the perfect three days in moab

arches-np-drive

crunchy kat explores 3 days in moab utah
crunchy kat explores perfect 3 days in moab utah

rches-np-drive
When I moved to Denver six months ago, I was moving here for the mountains (cliche yadda yadda I know). And while I’m still not sure what region of the United States to consider Colorado part of (anyone with me that it should be the Midwest and what we call the “Midwest” should actually be the Mideast?!), I really only associated it with mountains (and maybe the plains). To be honest, I never really thought about how the desert was basically just a stone throw away.

After realizing Moab, the gateway to TWO national parks and tons of other outdoor activities, was only a five hour drive away, I scheduled a long three day weekend in the desert. And this self-proclaimed mountain lover kindaaaa turned into a desert lover too.

Moab is the type of place that could take a lifetime to explore, butttttt most people don’t have unlimited PTO for that. So maybe you’re just taking a quick weekend trip from Denver or Salt Lake City. Or maybe passing through on your way on a road trip to other national parks. Three days in Moab is not enough time to explore everything it has to offer, but you can still fit in some adventures. So how do you spend three days in Moab?

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where to hike in denver after work

Dakota ridge morrison crunchy kat

crunchy kat explores best after work hikes in denver
crunchy kat explores where to hike after work near denver

Dakota ridge morrison crunchy kat

I’d jump out on a limb and say a big reason A LOT of people move to Denver is to be closer to the mountains. But just because you are working a 9 to 5 office job downtown in the city though doesn’t mean the only time you can get out and enjoy nature is on the weekends.

Lucky for us in Denver, we don’t have to only be weekend warriors. While you may not be crushing a 14’er after work, that doesn’t mean you can’t climb some mountains! Curious where you can get in a quick hike after work? Peep my four suggestions which are only a thirty minute (or less!) drive from the city.

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denver day hike: carpenter peak

carpenter peak roxborough state park sandstone denver

crunchy kat explores hike carpenter peak colorado
roxborough state park carpenter peak denver day hike crunchy kat explores.

distance: 6.2 miles (out and back) | elevation: 1,013’ (5,995’ starting) | difficulty: easy/moderate

carpenter peak roxborough state park sandstone denver

Normally when I decide to head out for a day hike from Denver, I’m searching for hikes on a map anywhere west of me. I’m not sure why, but it never really occurred to me to look anywhere besides that. A few weeks ago though, I met up with a friend and she told me she had a great hiking date at a state park which put it on my radar. Though when I looked it up, it was actually south of Denver!

So finally, I made the trip south instead and headed to one of Colorado’s state parks – Roxborough State Park, just forty-five minutes from Denver.

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