Things to do in Moab
Spring and fall are ideal. Summer is dangerously hot (often 100F+) with little shade; winter is cold but quiet and uncrowded.
Best months: April, May, September, October
What is worth your time in Moab
Delicate Arch TrailDo not miss
The 3-mile round-trip to Utah's most famous freestanding arch, unforgettable at sunset.
Activity · 2.8 hr5
Colorado River RaftingDo not miss
Half-day to multi-day raft trips on the Colorado, from calm floats to Cataract Canyon whitewater.
Activity · 6 hr4.9
Corona Arch TrailDo not miss
A free, less-crowded hike across slickrock to a giant arch you can walk right under.
Activity · 2 hr4.9
Grand View Point OverlookDo not miss
The end-of-the-road overlook on Island in the Sky, a vast panorama over the canyon country.
Viewpoint · 1.4 hr4.9
Mesa ArchDo not miss
A cliff-edge arch framing the canyons below, the most famous sunrise in Canyonlands.
Viewpoint · 1.1 hr4.9
The Windows SectionDo not miss
Short trails to a dense cluster of giant arches, the most arch-per-step in the park.
Nature · 1.5 hr4.9
Dead Horse Point State ParkDo not miss
A cliff 2,000 feet above a gooseneck of the Colorado River, one of the West's great views.
Park · 2.3 hr4.8
Landscape Arch (Devils Garden)Do not miss
One of the longest stone spans on Earth, a thin ribbon of rock on the Devils Garden Trail.
Nature · 2.3 hr4.8
Island in the Sky MesaDo not miss
Canyonlands' most accessible district, a sky-island mesa of overlooks above the rivers.
Nature · 3 hr4.7
Colorado River Scenic Byway (Highway 128)Do not miss
A jaw-dropping drive along the river past red cliffs, ranches, and Fisher Towers.
Scenic Route · 2.3 hr
Moab Main Street
The walkable hub of outfitters, breweries, taco joints, and rock shops between the parks.
Neighborhood · 1.5 hr5
Moab Skydiving and Scenic Flights
Tandem skydives and small-plane scenic flights over the arches and canyon country.
Activity · 3 hr5
Shafer Canyon Overlook
A dizzying overlook of the Shafer Trail switchbacks dropping off Island in the Sky.
Viewpoint · 33 min5
Double Arch
Two giant arches sharing a foundation, a short walk in the Windows Section.
Nature · 45 min4.9
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Summer heat is extreme: hike at dawn, carry far more water than you think you need, and rest midday.
- Arches now uses timed-entry reservations in peak season: book ahead.
- Many backcountry roads and arches require high-clearance or 4x4 vehicles.
- Town sits between two national parks; an early start beats the crowds and the heat.