Strack Family Southwest Trip · Sep 29

Overview

15 days. 3 houses. From the red rock of southern Utah through Lake Powell to the canyons of Moab. Hiking, ATV, water sports, off-roading, and as much adventure as you want.

✅ We're covering

All 3 houses (lodging Sep 29 to Oct 13)

💳 On you

Getting to and from the trip
Your own vehicle. Our 4Runner is full with our family + grandmother, so no extra seats. Plan on driving yourself.
Cooking 1–2 dinners for the group during the trip
Groceries for your meals + your household's day-to-day food
Any activities you want to do (ATV, boat, rafting, slot canyon tours)
Fuel and vehicle expenses
National park entry passes

The 3 Houses

🏠 Leg 1 — Hurricane, UT · Zion area

Zion and Sand Hollow Escape · Sep 29 to Oct 4 (5 nights) · Sleeps 30

Private hot tub, heated pool + lazy river at clubhouse · Near Sand Hollow, Zion, Bryce

View on Vrbo →

Room	Beds	Sleeps	Claimed by
Master 1 (main)	1 King + 1 Twin Futon	3	Stephanie & Cuatro
Master 2 (upstairs)	1 King + 2 Twins	4	Eilts
Master 3 (upstairs)	1 King + 2 Twins	4	Cinco
Bedroom 5	1 Queen + 1 Twin Futon	3	Mer
Bedroom 6	1 Queen + 2 Twins	4	Cochrums
Bunk Room	4 Doubles + 2 Twins	10	Strack Girls
Living Room	1 Double Sofa	2

🏠 Leg 2 — Kanab, UT · Lake Powell + Antelope Canyon area

Spectacular Home with Private Pool and Spa and Million Dollar Views · Oct 4 to Oct 8 (4 nights) · Sleeps 20

Private heated pool + spa · Near Coral Pink Sand Dunes; 1 hr to Lake Powell + Antelope Canyon

View on Vrbo →

Room	Beds	Sleeps	Claimed by
Bedroom 1	1 King + 1 Double Sofa	4	Strack Girls
Bedroom 2	1 King	2	Stephanie & Cuatro
Bedroom 3	1 King	2	Mer
Bedroom 4	1 King	2	Eilts
Bedroom 5	1 King	2	Cochrum
Living Room	3 Double Sofas	6	Cinco

Plus 3 rollaways available on request.

🏠 Leg 3 — Moab, UT · Arches + Canyonlands area

Beautiful home w/ covered decks & grills · Oct 8 to Oct 13 (5 nights) · Sleeps 33

Spanish Valley · Parking for 6 vehicles · Near Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point

View on Vrbo →

Room	Beds	Sleeps	Claimed by
Bedroom 1	2 Queens	4	Eilts
Bedroom 2	1 Queen	2	Stacey/Mer
Bedroom 3	1 King	2	Stephanie & Cuatro
Bedroom 4	1 Queen	2
Bedroom 5	3 Twins + 1 Queen	5	Cinco/Brady/Randy
Bedroom 6 (Big Bunk)	10 Twins + 2 Doubles	14	Strack & Charbula Girls
Basement	2 Double Sofas	4

How to claim a room

Pick a room from each house you're attending.
Let Steph know which rooms you want.
If you're doing the whole trip, claim a room in all 3 houses.
If you're joining part of the trip, claim only those legs.
First come, first served.

Itinerary Preview

Leg 1 — Hurricane (Sep 29 to Oct 4)

Sep 29 Tue — Drive in, settle, hot tub
Sep 30 Wed — Zion (Observation Point + Emerald Pools options) · Park pass, free shuttle
Oct 1 Thu — Zion Narrows bottom-up hike · Park pass + dry-gear rental (~$30/pp)
Oct 2 Fri — Sand Hollow ATV + reservoir · $20/vehicle · ATV by invite
Oct 3 Sat — Bryce Canyon (Fairyland or Navajo/Queens) · Park pass

Leg 2 — Kanab (Oct 4 to Oct 8)

Oct 4 Sun — Drive to Kanab + Coral Pink ATV PM · $20/vehicle · ATV by invite
Oct 5 Mon — Lake Powell day (Wahweap or Antelope Point) · Boat rental by invite
Oct 6 Tue — Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend · Tour by invite, $10/vehicle parking
Oct 7 Wed — Easy day near Kanab; welcome Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady at the house that evening

Leg 3 — Moab (Oct 8 to Oct 13)

Oct 8 Thu — Bryce Canyon morning with Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady → Goblin Valley afternoon → Moab house that evening · National park admission/pass + separate state park fee
Oct 9 Fri — Moab off-road + Arches sunset · Park pass, off-road by invite
Oct 10 Sat — Colorado River rafting + BBQ lunch · Reservation pending
Oct 11 Sun — Arches photo day · Early group photos; Kayla, Harleigh & Brady leave for SLC
Oct 12 Mon — Monument Valley · $8/pp Navajo entry
Oct 13 Tue — Arches morning + drive to SLC · Fiery Furnace permit if hiking

At a glance

15 days, 3 home bases
Daylight: ~7:15 AM to 6:55 PM at start, shrinks to ~7:30 AM to 6:25 PM by end
Weather: 70–85°F days, 45–60°F nights. Moab is the coolest base.
Time zone: All locations on Mountain Time. Page, AZ on MST year-round but in October lines up with Utah on MDT (no time change).

Leg 1 — Hurricane, UT

House: Escape 2 Zion · Check-in: Sep 29 after 4 PM · Check-out: Oct 4 before 10 AM

Local hubs

Hurricane (15 min): Walmart, Lin's Market, gas
St. George (25 min): Costco, full grocery
Springdale (30 min): Zion gateway, gear rentals

Best restaurants

Pig's Ear American Bistro (5 min walk from house)
Stout Burgers + Beers (Hurricane)
Bit & Spur (Springdale, for Zion days)
Riggatti's Wood Fired Pizza (St. George)

Pack for this leg

Hiking boots + water shoes (Narrows)
Swimsuits (Sand Hollow + clubhouse pool)
Layers, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses
2L water per person per hike day

Sep 29 (Tue) — Arrival day

Travel day. Settle. Hot tub. Group dinner.

