With vaccinations lifting restrictions last spring, my family was eager to spend some closer-than-six-feet time together. Therefore, my sister suggested we all assemble somewhere in southeastern Utah. After some research and a bit of random selection, we ended up in Bluff for this last-minute excursion. Though you probably haven’t heard of this Utah speck, maybe my post will convince you too to do a little bluffing.

Although Bluff is a small town with only about two hundred residents, it is situated amidst grandeur and opportunities for adventure. While busier than its size might suggest, it is far from being a hub of tourism, which we appreciated.

We went to Natural Bridges National Monument our first day in the area. Due to its remote location, Natural Bridges gets fewer guests than its magnificence deserves, which makes for an even pleasanter visiting experience for those willing to wander way out. Jason and I have been to Natural Bridges before, and the trail we took was mostly a repeat, but we noticed more archeological sites, pictographs, and petroglyphs in White Canyon this time. From granaries high on the canyon walls to those accessible in hidden places, we were shocked by how much we had missed on our first visit. We had planned on hiking the full loop between Sipapu and Owachomo Bridges, but my dad fell and pulled his hamstring not long after we stopped at Horse Collar Ruin, about two or so miles into our trek. He was in horrible pain and struggling to walk, so most of our group took the trail to the top of the canyon after Kachina Bridge to aid him. Jason and I continued with a couple of the bolder kids through Armstrong Canyon to Owachomo Bridge. A vehicle awaited us at Owachomo, cutting our trek down to 6.6 miles. Thanks for a three-mile minivan shortcut Sis!

With an injured father, we decided the best activity option for the next day was checking out Valley of the Gods. Valley of the Gods is a basin full of odd shapes and towering buttes created out of Cedar Mesa sandstone over the span of 250 million years. As it is basically a drive with about a dozen or so stops, it is a perfect place to take a stubborn father with a leg injury so he can enjoy the outdoors without straining himself further. Thanks Mother Nature for your kind consideration of wounded pops!

Since we were just a few minutes from Gooseneck State Park, we dropped by after exploring Valley of the Gods. Gooseneck State Park gives an excellent view of the San Juan River as it flows over six miles while only moving 1.5 miles west. This is one of the best examples of an entrenched meander anywhere in North America. If you don’t understand what an entrenched meander is, I’d recommend watching the 2 Minute Geology clip on the subject via YouTube.

Before heading home the next day, we stopped at Edge of the Cedars State Park. This place features the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery in the region, a restored kiva you can enter, and a partially excavated village. While not as impressive as nearby Hovenweep National Monument, the museum at Edge of the Cedars contains plenty of information and noteworthy artifacts to merit a visit.

The landscapes and historical relics were captivating near Bluff but hanging out with my family was more so. After we’d spent over a year meeting at parks and chatting from a distance, we got to cram uncomfortably into vehicles and sit at tables together! Our joy at the normalcy of our outing was almost overwhelming. We occupied our evenings sitting around fires chatting and giggling. My family is amazing because we readily laugh and joke around, yet we are still fully willing to have meaningful, serious conversations. More than the majestic bridges and buttes, I will remember the exquisite reconnection.

Late last year, a plan for meeting in Moab began to form. It started with my sister thinking about doing a trail race. It continued with me renting a house as her Christmas present, and then somehow it concluded with Jason and me being convinced to run the race as well. And that’s how we ended up in a familiar place with a few surprises. Read on to discover all the details you never knew you always wanted about a trip we took months ago. They are sure to have you firmly on the central portion of your seat.

The Behind the Rocks Ultra, the event that initiated this plot, was the first trail race Jason and I ever participated in. We signed up for the smallest distance offered, 10 miles. It turned out to be 10.67. I was not psychologically ready for 10.67. Sure, 10 miles I could do but 10.67? Come on people! The course went through terrain graced by outlooks on the La Sals and many sandstone formations, including Picture Frame Arch. The encompassing beauty was energizing and distracting but not enough to compensate for the particularly challenging uphill stretch between mile six and 7.5. My knees weren’t super into the arrangement either and thus decided to throb the last couple miles. Still, I managed to hit my goal of finishing in less than 2.5 hours at 2:25:20. Clearly, I aim high. I finished 133 out of 164. If 80% of the class gets a higher score than you, you still pass, right? Jason came through nearly 100 runners ahead of me at 1:43:09 and 34^th overall. That boy has ambitions and long legs! We will not speak of how my sister did on her 18-mile course as there is no need to further emphasize my leisurely performance.

Why sit still after running a trail race? Sure, there are the obvious reasons having to do with fatigue and all that but besides those? Jason and I hiked to Funnel Arch a couple years ago. This trail’s small section of Class 5 climbing pushed my comfort levels. So, what did we decide to do after exhausting ourselves on the Behind the Rocks Ultra? I bet you can guess. With four of us, the pushing, pulling, and blocking required to scramble this one-mile trek were easier. And, I must admit, this climb seemed to help loosen up my sore muscles. I didn’t hurt the rest of the day as much as I thought I would.

One dumb turn deserves another? The next day, we hiked to the ridge between Castleton Tower and The Rectory. Castleton Tower, also called Castle Rock, is a 400-foot monolith made of Wingate Sandstone that juts out of a 1000-foot funnel created by the Moenkopi and Chinle Formations. Its trail climbs over 1,300 feet in 1.3 miles. Undoubtedly, the best choice for a post-run activity, but, since Jason and I hadn’t done this trail for almost 10 years, it was relatively easy to ignore the complaints of our tender and tired muscles in the pursuit of breathtaking panoramas. For some of us, it was less easy to ignore the path’s intimidating drop-offs and slightly sketchy sections. My sister didn’t make it all the way to the ridge, but she got close before her shaky legs successfully pleaded their case of self-preservation. Although our movement prompted protests from my muscles, particularly at the beginning and on the downhill, I worked out my pain, and I really didn’t have many aches by the next day. Overall, it was the quickest dissipation of discomfort I’ve experienced after a race of that length. That’s right legs, I do know what is best for you, and I would never choose gorgeous scenery over your wellbeing.

Just as my sister was leaving to go home, Jason and I got a surprise call from another sister saying she was passing through town. She ended up staying the night at our rental. Our niece, who was traveling with her, decided to remain in town even longer and hike with us the next day. We had a hard time selecting which trail to take her on out of all the classics in Moab. As it was supposed to be particularly blustery that day, we picked a more protected path, the 2.4-mile trail to Longbow Arch. We needn’t have worried about the wind as the temperatures hovered around 70 and felt mighty pleasant even with it.

We always expect Moab to provide fantastic scenery, activities, and cuisine. However, we don’t usually expect it to provide extra family members. Way to go Moab! I didn’t think it possible for you to exceed our lofty expectations.