Moab Travelers Recommend

From precarious looking rock arches to smooth slickrock trails, Moab’s red rock terrain has an otherworldly appeal. Whether you rumble over the sandstone in a 4WD vehicle, ride mountain bike trails, or plot the ultimate sightseeing route through the desert, there’s a lot to see and do. These are Moab’s top red rock destinations.

Arches National Park

Just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from downtown Moab, this park has the highest concentration of natural sandstone arches on earth. There’s a scenic drive that takes in the park’s main areas, but it’s worth parking the car to visit places you can’t see from the road. Many of the most iconic arches, balancing rocks, and fins can be reached on short, family-friendly trails. 

Canyonlands National Park

It would be easy to spend an entire vacation exploring Canyonlands, Utah’s largest national park. The Island in the Sky area, with a scenic drive that takes in sheer cliffs dropping from a bare mesa, is the most accessible portion. There are 4WD and hiking options in the region, which is about 32 miles (51 kilometer) from Moab.  

Dead Horse Point

For endless views of buttes and pinnacles, look down from this high mesa onto the twists and turns of the Colorado River in Dead Horse Point State Park. A series of mountain bike loops makes this park a favorite with cyclists, and the trail system includes pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible options. At about 33 miles (53 kilometers) from Moab, it’s easy to visit on a day trip or combine with a visit to nearby Canyonlands. 

Sand Flats Recreation Area

Home to the famously difficult Slickrock Bike Trail, this area is a swooping landscape of bare, rocky slopes, bowls, and domes. In addition to mountain biking, there are 4WD roads and dirt bike trails. While the Sand Flats Recreation Area is not known for hiking, bring your sneakers for a stroll on one of the short loop trails with interpretive signs. 

Fisher Towers

Eroded stacks of rock form the maze-like Fisher Towers, where you also see fins, deep canyons, and sheer cliffs. While driving to Fisher Towers means braving a sometimes rough dirt road, it’s worth the trip: Hiking trails loop through the spires, you can spot rock climbers, and there are views from the parking lot picnic tables. About 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Moab on Interstate 70, Fisher Towers makes a good first or last stop.

With three days in Moab, you’ll have plenty of time to see both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, enjoy a couple of outdoor adventures, and head out on a day trip to see even more of the Colorado Plateau. Here are some ideas for making the most out of your three-day trip to Moab. 

Day 1: National Park Highlights

On your first day, start by ticking off the major sights in the national parks: Start with an early-morning visit to Canyonlands National Park to catch the sunrise under the low-sloping frame of Mesa Arch. Next, take in the views of dizzyingly steep mesa drop-offs from the Shafer Canyon Overlook, and enjoy the views from Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. If you’re feeling brave, you can even take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. 

Next, head over to Arches National Park for a hike to Delicate Arch—a cherished symbol of the state of Utah. Other highlights include the massive towers in Park Avenue, the plethora of arches in the Devil’s Garden, and the curious Balanced Rock formation. If you’re looking for more adventure, you can also take the ranger-led tour of the Fiery Furnace. 

Day 2: Multi-Sport Tours

With endless trails, a raging river that runs right through the center of town, and an enthusiastic outdoor culture to boot, Moab has earned the nickname the Adventure Capital of the West. Dedicate your second day in Moab to outdoor adventures, and choose from a wide array of activities for all ability levels, including hiking, biking, climbing, and rafting. 

Biking enthusiasts can opt for small-group bike tours or a private mountain-biking lesson, both good ways of enjoying Moab’s famed slickrock trails. Families can enjoy rafting trips down the Colorado River and 4-wheel drive adventures through Kane Creek Canyon. Adrenaline seekers can choose to kayak through the class four rapids in Cataract Canyon or even go skydiving over canyon country. Other options include hikes in Moab’s less-visited sites—like Fisher Towers, Corona Arch, and Hidden Valley—flightseeing tours, and canyoneering adventures. 

Day 3: Backroads and Canyons

After two days visiting popular attractions, head out to explore the backroads and the area’s more remote sites. For a bird’s eye view of the greater Moab area, take a flightseeing tour of Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, and beyond. You could also consider a road trip down to the Needles District of Canyonlands, passing Newspaper Rock and the picturesque Indian Creek. Continue on to the famous views of Monument Valley, which is often used as a location for filming Westerns. 

Visitors looking for a bit more adventure can enjoy a canyoneering adventure to Goblin Valley State Park or the Robbers Roost area of the San Rafael Desert. In the evening, head out for an astronomy tour or check out one of the ranger-led stargazing and telescope viewing programs in Arches or Dead Horse Point State Park. The parks of southeastern Utah enjoy some of the darkest skies in the nation, offering a brilliant view of the heavens for your final night in Moab.

The iconic red sandstone arches and canyons around Moab, Utah, beckon outdoor adventurers with a craving for exploration. With two national parks—Arches and Canyonlands—sitting within a quick drive of town, visitors to Moab should be sure to bring their hiking boots. See below for the area’s best hiking trails. 