Steph + family arrive (driving from TX)
Other invitees aim for check-in 4 PM+
First group dinner at house

Sep 30 (Wed) — Zion

6:15 AM depart house. It is 37 minutes and 25 miles to the visitor center on UT-9 east, not 30. Leaving at 6:15 gets you parked by 6:55.
7:00 AM first shuttle of the day leaves the visitor center
7:10 AM — Towers of the Virgin at sunrise. Get off at Stop 2, the Human History Museum, and walk to the plaza behind it. Sunrise is around 7:15 and this is the best photograph of the day. Flat, two minutes from the bus.
Hike the rest of the morning
12:30 PM lunch in Springdale (Bit & Spur, Oscar's Cafe, MeMe's)
2:00 PM afternoon hike, scenic drive, or head back and take the afternoon at the house
6:00 PM back to house

📸 Best photo stops, no hiking required

Towers of the Virgin — Stop 2, at sunrise. Flat, benches, restrooms.
Big Bend — Stop 8. Angels Landing and the Great White Throne, straight off the bus.
Temple of Sinawava — Stop 9. Walls closing in over the river.
Court of the Patriarchs — Stop 4. About fifty yards up a paved ramp.
Canyon Junction Bridge — Stop 3. The Watchman over the Virgin River, best at sunset around 7 PM. Save it for the Narrows day on Oct 1 when you are already in the park.

👵 Easy track for Grandmother

She can do a full day here without hiking. Every shuttle is wheelchair accessible, and the Park Service lists Pa'rus, Riverside Walk, and Lower Emerald Pool as its wheelchair-friendly trails.

7:10 — Stop 2, Towers of the Virgin at sunrise
8:00 — Stop 4, Court of the Patriarchs, five minutes
8:45 — Stop 9, Riverside Walk. Paved and flat. Walk fifteen minutes in and turn around whenever she wants.
10:30 — Stop 5, Zion Lodge. This is her base. Cottonwood lawn, shade, benches, restrooms, café. Leave her here while the rest of you hike and collect her on the way back.
Afternoon — Pa'rus Trail, paved and flat along the river from the visitor center. No shuttle needed.

Skip for her: Canyon Overlook, Emerald Pools above the lower pool, Watchman, East Mesa.

Hike options

Hike	Distance	Difficulty	Time	Notes
Observation Point via East Mesa	6.5 mi RT	Moderate	4–5 hrs	⚠️ Not on the shuttle. Trailhead is an hour's drive from Springdale on a rutted dirt road and the small lot fills by 8 AM. This needs its own day and the car.
Emerald Pools (lower + middle + upper)	3 mi RT	Easy–moderate	2–3 hrs	Shaded and pretty, but the waterfalls are usually a trickle by late September. Do not promise anybody waterfalls.
Riverside Walk	2 mi RT	Easy paved	1 hr	Flat, follows river to Narrows trailhead
Watchman Trail	3.3 mi RT	Easy–moderate	2 hrs	At visitor center, no shuttle needed
Canyon Overlook	1 mi RT	Easy	45 min	Big views. ⚠️ Needs the car — it is east of the Mt. Carmel tunnel on Hwy 9, not on the shuttle. Good use of the afternoon slot. Uneven rock and drop-offs.

Tips: Park at visitor center, shuttle every 7–15 min, no cars in canyon. 2L water minimum. Cell service patchy — set meet-up times.

Oct 1 (Thu) — Zion Narrows

6:15 AM depart house. It is 37 minutes to Springdale, not 30.
7:00 AM rent dry gear at Zion Outfitter, 7 Zion Park Blvd, right by the pedestrian park entrance. They open at 7:00 and run to 8 PM. (435) 772-5090 — reserve ahead, walk-ins are possible but not guaranteed.
7:30 AM shuttle from the visitor center
~8:10 AM Temple of Sinawava, Stop 9. It is roughly a 40-minute ride to the end of the line.
8:15 AM start up the Virgin River
Hike as far as you want. Most go 3–5 mi in.
2–3 PM back to Springdale, return gear, lunch
5 PM back to house

Wall Street section (4–5 mi in) is the iconic stretch. Slippery rocks, current, water ~55°F. Dry pants + dry boots mandatory (~$30/pp Zion Outfitter). No permit needed for the bottom-up day hike — you can wade as far as Big Spring without one.

👥 Three tracks for this day

Teens and anyone game — the full run to Wall Street, 4–5 mi in. This is the iconic stretch and the reason to come.
Mid-60s crowd — go in 45 minutes to an hour and turn around. The first stretch past the Riverside Walk is the same canyon, just less deep. It is rock-hopping in moving water, mostly ankle to knee deep. Doable if you are steady on your feet. Get the dry boots and take a stick.
Grandmother — this one is a house day. Cold moving water over loose cobbles is not the place. Oct 2 with the ATVs is the same answer.

📸 Optional: the Watchman at sunset

The Pa'rus Trail starts at the visitor center and is paved, flat, and wheelchair accessible the whole way. The Park Service calls it one of the best places in the park to watch the sunset, and it has the best views of the Watchman. You do not need the shuttle and you do not need to reach the far end — walk out twenty minutes and shoot from wherever you like.

Sunset is around 6:55. Staying for it puts you back at the house closer to 8:00, and you will have been wet and cold since morning. Worth it if anybody still has gas in the tank. No shame in skipping it.

