Moab, Dinosaurs, and Overrated National Parks

I meet a stranger in the desert (part 2)

There is nothing that beats the feeling of getting to the car after backpacking. Except maybe the first bite of a burger at a bar two towns over.

After backpacking theNeedles District of Canyonlands,Sarah and I spent a few days exploring Moab. Here are my scattered and arbitrary thoughts from a few days bumming around the desert:

Ken’s Lake - Faux Falls Hike

There is something absolutely magic about water hikes in the desert. Red rock all around you, and then you get to put your feet in an ice-cold mountain run off? Unreal. This little hike was probably less than three miles round trip but was pretty much the perfect cool off.

I don’t always get waterfalls — like, I like them, but I’m not so drawn to waterfalls like some people are. A desert waterfall though? Completely different. I really loved this little tucked away one.

READ: Best Things to do in Moab, Utah

Dinosaur tracks and tourist tracks

Sometimes I forget the world is old. Then you look at a footprint from 112 million years ago. The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite was only identified in 2009 boasting over 200 tracks with at least ten different animal species represented in the tracks.

112 million years ago there was a drying lake with some mud in it — lime mud and algae. Then, some big critters walked across it, and you can still see their footprints today. Cool!

Most of the time it feels really easy to forget that the Earth is old – less so when you’re looking at literal dinosaur tracks.

READ: Desert Hiking Tips

Overrated: Arches National Park

My flaming hot take of the day: Arches National Park is overrated. It’s very pretty to be sure and photographs well, but there’s a lot more to a place than how it looks on camera.

Arches is crowded and it’s mostly a scenic drive with short hikes along the way.

All said and done, we woke up to watch the sunrise in Arches and then spent about three hours in Arches before heading back into Moab and then to explore Canyonlands more.

Underrated: Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is easily one of my top five National Parks. It’s huge, both with popular iconic overlooks and districts like Island In The Sky and more off-the-beaten-path spots like the Needles District.

There are so many overlooks and trails to explore, and you can find spots completely to yourself. Overall, a lot more to do and a far better experience.

[my five national parks in order: Isle Royale, Olympic, Canyonlands, North Cascades, Virgin Islands]

Stay: Glamping Canyonlands

After spending a few days backpacking in the desert we moved from a small tent to a bigger one at Glamping Canyonlands. Super fun off-grid place to stay, communal kitchen, wifi, showers, and sauna this place pretty much appealed to everything I want in a desert stay — gritty vibes but basic needs met and exceeded. Perfect hiker stay.

Glamping is really growing on me — I used to think it was kind of silly. Why sleep in a big tent like that when you can just, you know, camp? But it’s actually really nice if you conceptualize it as its own separate experience rather than compare it to either camping or a hotel.

Glamping Canyonlands is also exceptionally well set up, clean, and experience focused. The communal kitchen is also a super fun touch.

Come adventure with me this summer!

I’m running a few guided trips this summer that you can join! I’ve worked as a sea kayaking guide since 2018, and last year was the first year I melded my social media/writing with that and offered trips where people could register to go with me specifically.

Honestly that was kind of a big scary step for me — I, the person, feel very separate from my online persona, and it is really strange to meet people who have already decided things about me before I get to learn anything about them. I was worried about that aspect of the trips.

I did not need to be! Every single trip was a blast and I met so many cool people and made so many friends! This summer I’m running a handful of trips. Here’s the scoop:

adventure girl summer!!! left: climbing @ Interstate. middle: cowboy camping San Juan Islands. right: sunset paddle at Romans Point

June 22nd: Women’s Climbing at Interstate State Park, MN with Climb Forged (1 spot left!!!)

Come join Mason and I for our third beginner-friendly guided rock climbing trip in Interstate State Park! I am truly terrible at climbing and afraid of heights, and promised to be the worst person there (and to take cool pictures!). This has been a SUPER fun event in the past and a great way to meet people. Mason is a great coach and it’s super fun to be able to support his local small guiding business too!

