My video production from my “helmetcam” (a GoPro Hero 5) continues. After visiting Canyonlands National Park on the morning of 27 July, we rode a short distance (distances in the huge state of Utah are relative), and rode into Arches National Park near Moab. I will describe what we did in the park, and video from our ride is down below. Read on!

This park is claimed to be…

a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures unlike any other in the world. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. This red rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.

For “S” and me, one out of three of these claims proved true: the over 2,000 natural stone arches (and rock formations of soaring pinnacles and giant balanced rocks, as shown above.)

What did not prove true was:

1) “refresh you with its trails” — ha! It was 105F (40.5C) the afternoon we visited. I cannot say that walking anywhere would be “refreshing.” But as “S” and I frequently said, “we’re bikers, not hikers.” We did dismount our Harleys at viewing areas, but did not hike anywhere (much) on the trails. The photo here is one such near-to-the-road sand structure, with an arch off in the distance.

2) “inspire you with its sunsets.” We wouldn’t know about this for two reasons — the park closed at 21:00 (7pm) each night for road construction, and sunset was at 20:34. Also, we both agreed that we would not ride our Harleys at night. The hotel where we had reservations for the night was another two hours down the road, so even if we could stay for sunset, we would not stay in the park that late because it would mean riding on unknown roads in the dark while tired and potentially drowsy.

The photo below was taken on that road as we headed south from Moab to the far southeastern part of the state where our hotel was. If we had been riding in the dark, we would not have seen this.Arches National Park is truly awe-inspiring, and I am very happy we visited on two wheels.

Now, for the promised videos. First up, a video taken as we rode into the park, climbing some 1,000 feet in elevation:

Second, just riding inside the park. It was truely awesome!

Life is short: ride awesomely.