⚠ Check two things the morning of. First, the flash flood forecast at the visitor center — if it says "probable" or higher, don't go. Oct 1 is past peak monsoon but the risk is real, and the park keeps the Narrows closed for at least two hours after a warning lifts. Second, the river flow: the park closes the Narrows above 150 CFS.

Oct 2 (Fri) — Sand Hollow ATV + Reservoir

Sleep in. This is the recovery day. You came off the Narrows yesterday and Bryce is a long haul tomorrow. Nothing here needs an alarm, and the water is warmer in the afternoon anyway.

Slow morning at the house
10:30 AM drive to Sand Hollow — 13 minutes, 7.3 miles
11:00 AM pick up ATV rentals
Midday on the Sand Mountain trails
1:00 PM picnic lunch at the reservoir
Afternoon swim, SUP, kayak — 2 to 5 PM is the warmest water of the day
~6:55 PM sunset over the reservoir
7:30 PM back to house

⚠ Park entry is $35 per vehicle, not $20. That is the non-Utah-resident day-use rate. Utah residents pay $25, seniors 65+ pay $10, and walk-ins are $5 a head. The fee is per vehicle, so consolidate — three cars is $105 at the gate.

ATV: Side-by-sides, 4–6 person capacity. Sand Hollow OHV Rentals or ATV Adventure Tours.

Water: The reservoir runs about 68°F in October. That is swimmable, but the air temperature decides whether it is fun — which is the other reason to be there in the afternoon rather than at 9 AM.

Park hours: 6 AM to 10 PM. Call (435) 680-0715 for current conditions.

📸 This is your sunset night

Sunset over the water with the red rock behind it, and you are thirteen minutes from the house — dry, rested, and not coming off a cold hike. This is a better sunset than staying late at Zion on Narrows day. If you only do one sunset on this leg, do it here.

👥 How the day splits

ATV crowd — Sand Mountain all day if they want it.
Water crowd — swim beach and paddleboards all day. Same park, no second entry fee.
Grandmother — this one can work for her, unlike the Narrows. The swim beach has shade and there are picnic areas, so she can sit by the water with the group instead of spending the day at the house. Her call.

Oct 3 (Sat) — Bryce Canyon

7:00 AM depart. The drive is 2 hours 14 minutes, 134 miles via I-15 N — not an hour and a half.
9:15 AM arrive. Start at Sunrise Point anyway, the light is still good.
Hike late morning
12:30 PM lunch (Bryce Lodge or packed)
Afternoon scenic drive to Rainbow Point
4:30 PM Sunset Point
~8:00 PM back to house

⚠ You cannot make actual sunrise at Bryce. Sunrise is around 7:40 and the drive is 2¼ hours, so you would be leaving the house at 5:00 AM. Not worth it with this group. Sunrise Point is a great overlook at 9:15 too — the name is the place, not the requirement.

⚠ Altitude. Bryce sits at 7,000–9,000 feet. The house is around 3,300. The Park Service warns visitors they may "fatigue more easily, feel light-headed, or even experience headaches" up there. Drink more water than feels necessary, and take the first hour slow — especially Grandmother and anyone over 60. Early October mornings on the rim run near freezing, so real layers, not hoodies.

Hike	Distance	Difficulty	Time	Notes
Fairyland Loop	8 mi RT	Moderate–strenuous	4–5 hrs	Less crowded, full immersion
Navajo / Queens combo	3 mi RT	Easy–moderate	2 hrs	Classic Bryce, kid-friendly
Rim Trail	1 mi RT	Easy flat	30 min	Pure view hike

👵 Bryce without hiking

Bryce is the easiest of the parks to enjoy from a car. These overlooks are all drive-up with almost no walking:

Sunset Point — short paved trail to the overlook
Bryce Point — 150 feet of paved trail, slight decline
Paria View — paved, gently sloping from the parking lot
Inspiration Point and Fairyland Point — also drive-up

The visitor center loans an all-terrain wheelchair free of charge. Ask at the desk.

The real issue for her here is not walking, it is the altitude and the cold. Watch how she does the first hour.

Tips: Best light early and late. Bring layers you can shed by noon.

Oct 4 (Sun) — Transition to Kanab

8 AM breakfast, pack
10 AM check out Hurricane house
11 AM arrive Kanab house (drop bags, check-in usually 4 PM). Drive is 1 hr 6 min, 64 miles via UT-59 and AZ-389.
Noon lunch (Wild Thyme Cafe or Sego)
1:30 PM drive to Coral Pink Sand Dunes (30 min)
2–6 PM ATV on pink dunes
Dinner at house

Coral Pink: Kanab ATV Rentals or Coral Pink ATV Rentals. $15 per vehicle entry, $10 for Utah seniors 65+ — cheaper than Sand Hollow. Bring goggles or sunglasses, sand blows. Smaller, chiller than Sand Hollow.

🍦 Ice cream + culture stops

Canyon Creamery — 358 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale. Open 9 AM to 7 PM. Soft serve, Dole Whip, fresh cookies and brownies, and specialty sodas. Their "Zion" is Dr. Pepper with vanilla and coconut cream. Right by the park entrance, so it is the natural stop on the way out of Zion on Sep 30 or Oct 1.

Springdale Candy Company — also on Zion Park Blvd, if you want the other option.

Little Hollywood Movie Museum — 297 W Center St, Kanab, behind the gift shop in a grove of cottonwoods. Original western movie sets. Over 100 films and TV shows were shot around Kanab going back to 1924. Free to walk through, flat, shaded, and a genuinely good hour for the whole range of ages. Call ahead for current hours.

Grafton Ghost Town — near Rockville, on the way home from Zion. Restored schoolhouse, old homes, cemetery under the cliffs. Free, no hours, flat, drive right up. Unpaved but maintained road; skip it after rain. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed there.

