What is there to see and do in Moab?

In short: Explore BIG rocks, VAST canyons, ICONIC arches, and ancient Indian PETROGLYPHS. Hike, bike, or four-wheel-drive AWE INSPIRING trails. Rappel SHEER canyon walls. Raft the MIGHTY Colorado River....Or just relax under a shady tree.

If you have ever watched any of the old western movies, or seen the movie Thelma and Louise (the car over the cliff scene was filmed in Moab), you are familiar with the scenery around Moab. There are so many movies that have been made in Moab, that a wonderful museum dedicated to the local movies has been established – and it just so happens to be right next to the local winery, in case you get thirsty!

Delicate Arch is so well known that it might be considered Utah’s unofficial trademark and makes an appearance on the Utah State license plate. As well known as Delicate Arch is, many people don't realize that there are more than 2,000 other arches in the area - and most of the larger arches are very easily accessible by road and a short walk. For the more adventuresome, hiking trails abound.

The great thing about visiting Moab is that the scenery is easily accessible. Moab is centrally located in a valley between two amazing National Parks, and a lesser known smaller, but equally scenic Dead Horse State Park.

You probably know of Arches National Park which is 76,679 acres…but did you know that lesser known Canyonlands National Park is huge in comparison? Canyonlands, at 337,598 acres is more than four times larger than Arches National Park.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is so large that it is broken down into four “districts”. The Island In The Sky District is about half an hour from Moab.

From the top of the high plateau that makes up Island In The Sky, you have very easy access to magnificent and vast canyon views. If you watched the video on my home page, the sunrise and subsequent Milky Way scenes through the arch were shot in Canyonlands.

Arches National Park

The road (completely renovated and repaved in 2017) through Arches National Park winds its way through 28 miles of some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. The park planners did a great job in routing the road past one jaw dropping massive rock formation to the next.

Arches and Canyonlands offer multiple opportunities to stop, get amazing pictures, and do some hiking. Other worldly scenery is very accessible from the road and very short walks. In both parks, and all around Moab, there are many fantastic trails ranging from very easy to challenging.

If you want to get into the canyon, or up on the ridges around Moab, there are no shortage of ways to do it. Whether it is by foot, mountain bike, Jeep, or horse there are hundreds of miles of old remote roads and trails that wind through the canyons and back-country. All modes of travel are readily available in town.

A great – and really fun – way to see the canyon is from the river. Rafting trips ranging from half a day to a full week are easily arranged.

Whatever outdoor activity you can imagine, someone else has probably imagined it too….and made it available in Moab. There are numerous outdoor adventure shops and guides in town who are well equipped, and know the terrain well. They are eager to take you on an unforgettable adventure. There are a multitude of activities that are well suited for all ages and skill levels.

If all of that seems too much, you can simply pack a lunch, hike out to a breezy canyon edge, find a small tree, lie back and listen to the absolute silence.

The Moab area...

...has more to do and see than you can possibly fit in in just a few days. If you decide on an extended stay, and making Moab your home base of discovery, I have included some very worthwhile great day trip ideas, below.

To be considered a “day trip”, I figure a maximum drive time of just a bit over 2 hours, one way. Be sure to pack some food for lunch, and LOTS of water. This area is extremely dry, and very hot during the summer months. Be sure to make a point of drinking water throughout the day. Heat stroke is no fun, and could turn into a very serious situation when you are a long way from civilization.

If you’re not familiar with Utah, you will find that the spaces are wide open, and services are few and far between. The destinations listed below are not close to anything, which is another reason that Moab is such a popular location to make as your “home base” to discover the area.

Every one of these areas is unique and spectacular in its own way. There is lots of great information online for each one, so I am just going to post my impression and a few pictures of each one to give you a taste of what you’ll see.

Please note: As I write for my web site, I have discovered a downfall of the English language…and that is a lack of superlative adjectives that can do justice to this part of the world. Rest assured, if I have mentioned it here, it is worth your time and effort to see...