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail — 1.8 miles (2.8 km)

Hiking along a river, paleontology enthusiasts can travel back 150 million years to view Jurassic-age fossils. Interpretive signs point out petrified plants, dinosaur tracks, and bones of animals like the sauropod. This easy, short trail is ideal for families traveling with kids. 

Corona Arch — 3 miles (4.8 km)

One of the best sites in the area, Corona Arch sweeps over a captivating wall of mountains and red rock. At sunset, the entire area appears to glow, and the arch perfectly frames the landscape. Climbers can scramble up ladders and cables and rappel down rock walls to reach even better views.

Delicate Arch — 3 miles (4.8 km)

Iconic Delicate Arch, which graces the Utah license plate, is a moderate trail packed with views of the Colorado plateau. The route hugs cliffs and traverses stretches of layered sandstone before arriving at the grand finale. 

Fisher Towers — 5.2 miles (8.3 km)

Don’t forget the camera on this hike. The Fisher Towers are among the most photographed spots in Utah, thanks to their brilliant red hue and striking rock formations, which stand in testament to the incredible erosive power of water. The area is popular with rock climbers, too, which can make for fun people-watching.

With two national parks, endless hiking trails, and the mighty Colorado River flowing right through town, Moab earns its nickname, the Adventure Capital of the West. Seeing Moab in only one day is a challenge, but it can be done if you plan ahead. Here are a few ideas for how to make the most out of one day in Moab. 

Morning: National Park Highlights

Your best bet for seeing Moab in a day is to book an all-day parks tour. This way you’re guaranteed to see all the top highlights in Moab’s three main parks, which would be a daunting task on your own. Alternatively, you can focus your energy on just seeing Arches National Park and leave time for an afternoon outdoor adventure: Start your day by hiking to Delicate Arch—the quintessential symbol of Utah—in the early hours to beat the crowds and the midday heat. Spend the rest of your morning exploring the arches in Devil’s Garden and roaming around the towers in Park Avenue. 

Afternoon: Choose Your Own Outdoor Adventure

No trip to Moab, no matter how short, is complete without an exhillarating adventure of some kind. The options are endless and vary from gentle river floats to red dirt mountain bike descents and skydive jumps. If you’re not on an all-day parks tour, head out for a half-day rafting trip through the red rock canyons, an exciting mountain bike tour on the slickrock trails, or a paddle board lesson on the Colorado River. Other options include a flightseeing tour of the national parks or a rock climbing and canyoneering adventure. 

Evening: Dinner Cruises and Desert Sunsets

Enjoy the desert sunset on a Colorado River dinner cruise with either a small-group dinner jetboat tour or a lively light- and music-show cruise. Tours often include a cowboy-style feast of BBQ meats, cowpoke potatoes, baked beans, and homemade rolls. Alternatively, pack your own picnic dinner and watch the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park, or hit up an Old West shoot-out show at the Bar-M Chuckwagon. If you’re still not tired after all that, head down to Moab Brewery for a sampling of Utah’s microbrews.   

WIth massive red rock cliffs, stunning arches, and vistas as far as the eye can see, Moab is a nature lover’s dream. Having two days in Moab gives you enough time to explore both Arches and Canyonlands national parks and also have an outdoor adventure or two. Here are some ideas for making the most out of a two-day trip to Moab. 

Day 1: National Parks

**Morning:**Start your morning off early with a trip to see the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Then move on to the other major viewpoints in the park, like Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. If you’re looking for adventure, take a 4x4 tour of the White Rim Trail or hike the Whale Rock Trail. 

**Afternoon:**Arches National Park, just a few miles away, is great in the afternoon (even in the midday heat) as trails are short and several scenic views can be enjoyed from the car. Don’t miss the hike to Delicate Arch, the massive towers in Park Avenue, and a wander through the Devil’s Garden.  

**Night:**Wrap up your first day with a scenic sunset cruise down the Colorado River. Tours often include a cowboy-style dinner and a lesson in the history and geology of the Colorado Plateau. If you’re traveling with kids, you may also enjoy the ranger-led stargazing programs offered in the national parks.  

Day 2: Hiking, Biking, and Rafting

**Morning:**Spend your second day in Moab on an array of outdoor adventures: To make the most of your time and pack in a range of activities, opt for two half-day tours or book a tour that includes a combination of two or more adventures. Choose between mountain biking, canyoneering, and hiking excursions. 

**Afternoon:**A half-day white-water rafting trip is the perfect way to keep cool in the midday desert sun. Alternatively, you could take a 4x4 tour or a scenic flight, go skydiving, or explore one of the scenic areas outside the parks, like Corona Arch, Onion Creek, or Fisher Towers. 

**Night:**Spend your final evening in Moab browsing the galleries, cowboy craft shops, bookstores, and gear shops on Main Street. For dinner, choose from a huge range of restaurants, from high-end bistros to brew pubs, pizza joints, and Mexican grills. Nightlife is minimal in Moab, but a handful of bars host live music and local acts on the weekend.