Brigham Young Winter Home — 67 W 200 N, St. George. Free guided tour, 9 AM to 7 PM, last tour 6:30. Jacob Hamblin Home in Santa Clara is free too and a few minutes further. Good pair for an afternoon.

Leg 2 — Kanab, UT

House: Spectacular Home with Private Pool · Check-in: Oct 4 at 4 PM · Check-out: Oct 8 before 10 AM

Local hubs

Kanab: Honey's Marketplace, Glazier's, gas
Page, AZ (1 hr): Walmart, gas, restaurants

Best restaurants in Kanab

Sego Restaurant (best in town, reservations for dinner)
Wild Thyme Cafe (lunch/dinner, casual)
Vermillion 45 (fine dining)
Houston's Trail's End (Western breakfast)

Pack additions

Swimsuit (heated private pool + Powell)
Water shoes for boat day
Light jacket (wind on water)

Top off gas in Kanab before Lake Powell driving days.

Oct 5 (Mon) — Lake Powell · Cuatro's 47th Birthday

8 AM depart Kanab (1 hr to Page)
9 AM arrive marina
10 AM on the water
All day swim, SUP, kayak, jet ski, run to Antelope Canyon (by water) or Rainbow Bridge (full day)
5 PM return boat
7 PM back to Kanab

Boat rental: Wahweap (lakepowell.com) — larger fleet. Antelope Point (antelopepointlakepowell.com) — newer fleet, less crowded. Powerboat or pontoon $800–1,500/day. SUPs/kayaks add-on $30–50 each. Jet skis ~$500/day each.

Water + weather: Water 68–72°F. Air 75–85°F. Pack swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, jacket, water shoes, cooler.

Tips: Arrive 30–45 min before boat checkout. Designated driver mandatory. Cell service patchy on water.

Tonight's cook: Strack Family — Cuatro's 47th BDAY Celebration! Steak and potatoes.

Oct 6 (Tue) — Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend

9 AM depart Kanab (1 hr to Page)
11 AM Antelope Canyon tour (60–90 min)
1:30 PM lunch in Page (Big John's Texas BBQ, Birdhouse, Slackers)
3 PM drive to Horseshoe Bend
3:30 PM walk to overlook (3/4 mi each way)
4:30–5:30 PM sunset (sun sets ~6:25 PM)
7:30 PM back to Kanab

Antelope Canyon — Upper: more famous, has light beams (best at noon). Operators: Antelope Canyon Tours by Roger Ekis, Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours.

Antelope Canyon — Lower: less crowded, requires ladders. Operators: Ken's Tours, Dixie Ellis.

Navajo-guided only. ~$50–90/pp. Book direct.

⚠ Horseshoe Bend has a REAL cliff edge with no railings. Stay back. $10/vehicle parking. 3/4 mi walk to overlook. Sunset is peak crowd — arrive 30 min early for parking.

Oct 7 (Wed) — Easy day + welcome everyone at the Kanab house

Keep daytime plans local and flexible. Tonight we meet Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady at the house, with food ready when they arrive.

Daytime: relax at the house or choose a short outing near Kanab.
Before evening: fuel vehicles, pack most luggage, and prepare breakfast, packed lunches, water, and snacks for tomorrow.
Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady: land at Salt Lake City at 2:55 PM, then collect bags and their rental car and drive to Kanab.
House welcome: late evening arrival expected. Keep dinner flexible and ready to reheat; timing depends on the flight, rental-car pickup, traffic, and breaks.

Bryce is tomorrow: Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady will join the October 8 visit. The earlier group's October 3 Bryce day stays in place.

Oct 8 (Thu) — Bryce Canyon + Goblin Valley → Moab

Today's priorities: give Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady time at Bryce Canyon, explore Goblin Valley together, then settle into the Moab house. This is a full travel day with short walks.

7:30 AM target: leave the Kanab house packed, fueled, and checked out. Allow about 1.5 hours to Bryce, plus entrance and parking time.
About 9–10:30 AM: Bryce Canyon. See the amphitheater from Sunset and Sunrise Points and walk the paved Rim Trail between them, about 1 mile round trip. This visit focuses on views and a short walk; the full Navajo/Queen's Garden loop stays with the October 3 hiking day.
By about 10:45 AM: leave Bryce for Goblin Valley. Choose a paved through-route using current navigation and road conditions; skip the long Highway 12 drive through Escalante. Allow roughly 4–5 hours including a brief lunch/fuel stop.
Mid-to-late afternoon: Goblin Valley State Park. Plan 1–1.5 hours among the goblins. Bring packed food so a restaurant stop does not consume the afternoon.
By about 5:30 PM: aim to leave Goblin Valley for the Moab house. Allow about 2 hours to the Spanish Valley area.
About 7–8:30 PM: estimated house arrival, easy dinner, and unpacking. Arrival may be later if traffic, park queues, or stops run long.

What changed: Bryce replaces the scheduled Capitol Reef scenic drive and Hickman Bridge hike. No dedicated Capitol Reef visit or long Highway 12 sightseeing drive is planned that day. Goblin Valley is a planned stop, not an optional extra.

All times are Mountain Daylight Time and are planning targets, not reservations. Budget roughly 7–8.5 hours of driving plus sightseeing and breaks. Check paved routes and weather before leaving; keep Bryce to the overlooks and rim walk to protect time at Goblin Valley.

🍄 Goblin Valley State Park — planned October 8 stop

Walk among the mushroom-shaped sandstone formations in the Valley of Goblins. Everyone can choose how far to explore.

Entry: $20 per private vehicle; separate from national park admission or passes.
Time planned: 1–1.5 hours to explore, with water and sun protection.
Access: use the paved approach via Temple Mountain Road and Goblin Valley Road. Do not follow a dirt-road shortcut.

