The stretch of US Highway 191 that connects Moab and Arches National Park to Monticello and the Canyonlands Needles District is reasonably pretty, with its Hole-in-the-Rock, Wilson Arch and Church Rock stops, all centered around La Sal Junction, the next town south of Moab, according to the map. In reality, it/s nothing but an intersection with a couple abandoned buildings.

The drive between the two parks is relatively short, a couple hours at most. But on my 1997 drive, rain came in first thing in the morning. And I knew that I ... (more)