The best thing about Moab (minus the beautiful views, incredible activities, fun downtown scene, etc., etc.) is the city's distance from Denver/Boulder! Moab is approximately a six hour drive from Colorado's Front Range, making for a perfect road trip and long weekend getaway. It honestly felt like there were more Colorado license plates than Utah plates driving around Moab since so many Coloradans flock to this spot! I had been itching to journey out to Moab for a while, but typically choose mountain vacations over desert. While I still would choose those higher elevation mountain trips during the summertime, I quickly realized that Moab is the PERFECT hiking destination during the spring and fall seasons- the temperature is cooler with minimal snow to worry about, and there are an endless options of trails.
After my first long weekend trip to Moab this past spring, I compiled everything I loved- National Parks, Hiking, Walking Paths, Lodging and Restaurants into a travel guide. I hope this helps anyone visiting Moab either for the first time (or a repeat trip) and gives some new ideas on activities to do!
Hiking Recommendations
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is arguably the biggest tourist attraction in Moab and it's easy to see why! There are over 2,000 documented arches within the park. Some arches you can spot driving in your car, some are a very quick walk away (0.2-0.5 miles) and others are much more remote and require a longer hike to access, so there is truly something for everyone at Arches.
*Bonus: The park entrance is just under a 10 minute drive from downtown Moab!
My biggest piece of advice: arrive VERY early to beat the crowds (before 8am but the earlier the better). We arrived to the park at 5:30am and while the early alarm was tough, it was 100% worth it. At a certain point, usually around 9am especially during peak season (March-October), the gates to the park will close until later in the afternoon/evening if the park reaches max capacity. At best, you will be waiting in a very long line of cars to enter the park. When we arrived early we drove right in with no wait!
*The entrance fee is $30.00 per vehicle and Arches does not take advanced reservations so entry is first come, first serve.
Delicate Arch Trail
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 3.2 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 629 ft
Delicate Arch is the most popular hike in Arches National Park and is the first hike we checked off our list upon entry. When we arrived early at 5:30am there were still a decent amount of cars at the trailhead parking for Delicate Arch. The trail wasn't congested, but was already starting to fill up. This hike couldn't be more worth it though! It's not too challenging, offers stunning views from top to bottom, and has (IMO) the most beautiful Arch is Arches NP!
The "summit" is very large, so you will always be able to find a spot to soak in the views, however lines do start forming (even super early in the morning) to take a photo underneath the arch so this is the first hike I would check off your list when you arrive to the park.
Devil's Garden
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Distance: 7.9 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 1,085 ft
After finishing up at Delicate Arch, I headed on over to the Devil's Garden Trailhead to complete this 8 mile hike. The trailhead is located in the northern end of the park and has lots of parking space, however the lot does tend to fill up quickly especially on weekends during peak season.
My favorite part about this hike is that it features 8 different arches that are listed below! All of the arches are unique from one another and the views to get from one arch to the next are hard to beat too. It is worth noting that the Devil's Garden hike passes through the Primitive Trail which is labeled as difficult hiking. While there was nothing life threatening, I would recommend having some scrambling experience before testing out the trail, and there are some spots that will test one's fear of heights. I did come across hikers turning around at certain points along the Primitive Trail portion during the hike due to challenging sections.
If you prefer to not take on the Primitive Trail, you can still do half of the hike starting clockwise on the Devil's Garden main trail, and turning back around once you've reached Private Arch. This will allow you to see all 8 arches but without the technical hiking you encounter on the Primitive Trail!
Arches Featured Throughout Devil's Garden
In Order: Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Double O Arch, Dark Angel Arch & Private Arch. My personal favorite was Landscape Arch which is only 1 mile out from the trailhead (2 miles RT) if you prefer a shorter hike!
Sand Dune Arch Trail
Difficulty Level: Easy
Distance: 0.3 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 108 ft
The Sand Dune Arch Trail is a unique one that features sand throughout the .3 mile hike up to the arch and surrounds the arch itself. I wish I had stopped by this one on the way to Devil's Garden. By the time I reached the Sand Dune Arch is was around noon and it was PACKED. However, the arch was still worth visiting and I'm looking forward to swinging by this spot again on our next trip a little earlier on in the day!