Planning references: Bryce short-visit guide · Goblin Valley directions · Goblin Valley fees

Leg 3 — Moab, UT

House: Beautiful home in Spanish Valley · Check-in: Oct 8 at 4 PM · Check-out: Oct 13 before 10 AM

Local hubs

Moab (10–15 min): City Market, Moab Brewery, gas
Spanish Valley (5 min): small market, gas

Best restaurants in Moab

Moab Brewery (classic, big group friendly)
Desert Bistro (upscale)
Sweet Cravings (breakfast)
Quesadilla Mobilla (food truck lunch)
Pasta Jay's (Italian)
Antica Forma (best pizza)

Pack additions

Warm layers — Moab nights drop to 45–55°F
Beanie + gloves for early Arches mornings
Closed-toe shoes for off-road days

Gas: Fuel up the night before the Oct 11 airport drive; departing travelers should have bags packed.

Oct 9 (Fri) — Moab off-road + Arches sunset

9:30 AM depart for off-road tour
10 AM start tour (4–5 hrs)
3 PM back to house, rest
5 PM drive to Arches (15–20 min)
5:30 PM Delicate Arch hike
6:30 PM sunset at the arch
8:30 PM back to house, late dinner

Off-road options: Hell's Revenge (3–4 hrs, slickrock, iconic), Fins & Things (3 hrs, slickrock + sand), Top of the World (full day, big cliff at end). Operators: High Point Hummer, Moab Tour Co, Coyote Land Tours.

Delicate Arch hike: 3 mi RT, 480 ft elevation, moderate. Final 200 ft is narrow ledge with drop. Stay on trail. Pack headlamps for descent.

Oct 10 (Sat) — Colorado River rafting + BBQ lunch

Relaxed breakfast at the house; get ready for the river
Meet at Moab Adventure Center, 225 S Main St, at the outfitter's confirmed check-in time
11 AM planned departure for the Mid-Day Moab Rafting Adventure with BBQ Lunch
About 4½ hours including shuttle transfers and riverside BBQ lunch; return around 3:30 PM
Back to the house to relax, then dinner together
Kayla, Harleigh & Brady: pack bags and fuel up tonight for tomorrow's airport drive

River experience: Scenic Colorado River floating with smaller, splashy rapids. The operator lists Class I–II+ waves for most of the season; conditions vary.

Bring: Quick-dry clothing, secure shoes that can get wet, warm layers, sun protection and a water bottle. Guides, rafting gear, shuttle transfers and BBQ lunch are included. Minimum age 5, at least 50 lb and 42 inches tall.

Reservation pending: The operator lists a March–October season and 11 AM departures Monday–Saturday. October 10 availability and space for our group have not been confirmed; nothing is booked. Confirm the trip and check-in time before making firm plans.

Rafting details & booking · Moab Adventure Center: 435-259-7019

Oct 11 (Sun) — Arches photo day + airport departures

6:30 AM leave the Spanish Valley house with breakfast to go; departing travelers bring all luggage
Early morning group photos at The Windows and Double Arch in Arches National Park; prioritize a short stop if time is tight
By 9:30 AM, Kayla, Harleigh & Brady leave the park for Salt Lake City Airport. Allow roughly 4–4½ hours driving, plus rental-car return and airport check-in/security. Aim to be at the terminal by 2:50 PM; leave earlier if traffic or weather requires.
4:50 PM flight: Southwest WN1567, Salt Lake City to Austin; arrives 8:30 PM. All flight times local.
Those staying: lunch, then Delicate Arch for the classic Utah photo
Dinner back at the house

Shared photo stops: The Windows and Double Arch offer impressive arch backdrops with shorter walks. Keep the morning flexible so the departing group can leave on time.

Delicate Arch: The up-close view requires a 3-mile round-trip hike with about 480 feet of climbing. Allow 2–3 hours, plus photo time; bring water and sun protection. This hike is for those staying in Moab, not the airport group. A distant viewpoint is an alternative for anyone skipping the hike.

Arches photo stops · Delicate Arch trail details

Oct 12 (Mon) — Monument Valley

7:00 AM breakfast at house
7:30 AM depart Moab (~2.5–3 hr drive south via Hwy 191 through Bluff and Mexican Hat)
10:00 AM arrive Monument Valley Tribal Park, pay $8/pp entry at gate
10:30 AM split into two groups:
- Self-drive group: 17-mile Valley Drive dirt loop, walk around The View Hotel viewpoint, browse Navajo artisan stands
- Backcountry tour group: Navajo-guided tour (book your own)
1:00 PM lunch at The View Hotel restaurant or Goulding's Lodge
2:00 PM more exploring or head back
3:00 PM depart for Moab
6:00 PM back to Moab, dinner at house

Backcountry tour operators (book your own): Phillips Photography Tours, Sacred Monument Tours, Dineh Tours, Goulding's Tours, Simpson's Trailhandler.

Notes: $8/pp entry, cash preferred. Valley Drive loop is rough dirt road. 4WD not required but high-clearance helps. Avoid in rain. Backcountry tours $80–150/pp half-day. Book at least a week ahead. The View Hotel restaurant has the best mesa view in the country. Bring cash for entry, vendors, tips for guides.

Oct 13 (Tue) — Arches AM + departure

6:30 AM breakfast, pack
8 AM check out
8:30 AM drive to Arches (15 min)
9 AM hike (pick below)
Noon back to Moab, lunch
1 PM depart for SLC (4 hr)
5 PM arrive SLC
Evening flights out

Hike	Distance	Difficulty	Time	Notes
Landscape Arch out-and-back	1.6 mi RT	Easy	1 hr	Largest natural arch in the world
Park Avenue	2 mi RT	Easy	1 hr	Walk through "canyon" of fins
The Windows	1 mi RT	Easy	45 min	Big arches, quick stops
Fiery Furnace (ranger-led or permit)	2 mi	Moderate scrambling	3 hrs	Maze of fins, $16/pp permit
Devils Garden full Primitive Loop	7.2 mi RT	Strenuous exposed	4–5 hrs	Narrow fins with drops. Skip if exposure concerns.