Anyone who wants to make a weekend of it can meet up with me on Saturday for some day hiking on the Wisconsin side of the park, and then there will be camping and I’ll cook camp dinner (probably my fav camp Greek quinoa bowls with veggie/vegan easy options!). I have loaner a few tents/sleeping bags and pads available for anyone totally new to camping, so check with me before you buy anything new! Shoot me an email for more details: hello [at] madelinemarquardt.com.

Please remember to bring a guide tip for Mason & his co-guide!! (not for me I’m just here to vibe!)

OVERNIGHT PADDLING: June 24-29, 2025: Sea Kayaking in the Apostle Islands (5 spots left)

Sea Kayaking in the Apostle Islands is a truly out of body experience! We ran two of this trip last year, and both of them were a total blast in different ways; the first trip we made it to the Bear Island sea caves, which are extremely remote, then spent the latter half of the trip out racing storms. The second trip we had pretty much idyllic weather the whole time, and the group was into crushing miles so we did, and covered almost 50 miles in four days of paddling!

What to expect: beach swims, remote sea caves, camping (single and double tents available), fresh fish over the fire/stuff mushroom vegan option night two meal + menu curated by me, paddle 8-14 miles a day. Learn the basics of sea kayaking and basic rescue skills; likely to encounter waves 1-3 ft at some point. Really fun way to meet other women interested in the outdoors and get out of your comfort zone and into a kayak in a controlled environment.

* This trip was fully booked by April last year with a waitlist! There’s still 9 spots left right now, but if you’re intersted start thinking about booking by March.

Booking link here, code Maddy25 for $50 off

DAY TRIP!!! SUNSET & SEA CAVES CORNUCOPIA, WISCONSIN: July 12 (10 spots), August 2 (10 spots), August 16 (9 spots)

I’ve been working as a sea kayaking guide since 2018, and for a long time people have been asking if there’s a way to book a day trip with me— for the first time ever, I’m offering three custom sea kayaking day trips near the Apostle Islands in summer 2025! These trips follow the route of the Romans Point Sea Caves Trip (please read policies+ about the trip before booking!) with Lost Creek Adventures, with the only differences being that I’ll be your guide, and we’re going for an evening paddle with a picnic dinner instead of lunch!

The Roman’s Point route takes you through a scenic slough with floating islands (and carnivorous plants!) past scenic beaches, through red rock sea caves, and eventually into Cornucopia, Wisconsin. This trip is a point to point, meaning you never have to paddle back the way you came, and perhaps my favorite day trip route on Lake Superior.

Note that these are quite literally just the normal guided trips I’ve run commercially in the summer for Lost Creek Adventures, just that you can book with me directly. I’m making my normal guide wage for this trip, and so will any co-guide out with me! Guides depend on tips, so please consider budgeting for guide tips!

OVERNIGHT PADDLING + WHALE WATCHING + HIKING: August 6-10, 2025: San Juan Islands, Washington (8 spots left)

A lot of my trips are run through Chicas Abroad; when I first met the Chicas team, it was when I was a coastal kayaking guide in the San Juan Islands! I was the sea kayaking guide for the kayaking portion of this exact trip, while Jocelyn took on the Chicas coordination and logistics portion with Chicas. I’m so stoked to be running this trip again, this time joining for the entirety of it, along with Jocelyn, who is so much fun! This is truly an awesome trip— come see orcas and wildlife and camp in one of the best places there is!!

What to expect: transport to/from the Seattle airport is fully covered and arranged. Hiking and hotel stays day one and two, plus a whale watching tour from a boat before we hop into kayaks and head out to Jones Island. We’ll enjoy a full moon and some of the biggest tides of the year, which increases chances of wildlife spotting!

Booking link here: code Maddy25 for $50 off

OVERNIGHT CANOE + HIKE + SAUNA: August 22-25, 2025: Boundary Waters, Minnesota (7 spots left)

Come explore Minnesota’s BWCAW, paddle into a remote BWCA lake, basecamp and hop on the Border Route Trail to beautiful, remote BWCA overlooks! Here, we’ll focus on practicing reading topographical maps and introductory canoe camping skills. This is a great trip to join if you’re a beginner paddler, or a more skilled canoe paddler looking to learn from experienced guides to set yourself up leading your friends in the future! This is a super small group, with me and another female guide along for the best possible hands on learning experience.