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is just over a 30 minute drive from downtown Moab and it a must do when you are visiting the area! The park is divided into four districts, the most easily accessible/visited district being Island in the Sky. During my 2 hour visit to the park I spent the time driving around, stopping at scenic viewpoints, and doing shorter hikes in Island of the Sky. This is known to be the best way to see the park, especially if you only have an afternoon like I did.
Canyonlands features panoramic views of beautiful desert landscape carved out by the Colorado River. Island in the Sky specifically sits atop a 1,500 ft Mesa and you can see for miles in any direction.
If you can only squeeze in one of the National Parks during your visit- I would choose Arches over Canyonlands, however if you do have the time for both, I highly recommend it.
*The entrance fee is $30.00 per vehicle and the park does not take advanced reservations so entry is first come, first serve.
Mesa Arch Trail
Difficulty Level: Easy
Distance: 0.7 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 88 ft.
This trail is more of a walk than a hike and is an absolute MUST DO when visiting Canyonlands. If you get to the park early, I would prioritize hiking here first as the surrounding area around the arch is on the smaller side and can fill up fast. Although Arches NP is known for their beautiful arches, this one ranks right up there with them. I love the shape of the arch and the desert views beyond in the Island of the Sky District!
I hiked to Mesa Arch around 8:30am on a Monday morning and it was already getting crowded. On the weekends I would suggest getting here on the earlier side to avoid trail congestion!
Grand Viewpoint Trail
Difficulty Level: Easy
Distance: 1.8 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 106 ft
This trail begins at the Grand Viewpoint parking lot and heads up to the Grand Viewpoint Overlook. Regardless of if you choose to hop out of your car and take a look around at the start of the trail, or walk just under a mile to the overlook, you will have incredible views either way. I would also categorize this hike as more of a walk with just 108 ft of elevation gain and think it's a must do while visiting!
Dead Horse Point State Park
This state park is located 40 minutes from Moab and is very close to Canyonlands National Park. The park has a dramatic overview of the Colorado River and Canyonlands and I consider it a must visit while you are in Moab! You will only need a few hours up to a half day here and this can be easily tacked onto a trip to Canyonlands. If you are looking to camp in Moab, this state park has designated camp spots and would be an incredible place to spend a few evenings especially to witness sunrise and sunset along the canyon walls.
I visited this spot on a Saturday morning around 8am and there were hardly any other visitors. However, by the time I was exiting the park around 11am, there was a long line of cars at the entrance so the sooner you can make it here, the better!
Entrance Fee: $20 per vehicle
Dead Horse Rim Loop Trail
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 5 Mile Loop
Elevation Gain: 908 ft.
This trail takes you along the outer rim of the canyon, it is relatively flat and is a beautiful longer scenic stroll. The views looking down on the canyon are incredible and there seems to be another turn out view point every half mile. This was one of my favorite hikes while visiting Moab! The best part? This park is dog friendly unlike the neighboring National Parks so your furry friend can tag along with you!
Dead Horse Point State Park Short Loop Trail
Difficulty Level: Easy
Distance: 1 Mile Loop
Elevation Gain: 367 ft.
If you are in a time crunch or looking for a shorter loop to hike compared to the Dead Horse Rim Loop Trail above I highly recommend the Dead Horse Short Loop Trail instead! This hike also has beautiful views of the canyon and passes through the most visited viewpoint in the park, Dead Horse Point.
Hikes Outside of National or State Parks
Corona & Bowtie Arch Trail
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 2.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 482 ft
If you are looking for a dog friendly, non National Park hike located in Moab, featuring impressive arches- this hike is for you! The trailhead is located under 20 minutes from downtown Moab, has a huge parking lot, and no entry/parking fee.
The trail has beautiful views off the bat and rewards you with the beautiful Corona Arch pictured here! While the majority of the trail is easy to hike there is one area with chains leading you up a large rock formation. If you have dogs, this can be tricky, but I was able to help Breck get to the top and it was smooth sailing from there!
Bonus: on your way back down track on the additional .6 miles (each way) to Pinto Arch!
