Utah

MOAB

The gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. A great place to stay, eat, and explore when your are visiting the parks. There are a ton of private adventure outfitters if you are looking for activities like mountain biking, Jeep tours, base jumping, and more.

FOOD:

  • Moab Brewery
  • Food Truck Park
  • The Spoke on Center


Arches National Park

  • Delicate Arch Trail: 3.2mi trail to the most popular and most famous arch
  • Devil’s Garden Trail: 7.9mi trail to many popular and unique arches – there are multiple trails in the areas so you do not have to hike the entire loop
  • Double Arch: A short an easy walk from the parking lot which will likely be very busy
  • Driving Tour: Just driving through the park offers scenic views of many unique rock formations and arches.

Canyonlands National Park

Island In The Sky District

  • Mesa Arch: 0.7mi loop to the famous arch perched on the side of a cliff
  • Grand View Point: 1.8mi easy trail with great views, perfect for a sunset
  • Shafer Canyon Overlook: An overlook very close to the visitors center, worth walking out to
  • Upheaval Dome: Great views of a unique geological formation

Dead horse canyon state park

Well worth a visit and the entrance fee. This park offers stunning views of the surrounding canyons that are accessible without hiking.

Capitol Reef National Park

  • Sleep: Stay at Red Sands Hotel and Spa
  • Cathedral Valley: An offroad drive to see unique rock formations, the Temple of the Sun and Moon – Here is the entrance into Cathedral Valley, you will need a 4×4 vehicle
  • Capitol Gorge Trail: Our favorite trail in the park – you walk in and out of canyons as the rock walls tower above you, it’s incredible
  • Fruita: Fun to explore an early homestead
  • Petroglyphs: See ancient images carved into the rock
  • Driving Tour: Another great park to just drive through and take in the views

ZION National Park

  • Angles Landing Trail: 4.3mi one of the best views in the entire USA – this hike is hard and not for the faint of heart, there are step cliffs, narrow trails, and some ropes required to reach the peak
  • The Narrows: Hike through a river and narrow canyon walls – there are a few different ways to hike The Narrows, I believe the Subway is one of the more popular ways
  • Emerald Pools Trail: 3.0mi Great views from down in the canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park

  • Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail: 3.0mi loop with some of the best views in the park

PRO TIPS:

  1. Getting to any National Park early in the morning is always a good call. Arches is one of the most visited parks every year and there will be a line to get in.
  2. If you drive from Grand Junction, CO into Moab, UT be sure to take Take Hwy 128 Scenic Byway.
  3. Zion is a very small park with a shuttle system, you can’t freely drive through the park. Due to the parks popularity reservations and permits might be required for shuttles and hikes (Angels Landing), make sure to research and plan ahead for this park.
  4. Las Vegas is a great jumping off point for Zion, Bryce Canyon, and even the Grand Canyon.
  5. It might be worth looking into a guided tour for The Narrows, their expertise and equipment rentals would be very valuable.