About Moab, Utah
Sitting along the eastern border of Utah, Moab is an outdoor haven for mountain biking, 4x4 adventures, rafting, canyoneering, and National Park adventures. Red rock abounds in nearby canyons and atop mesas, creating a backdrop for any outdoor pursuit. In the southern sky, the La Sal Mountain Range towers over the area, often with snow capped peaks. Arches National Park is a relatively small national park located just north of town, packing quite a punch with unique rock formations and short easy hiking trails. A little further beyond the limits of town, Canyonlands National Park offers a chance to dive deep into the backcountry in three distinct regions, each with a unique feel. Dead Horse Point State Park is yet another nearby natural attraction with hiking trails along a canyon rim, a campground, and endless vistas. There is no lack in opportunity to stay active in the Moab area. Many visitors arrive and quickly indulge in mountain biking trails like the Slick Rock Trail, Porcupine Rim, and Mag 7. Off road enthusiasts can bring their own 4x4 rig, rent one, or join a guide to crawl over heart-stopping rock formations. The Colorado River flows just north of town and offers whitewater rafting, sunset river tours, and fishing.
Orientation
The town itself is built around outdoor tourism with a variety of lodging properties including RV parks and public campgrounds, hotels and motels, as well as vacation rentals. Services are plentiful with a couple larger grocery stores, a selection of restaurants, and activity providers and gear shops at the ready to outfit your next outdoor adventure. Despite the town’s many conveniences, arriving to this remote section of Utah can include lots of car time. Visitors can fly into either Salt Lake City Airport or Grand Junction (in western Colorado). From either airport, you can rent a car or RV to arrive into Moab (2 hours from Grand Junction and 4 hours from Salt Lake City). Summers are busy but very hot while peak season often draws crowds in the mid-late spring and early-mid fall. Winter can be cool and rainy at times but is a great alternative for avoiding crowds.
Things to Do
Visit Arches National Park: Just north of town, Arches has over 2,000 named rock arches and other unique rock formations that are easily accessible from the park’s scenic loop road. Hiking trails range in length from 100 feet to a few miles, all doable in a day’s visit.
Mountain Bike the Slickrock Trail: Mountain bike trails surround the town of Moab in every direction and the network grows every year. Bring your own full suspension bike or rent one locally and improve your slickrock and singletrack riding skills.
Go on a Jeep Tour: Rent a jeep or join a guide to explore off road trails that seem impossible. Hell’s Revenge and Fins & Things are located in the Sand Flats Recreation Area and offer a great introduction to the white-knuckled trails in the area.
Explore Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky is the closest park region to town, offering expansive views over the deep river canyon below. The Maze section is one of the hardest portions of the park to access but ideal for backpacking and canyoneering. The Needles region is located south of Moab with great hiking trails and camping among unique rock formations.
Hike to Corona Arch: Many visitors to Moab find that camping is one of the best ways to enjoy the area. There are many public campgrounds, as well as developed RV parks in town, that offer an idyllic camping getaway. Campgrounds can get very busy in the peak season.
Camping: This 48 mile stretch of road offers spectacular views and switchbacks its way over the park, connecting the east side of the park (Estes Park) to the west (Grand Lake).
Drive the La Sal Loop: Just 20 miles south of Moab the La Sal Mountains provide a nearby mountain retreat to this desert destination. You’ll find hiking and biking trails, forested campgrounds, and a destination for winter activities like cross country skiing and snowmobiling when it snows.
Rafting the Colorado River: Cataract and Westwater Canyons along the Colorado offer up to Class IV rafting experiences often on multi-day trips, not for the faint of heart.
Dead Horse Point State Park: Overlooking the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park features hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, and a great visitor center.
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