Drive to SLC: ~4 hrs via I-70 to I-15. Gas in Moab. Lunch en route: Green River (Ray's Tavern), Salina, or Provo.

Master Packing Checklist

Gear

Hiking boots (broken in)
Closed-toe water shoes
Sandals for camp
2L water bottle or hydration pack
Day pack (15–20L)
Headlamp + batteries
Trekking poles (optional)

Clothing

Hiking pants/shorts (2–3 pairs)
Quick-dry shirts (3–4)
Long sleeve sun layer
Warm jacket (Moab nights)
Beanie + gloves
Swimsuit (2)
Towel
Sleepwear

Personal

Sunscreen SPF 30+ (desert sun is brutal)
Lip balm with SPF
Wide-brim or ball cap
Polarized sunglasses
After-sun lotion or aloe
Personal meds

Tech

Phone + charger
Battery pack
Offline maps for Arches and the drive to Salt Lake City

Misc

Trail snacks
Cooler for boat day
Cash for state park gates (cards usually work)
Reusable water bottle

Meals + Cooking Rotation

Each household takes 1–2 dinners during the trip and cooks for the group at the house. You pick which nights work for you and pull the groceries for your meal.

Breakfast and lunch are on your own — pack what you need or grab something on the way.

We'll lock in the dinner rotation about a week out once we know who's coming on which legs. The houses all have full kitchens with grills, so anything from a simple pasta night to a full Texas brisket setup works.

Night	Date	House	Household	Menu
1	Sep 29	Hurricane
2	Sep 30	Hurricane
3	Oct 1	Hurricane
4	Oct 2	Hurricane
5	Oct 3	Hurricane
6	Oct 4	Kanab
7	Oct 5	Kanab	Strack Family	Cuatro's 47th BDAY — Steak & potatoes
8	Oct 6	Kanab
9	Oct 7	Kanab
10	Oct 8	Moab
11	Oct 9	Moab
12	Oct 10	Moab
13	Oct 11	Moab
14	Oct 12	Moab

Excursions to Book Ahead

These require individual bookings — each person or household handles their own. All are low-risk: cheap, per-person, or fully refundable close to the date.

Activity	Cost / pp	Cancel window	Notes
Mesa Verde tickets	$8	Up to day-of	Cliff Palace + Balcony House. recreation.gov — opens 14 days ahead.
Antelope Canyon tour	$50–90	24–48 hr (most operators)	Ken's Tours (Lower), Dixie Ellis (Lower), Roger Ekis (Upper). Book early — sells out.
Colorado River raft	$80–130	Varies by operator	Fisher Towers half-day. Mild to Wild, Western River, NAVTEC.

Optional activities (book your own)

Hurricane area

Sand Hollow ATV: Sand Hollow OHV Rentals, ATV Adventure Tours
Water sports: SUP and kayak rentals at Sand Hollow Reservoir
Angels Landing permit: recreation.gov — $6 fee, lottery; apply 2–3 months ahead
Zion Narrows dry gear: Zion Outfitter in Springdale

Kanab area

Coral Pink Sand Dunes ATV: Kanab ATV Rentals, Coral Pink ATV Rentals
Lake Powell boat: Wahweap Marina, Antelope Point Marina
Antelope Canyon tour: Ken's Tours, Dixie Ellis, Roger Ekis
Best Friends: bestfriends.org/sanctuary

Moab area

Off-road tours / rentals: High Point Hummer, Moab Tour Co, Coyote Land Tours
Colorado River raft (Fisher Towers half-day): Mild to Wild, Western River, NAVTEC
Monument Valley backcountry tour: Phillips, Sacred Monument, Dineh Tours
Mesa Verde tickets: recreation.gov — opens 14 days ahead

On the drive (Kanab → Moab)

Goblin Valley State Park: planned October 8 afternoon stop, $20/private vehicle; allow for entry queues
Bryce Canyon: October 8 morning amphitheater overlooks and rim walk; national park admission/pass. Capitol Reef hike removed from this travel day.

Getting There

Commercial flights: Las Vegas (LAS) is closest for Leg 1. Salt Lake City (SLC) works for Leg 3 departure.
Private aviation: St. George (SGU), Page (PGA), Kanab (KNB), Canyonlands Field (CNY), Grand Junction (GJT).
Driving from Texas: about 22–24 hours; plan 2–3 driving days.
Vehicles: bring your own or rent. The group will need multiple vehicles for day trips.

Heading home from Moab

Each household handles their own travel out of Moab Oct 13.

Closest commercial airports

Grand Junction, CO (GJT) — 1.75 hr north of Moab. Limited flights, mostly via DEN and DFW.
Durango, CO (DRO) — 2 hr south. Small regional, flights via DEN, DFW, PHX.
Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) — 7 hr south. Major hub, best flight options.
Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) — 4 hr north. Major hub but the wrong direction for most of us heading home.

Rental car return points: Moab, Grand Junction, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City.

Our drive home: Steph + family + Mer drive south through Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Santa Fe Oct 13, then continue east Oct 14–15. The 4Runner is full so we can't ferry anyone, but if you're driving back through New Mexico or Texas, our route is friendly territory if you want to overlap on hotel stops.

Driving from Texas

This is our route out and back. Anyone else driving from Texas who wants to use the same overnight stops, here's the plan. Four days out, three days home.

Who's in what: Steph and Kimber in the 4Runner, picking up Grandmother in Waco Saturday morning. Mom and Dad are taking the RV and planning their own route and stops, with their RV spots already booked at all three stops. They are not tied to this schedule.

