June 14, 2026 (Sun.) - Moonshine Arch.
With it being a Sunday, we didn’t have much planned — and with temperatures headed into the high 80s again, a slow day felt like the right call.
Lynn was up early, just past 5 a.m., and started her walk at 7:30, about an hour earlier than usual to beat the heat. Kirk emerged around 9:00, and the rest of the morning and early afternoon were spent relaxing, blogging, and troubleshooting a snag with Lynn’s photo uploads. Aside from a few shows and movies, we didn’t do much at all.
By 7 p.m., the weather had cooled off and daylight stretched until past 9, making it the perfect time for an evening adventure. With only a few days left in Vernal, we decided to check out Moonshine Arch — a local favorite we’d been told not to miss. The drive was short, about 15 minutes, but of course the GPS led us astray yet again! Google proudly announced we had “Reached our destination,” which would’ve been great if not for the enormous sign reading, “This is NOT the Entrance to Moonshine Arch.” Clearly, plenty of people had been misled to the same spot. A little extra internet sleuthing gave us better directions, and we continued about two miles farther down the highway.
The sky was gorgeous — clouds casting shadows across the hills with bright pockets of sunlight breaking through. Surprisingly, plenty of people were out hiking at 7:30 p.m., even families with small children. Although the internet labeled the trail “easy,” Lynn brought her walking stick just in case, and it turned out to be a lifesaver. Parts of the trail were flat, but many sections were uneven and steep. At nearly 6,000 feet of elevation, we were both huffing and puffing — sea‑level lungs don’t stand a chance.
Moonshine Arch itself is a stunning 40‑foot sandstone arch with an 85‑foot span, carved over millions of years by wind and water. The hike is about 1.5 miles round trip, and there were only about ten people there, so it felt peaceful. Unfortunately, one couple had perched themselves right on top of the arch, appearing in nearly every photo. Thankfully, the iPhone “clean up” tool saved the day and erased them from most shots. As dusk settled in, the bugs came out, but Lynn’s Costco bug spray (courtesy of her sister Trish) worked surprisingly well — at least until it wore off and required a second round. We wrapped up the hike around 8:30 p.m., hungry and ready for dinner.
We made a quick stop to watch the sunset over Steinaker Dam, then swung by Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers (delicious) before heading home. On the drive back, another beautiful sunset lit up the sky in shades of pink. We got home just after 9 p.m. Kirk spent the rest of the evening watching the UFC fight at the White House, while Lynn called it a night.
Weather – High 83*, Low 51*. Winds 5-12 mph with 20 mph gusts. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Freddy’s – great burgers.
Notable – Moonshine Arch.
Screen time – Homestead Rescue, The Day of the Jackal, UFC Fight at the White House.