Pinto Arch Trail
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 1.9 Miles
Elevation Gain: 492 ft
Pinto Arch is right off the trail leading up to Corona Arch and is an additional .6 miles each way. However, if you only hike up to Pinto Arch your total distance is 1.9 Miles.
Pinto Arch is in a secluded area and is not visible anywhere else on the trail. I highly recommend checking it out! Unlike Corona Arch there are no technical sections to get to the arch like the ladder or chain section mentioned for Corona Arch access. Just continue to follow the blue paint marked on the rocks and this will lead you to your final destination!
Hiking on my To-Do List for Next Time:
Double Arch Trail
0.6 miles RT with 95 ft of elevation gain
Located in Arches National Park
Cove of Caves via Parade of Elephants
1.1 miles RT with 272 ft of elevation gain
Located in Arches National Park and can be tacked onto the Double Arch trail mentioned above.
White Rim Overlook Trail
1.8 miles RT with 160 ft of elevation gain
Located in Canyonlands National Park
Additional Activities in Moab
Explore Downtown Moab and Take a Walk Along Mill Creek
Downtown Moab can definitely feel touristy, especially during peak season, but I think it is still well worth visiting. Between the shopping, the drinks and the food, I had such fun evenings during my trip strolling through town, enjoying happy hours and dinners and relaxing after tough hiking days!
One of our favorite parts of downtown was how close the creek is! If you are traveling with your pup this is a great spot to swing by and take them on walks/cool off in the creek. You will pass by a few people here and there but generally speaking, the path never seemed too crowded and has beautiful views like the one pictured above!
Where I Stayed:
Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
I loved my stay at the Best Western in Moab! The rooms were a great value and the complimentary coffee and breakfast starting at 5am in the morning was ideal for those early morning hikes! The hotel is situated smack dab in the middle of downtown making it super convenient for evenings out on the town without having to worry about parking or driving. My favorite part of the hotel was their rooftop patio filled with couches, tables, and fire pits featuring incredible views of the red rocks.
I utilized the rooftop for post hike happy hours and loved it! Next time, I want to grab take out and enjoy dinner up on the deck overlooking the town. This hotel unfortunately is not dog friendly but there are plenty of other dog friendly spots in the area.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Moab
On my most recent trip to Moab Breck and I stayed here and absolutely loved it! You can't be the location right in the center of main street. The rooms were very spacious and clean, and the best part about this hotel is that it is dog friendly!
Restaurant Recommendations:
Pasta Jay's Gloria's Corner Cafe Happy Hour Downtown
Pasta Jay's
Delicious red checker Italian restaurant in Downtown Moab. Pasta Jay's also has a location on Pearl Street in Boulder so I had to come check out the Moab location while in town! Fun atmosphere, hearty Italian food, and good drinks. Perfect for big group gatherings, family dinners, or date night!
Gloria's Corner Cafe
Adorable corner cafe with an outdoor patio featuring hanging plants, gas lamps and string lights! The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and is open from 7am-9pm. I came for the atmosphere after passing the patio several times and seeing that it was dog friendly, but the food and drinks were delicious as well.
Arches Thai
Popular Thai restaurant downtown and one I will certainly be returning to on our next trip. Great spot for a casual dinner or can be ordered to-go and enjoyed on your hotel or airbnb balcony!
The Spoke on Center
American restaurant with a pub interior with funky decor and a string lit outdoor patio downtown. They are well known for their burgers and ice cream!
Fiesta Mexicana
Casual Mexican restaurant a five minute walk away from the main downtown. Their portions are huge and their margaritas are strong. A perfect spot to swing by and refuel post hike!
Zax Restaurant & Watering Hole
Casual American restaurant that is especially known for their pizza! They have a rooftop bar as well as dog friendly seating on their heated outdoor patio. This is a perfect spot for either a happy hour, casual dinner/drinks, or refuel post hike lunch spot.
Restaurants on my To-Do List for Next Time:
Thai Bella- Another highly rated Thai restaurant downtown.
Sunset Grill- American restaurant that is a five minute drive from downtown up on a mountaintop, overlooking the city and stunning red rocks.
I'd love to hear what some of YOUR favorite activities to do in Moab are! Drop a comment below!
~Casey
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