilets at trailheads. Bring lots of water.
Middle of nowhere: south of Hanksville with zero light pollution. 16+ miles away from civilization. Pic below explains it…