What to Expect: Camping on wilderness lakes, hiking to gorgeous overlooks and practice route finding. Exploring the remote Border Route Trail, last night stay at a backcountry lodge with a lakeside sauna, paddle out to dinner at Poplar Haus. Final day will be chill, with an additional hiking option for those who feel inclined to join! uper small guide to paddler ratio for plenty of 1:1 learning and help. This is a really good trip for someone looking for a soft launch into their first wilderness experience.

Booking link here: code Maddy25 for $50 off

FAQs:

Q: Do I have to have previous kayaking/camping experience?

Not at all! Plenty of people hop on these trips without ever having camping before, and these trips are a really good way to dive right into the world of outdoor/backcountry travel. It matters far more that you’re stoked to be outside and ready to learn and be part of a team than that you have previous experience. Plus, that’s quite literally what I’m here for :)

Q: What level of physical fitness is required for these trips?

Moderate, depending on the trip. We can accommodate a lot of injuries but shoulder injuries are really hard when paddling. Overall, expect to paddle hard occasionally, and for it to be sometimes challenging and other times really pleasant and peaceful. Probably it will feel like a mental challenge some times, but when you’re finished you'll look back and thing wow, I really did that.

The Apostle Islands trip tends to be the most typically “hardcore” with higher milage and more complex weather, so if you’re looking for a true wilderness challenge that’s the one for you— it is still absolutely beginner friendly (I often guide kids trips out here too!). The San Juan Islands trip is more cushy with an emphasis on having a very chill time; I would say most levels of physical fitness will enjoy a trip like this. Still, we’ll be on a large tide which means there might be some “hey I need you to paddle as hard as you can for 15 minutes for real, right now, just do it” moments. The BWCA trip will likely fall somewhere in-between those two, likely with harder hiking on the Border Route than the paddling section.

*keep in mind shoulder injuries are really, really hard for paddlers, and you’ll be sitting in enclosed cockpit boats while sea kayaking. 250 lbs tends to be the hard limit for who is comfortable and can safely use sea kayaks, but please email me if you have further questions!

Q: What gear do I need for a trip like this?

Great question! A pair of shoes to paddle in (adventure sandals), a pair of shoes for camp, a sleeping bag and pad (can be provided for San Juans trip, I still recommend packing your own, it’s just such personal gear), and clothes to wear throughout the trip. All kayaking specific gear (PFD, paddle) is also provided.

For more info and advice on what to pack for kayaking, click here, but keep in mind you will not need to pack your own life jacket, safety gear, paddle, cooking gear, ect. (unless you want to, then you can!)

Q: What the age ranges? Can I bring a friend? Can I come solo?

Typical age range on these trips is truly 15-80, with the highest concentration of ages in the mid-twenties to late-thirties range. All in all, it’s always made for a really fun crew!

Most people come solo, but bringing a friend/daughter is totally fine too, and there’s always one or two groups that come with a friend. Generally, that doesn’t change the vibe at all and we still operate as one cohesive fun group!

Q: Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Yes, pretty much always (unless you have something really specific and know that we can’t). Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan is pretty much no problem BUT I always recommend bringing your own extra snacks to have with you. We have snacks, but you’re going to want your own snack that you want when you’re paddling all day and hungry. For example, I always pack a cool mint cliff bar and sour patch kids for myself every day of a kayak camping trip, because I just don’t want beefy jerky and trail mix. I want to rot my teeth out.

Q: Those dates don’t work for me— will there be other trips summer 2025?

I’m tapped for this summer unfortunately! Next year!

Q: I don’t want to share a tent, is it possible to get a solo?

Almost definietly yes, but message me! If you bring your own backpacking tent we can for sure have you camp alone, and limited solo loaner tents are available too. We do have some tent restrictions, and in a group of 10 not *everyone* can take a solo, but if it’s important to you we can make it happen.