⏰ Clock changes to watch

Arizona does not do daylight saving. Crossing from New Mexico into Arizona on Mon Sep 28, you gain an hour.
Crossing from Arizona into Utah on Tue Sep 29, you give that hour back.
Every time below is local time where you are standing.

Outbound — Sep 26 to Sep 29

Day	Route	Driving	Overnight
Sep 26 Sat	El Campo → Waco (pick up Grandmother) → Buffalo Gap → Lubbock → Muleshoe → Clovis	11–11.5 hrs	Clovis, NM TownePlace Suites by Marriott
Sep 27 Sun	Clovis → Roswell → Ruidoso → White Sands → Alamogordo	5–5.5 hrs	Alamogordo, NM Home2 Suites by Hilton White Sands
Sep 28 Mon	Alamogordo → Winslow (late lunch) → Flagstaff	~7.5 hrs	Flagstaff, AZ Drury Plaza Hotel
Sep 29 Tue	Flagstaff → Page → Kanab → Hurricane	~5 hrs	Hurricane house Check-in 4 PM

Day by day, outbound

Sat Sep 26 — the long one. Out of El Campo by 5:30 AM. Grandmother gets picked up in Waco, which puts her in the car about 8 hours instead of the full 11. The early start is what buys the cushion.

Time	Where
5:30 AM	Leave El Campo
8:45 AM	Waco — pick up Grandmother. Budget a real hour for her and her bags, not fifteen minutes.
9:45 AM	Roll out of Waco
12:45 PM	Buffalo Gap — lunch
2:15 PM	Back on the road
7:15 PM MT	Clovis. Remember you cross into Mountain time, so you get an hour back.

Lunch, the good version: Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo Gap. Open Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM. Reservations strongly recommended: (325) 572-3339. Book 12:45. Worth the hour and a half.
Lunch, the fast version: The Gap Café by Perini Ranch, same town, closes at 2 PM. Chicken fried steak and burgers, in and out in forty minutes, and it puts you in Clovis by 6:30 instead of 7:15. Take this one if Grandmother is worn out by Abilene.
Dinner: The Rails, 221 W 1st St, Clovis. Open Saturday 4:00 to 9:30 PM. (575) 935-7245. Book 8:00.
Or skip it. TownePlace Suites has kitchens. After fourteen hours on the road, grabbing something on the way in and eating at the hotel is a perfectly good Saturday night. Decide from the car around Lubbock.

Sun Sep 27 — the easy one. Shortest driving day, most sightseeing. Sleep in a little.

Stops: Roswell for the kitsch, Ruidoso for lunch and mountain air, then White Sands mid to late afternoon when the heat breaks.
Lunch: Ruidoso, around 12:30. Rio Grande Grill & Tap Room, or Hall of Flame Burgers if you want more time at the dunes.
Dinner: D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, 261 Panorama Blvd, Alamogordo. Open Sunday 11 AM to 8 PM. (575) 616-5595. Reserve 6:30. They stop seating well before 8, so don't stay at White Sands past golden hour.
⚠️ White Sands closes with no notice for missile testing at the range next door, sometimes only 24 hours ahead. Check nps.gov/whsa the morning of before you commit the afternoon.

Mon Sep 28 — the good one. Petrified Forest is cut, so there is no deadline on this day. Leave Alamogordo around 8:00 AM and just drive. You gain an hour at the Arizona line and roll into Winslow around 2:15 PM Arizona time.

Late lunch in Winslow: The Turquoise Room at La Posada, 305 E 2nd St. (928) 289-2888. Their Traveler's Menu runs 2 to 4 PM, which is built for exactly this. No race against the 2 PM lunch cutoff, no waiting until dinner at 5.
While you're there: La Posada is a restored 1930 Fred Harvey railroad hotel and the gardens are free to walk. Flat and shaded. Standin' on the Corner Park is two minutes away. Give Grandmother forty-five minutes out of the car.
Then one more hour up to Flagstaff. Check in around 4:30.
Where you're sleeping: Drury Plaza Hotel, 300 S Milton Rd, Flagstaff. (928) 773-4900. Two-queen rooms, free parking, free hot breakfast, and the 5:30 Kickback runs until 7 if anybody wants a second supper.

Tue Sep 29 — arrival day. Leave Flagstaff around 8:00 AM Arizona time. North on US-89 through Page and Kanab, then down into Hurricane. Shortest day of the drive.

The route is the easy one. Straightforward driving, no exposure, no drop-offs. Skip US-89A through the Vermilion Cliffs, which is the pretty one but not the comfortable one.
Glen Canyon Dam at Page is a five-minute crossing with a pull-off. Worth stopping for.
You'll drive straight through Page and Kanab, which is Leg 2 territory. Don't burn the day sightseeing there, you're back on Oct 4 for four nights.
One steep downhill coming into Hurricane. Nothing hairy, just gear down.
Realistic arrival: 2:00 to 2:30 PM Utah time. House check-in is 4 PM, so there's no prize for getting there sooner. Do the grocery run before you go to the house.

Return — Oct 13 to Oct 15

Day	Route	Driving	Overnight
Oct 13 Tue	Arches in the morning, then Moab → Durango → Pagosa Springs → Santa Fe	~8 hrs	Santa Fe, NM Drury Plaza Hotel
Oct 14 Wed	Santa Fe → Wichita Falls (500 mi, I-40 E then US-287 S)	7.5 hrs	Wichita Falls, TX Homewood Suites
Oct 15 Thu	Wichita Falls → Waco → El Campo (388 mi, US-287 S then US-77 S)	6 hrs	Home by mid-afternoon

Day by day, coming home

Tue Oct 13. Out of the Moab house by checkout. If you want one last look at Arches, go at sunrise and be on the road by 9:00. The Durango and Pagosa Springs stretch is the prettiest driving of the whole trip and it is worth the extra time over the flat route south.

Wolf Creek Pass sits above 10,000 feet. Early October can put snow up there. Check COtrip.org the morning of. If the pass is bad, drop south through Farmington and Cuba to Santa Fe instead.
Fuel in Durango. The stretch after it is thin on services.
Santa Fe is worth an early dinner on the Plaza if you make decent time.

Wed Oct 14. The grind day. 500 miles, 7.5 hours, I-40 east then US-287 south. Nothing much to see, so put the miles down. Break it in Amarillo for lunch.

⏰ You lose an hour. Santa Fe is Mountain, Wichita Falls is Central. Leave at 8:00 AM and you arrive around 5:30 PM local, not 4:30.
There is a second route via US-84 and US-82 at 519 miles. It is slower. Take I-40.

Thu Oct 15. 388 miles, about 6 hours, plus the stop in Waco to drop Grandmother off. Home by mid-afternoon.

The fastest routing has tolls through the Metroplex.
⚠️ There have been road closures on US-77. Check your map the morning of before you commit to it.

Hotels on the drive

Clovis, Sep 26: TownePlace Suites by Marriott Clovis. Better rooms than anything in Muleshoe, and it earns Bonvoy points.
Alamogordo, Sep 27: Home2 Suites by Hilton Alamogordo White Sands. Newest option in town, kitchenettes, free breakfast and parking.
Flagstaff, Sep 28: Drury Plaza Hotel. Two queen beds, free parking, free hot breakfast, and the 5:30 Kickback.
Santa Fe, Oct 13: Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, 828 Paseo de Peralta. Two queens, free hot breakfast, 5:30 Kickback, and a heated rooftop pool and whirlpool open till 10. Half a mile off the Plaza. Parking is valet only, $30.
Wichita Falls, Oct 14: Homewood Suites by Hilton, 2675 Plaza Parkway. One-bedroom suites with two queens, free hot breakfast, free parking. About ten minutes off the straight-line route across both days.

Book refundable rates directly through each loyalty account. Flagstaff tightens up in the fall, so don't sit on that one.

Safety + Group Pace

We're going for adventure, not adrenaline. The Southwest has plenty of "hold my beer" hikes with chains, exposure, and real fall risk. We're not doing those.

Every day has options:

A bigger hike for the strong hikers
A medium option for most of us
A shorter, easier option for kids, grandparents, or anyone wanting a slower day

You pick what works for you. No pressure to do every hike.

⚠ A few spots have real cliff edges with no railings. Stay back from the edge. Phones in pockets for selfies near drops.

Horseshoe Bend (Page)
Dead Horse Point rim (Moab)
Top of the World overlook if we go there (Moab)
Delicate Arch final approach (Arches)

If a hike feels like too much halfway in, turn around. We'll meet you at the truck.

Group cooking + grocery: Each household claims 1–2 dinner nights. Each household buys for the nights you cook. Snacks, breakfasts, lunches = your own.

Communication on trip: Group text thread (Steph creates after commit deadline).

RSVP & Headcount

First come, first served on rooms. Commit by June 15, 2026. Text or email Steph with any changes.

Confirmed Guest Dates · 2026

Cochrums: September 29–October 7
Kayla, Harleigh, and Brady: October 7–11
Stacey: October 9–13

Dates below show arrival and departure at each house. Tentative stays are marked.

Cochrum Family

Name	Hurricane house Sep 29–Oct 4	Kanab house Oct 4–8	Moab house Oct 8–13
Cochrums Sep 29–Oct 7	Sep 29–Oct 4	Oct 4–7	No

Strack Family

Name	Hurricane house Sep 29–Oct 4	Kanab house Oct 4–8	Moab house Oct 8–13
Stephanie Strack	Sep 29–Oct 4	Oct 4–8	Oct 8–13
MER	Sep 29–Oct 4	Oct 4–8	Oct 8–13
Cuatro Strack	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Harleigh Strack Oct 7–11	No	Oct 7–8	Oct 8–11
Kayla Strack Oct 7–11	No	Oct 7–8	Oct 8–11
Brady Oct 7–11	No	Oct 7–8	Oct 8–11
Cinco Strack	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Kimber Strack	Sep 29–Oct 4	Oct 4–8	Oct 8–13

Eilts Family

Name	Hurricane house Sep 29–Oct 4	Kanab house Oct 4–8	Moab house Oct 8–13
Rachael Eilts Tentative · same dates as Cochrums	Sep 29–Oct 4 (tentative)	Oct 4–7 (tentative)	No
Jon Eilts Not going	No	No	No
Ella Eilts Tentative · same dates as Cochrums	Sep 29–Oct 4 (tentative)	Oct 4–7 (tentative)	No
Quentin Eilts Tentative · same dates as Cochrums	Sep 29–Oct 4 (tentative)	Oct 4–7 (tentative)	No
Zoe Eilts Tentative · same dates as Cochrums	Sep 29–Oct 4 (tentative)	Oct 4–7 (tentative)	No

Charbula Family

Name	Hurricane house Sep 29–Oct 4	Kanab house Oct 4–8	Moab house Oct 8–13
Stacey Charbula Oct 9–13	No	No	Oct 9–13
Talynn Charbula	No	No	Oct 8–13
Brynn Charbula	No	No	Oct 8–13

✋ Coming? Add yourself

Fill this in and it shows up in the live list below so everyone can see who's in. Check the legs you're joining. This is in addition to texting Steph.

Who's in so far

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💡 Suggest a Stop

Got a spot the group should add? Drop it here and everyone can see the running list. Steph works the good ones into the plan. (Goblin Valley State Park is already on the Oct 8 drive day — see Leg 2.)

Suggestions so far

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Questions?

Stephanie Strack

📱 979-637-0211

✉️ stephanie@j4lp.com

Emergency: Cuatro 979-541-7248